Bernie's continuing relevance

**Leaderless movements seldom get far. Occupy and BLM are examples. While they make important statements in the national conversation, their influence seems to be mostly on those who already like the kool-ade. The Bernie movement is – or can be – different. A grandfatherly, quirky politician might not become the leader of a political party, or a country, but he can still be a leader of an important movement that can and should survive the election. 

The mood of the country as a whole favors this moment. (It also favors DT but that’s a different story.) Bernie’s movement hasn't really been about him. It’s about the millions of mostly young people who see through the artifice of politics and government as it has been practiced in their lifetimes. They want it to change into something resembling the promise of democracy. Many, but not all, of them may not be able to articulate it to themselves or the general public but they feel the yearning deeply. Bernie’s role has been to articulate it for them on a world-wide stage. He has done so in a way that gains respect and attention from much of the country, especially millennials. It’s long been well known that this class of the populace (those born between around 1980 and 2000) is taking over as a principle force in the cultural and political life of the US. And yet, the cultural and political life of the previous generation (boomers) still has momentum and has become “the establishment.” Hillary best represents that momentum, which is why she will probably (and certainly must)  win the presidency. 

The Corner

And yet, the pendulum is swinging the millennial’s way. If there is going to be a real revolution, where the establishment is gradually replaced by the Bernie revolutionaries, the revolutionaries (millennials) will still need a spokesperson AND a leader. Bernie can take on that role, at least for a while. His prominence and energy will keep the gadfly function active and visible and part of the national conversation. Sure, someone else may come along and represent it better, but until then Bernie’s continuing role is to be the leader of an important emerging constituency

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Maintenance or Revolution?

**The following is response to a FB post made by a friend:

___, I’ve appreciated your posts on FB and have wanted to chime in on the conversations about the campaigns, but I really don’t want to get into scraps with the likes of ___, who rails against a polarized nation and then goes to show why it’s so polarized. A one-issue voter is a failed voter, one who doesn’t/won’t understand that governance is complex. The Tea Partiers in Congress are a good example of what happens — and doesn’t happen — when these narrow thinkers get power. Worrying about unborn, non-viable “babies” is an effective distraction/excuse for not dealing with the general realities of life. Some of these realities concern actually born babies — most of whom are black or brown, poor and extra susceptible to poisoning — who have to suffer the consequences of such blinkered thinking, 

There is an important distinction between the two Democratic candidates. As Robert Reich has said:

I’ve known Hillary Clinton since she was 19 years old, and have nothing but respect for her. In my view, she’s the most qualified candidate for president of the political system we now have.

But Bernie Sanders is the most qualified candidate to create the political system we should have, because he’s leading a political movement for change.

I just turned 75. I will feel no effects from the outcome of this election. My Social Security will continue. So will my Medicare. I live in a comfortable home with all the gadgets and amenities I could desire (thanks Apple discount). I even live now in a Red State but don’t expect to be persecuted much for being a Liberal/Progressive. Rednecks tend to leave old farts alone. 

BUT, my kids and grandkids and people of your generation will have to live with the consequences of this election for a long time. And those consequences could be quite severe, — sometimes I think even apocalyptic: voting rights curtailed, police violence unrestrained, mass incarcerations, more medical bankruptcies, and other kinds of right-wing destructive lunacy rampant.

Despite being actuarially insulated from its consequences, I’m really concerned about how this election goes. It’s different from elections of recent times, even 2008’s watershed. That moment gave the first hint of the stakes on today’s table. Obama’s election wasn’t just about a black man being elected president. It was an indication that the public wants to be involved in the political process. Another word for that is “revolution.” 

With all the trumpeting of personalities in the campaigns, the media is missing the point — maybe not missing it but attempting to distract from it: the choice is between maintenance and revolution. If a Democrat is elected the people either will get more power or they will stay unempowered. If a Republican, it’ll be the end of democracy, religious fanaticism will lead to the western version of sharia law, segregation, inequality and poverty will increase, and we’ll probably invade somewhere and lose.

I’m often tempted by Hillary’s “competence” and political savvy. She may maintain Obama’s management of government, but that would not be an entirely good thing. Obama has disappointed progressives by being a left-centrist. I understand that political realities may dictate that, and one person can hardly do what has needed to be done since the 2000 election debacle. No, it wouldn’t be as bad as a Republican victory in November. But that isn’t the only choice this season. Hillary would be maintenance. Bernie would be revolution.

No, Bernie can’t do it all by himself. But as a seasoned member of Congress he certainly knows the ropes when it comes to bipartisanship — after all, he’s had to work with both parties most of his career! But just as Obama’s inexperience was mitigated by his choice of advisors and Cabinet, so Sanders will lead in concert with like-minded people. And let’s not forget the importance of Supreme Court posts that will likely be filled during the next president’s term. A Democrat will help steer the court leftward, whereas a Republican will steer it toward more Citizens United, etc.

So, this year I will “waste” my vote on the prospect of revolution. I will vote for Bernie in the Primary and the Democrat in November. 

I’m heartened by your activism and hope you will increase and extend it.

Authoritarians and demagogues

**I wrote earlier about the Trump phenomenon and the problem with focussing too much on his personality and not enough on the mental state of the electorate. I compared it to that of Germany in the years before the Nazi takeover.

Now there's a Politico article that adds some psychology to my observations. Matthew Macwilliams states:

Trump’s electoral strength—and his staying power—have been buoyed, above all, by Americans with authoritarian inclinations. And because of the prevalence of authoritarians in the American electorate, among Democrats as well as Republicans, it’s very possible that Trump’s fan base will continue to grow.
Read more: 

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Authoritarianism is not a new, untested concept in the American electorate. Since the rise of Nazi Germany, it has been one of the most widely studied ideas in social science. While its causes are still debated, the political behavior of authoritarians is not. Authoritarians obey. They rally to and follow strong leaders. And they respond aggressively to outsiders, especially when they feel threatened. 

Instead of thinking for themselves, instead of making the effort to see the big picture as well as the important nuances about governing, too many voters are willing to let a strong man lead. Combine a strong man, a purchased Congress and a submissive public and we could throw the country into a dictatorship.

As a whole, we're not there yet, but there are enough who are to make this a very dangerous time to not vote Democratic. Whether it's Hillary or Bernie, it doesn't matter as long as it's one of them. It's important to not be taken in by the media frenzy over Trump, not get caught up in the snowball effect. It's even MORE important to actually get out and vote. Remember: the easiest Republican voter is the Democrat who doesn't vote!