2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Not With Her, Still a Feminist [View all]Beowulf
(761 posts)A little. I actually can only lose. I can vote for someone who reflects my views but has little chance to win, or I can vote for someone who can win but will enact or continue policies that I see as destructive, or I can not vote with the same end result.
Hypothetical question. If GHWB had defeated Bill in 1992, would we have gotten NAFTA, the Crime Bill, Welfare Reform, Bank Deregulation, Austerity? I don't think it's a given that those things were inevitable. Dems without the cover of a president might be more conscious of maintaining the brand-the contrast with Republicans on those issues. I realize it's heresy to ask such a question, but I'll ask it anyway.
Trump shouldn't make anyone feel safe, especially PoC, but are we sure Clinton and Democrats will make the country safer for PoC. One of the biggest problems is police violence towards PoC. Outside of rhetoric, how have Clinton and Democrats responded? Some of the cities where this problem is systemic are cities that have been controlled by Democrats for decades. Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago. That conversation never happened this primary season outside of a few photo-ops. And that includes Bernie.
Trump is convenient for those who want BAU. Because he presents such an existential threat, we don't have the hard discussions needed to develop workable solutions. We don't need to come to terms with Democratic policies and actions that have created or worsened intolerable social and economic conditions. And we didn't need Trump's help in maintaining the spineless political will Dems have become so famous for. That was already well established. All we need to do this election cycle is keep Trump out of the White House.