Hopefully… a look beyond the labels
Greetings!
I try to view the world without the distortion of a “Left” or “Right” prism; labels seldom add value or understanding to complex issues. I hate labels, and maybe there’s a potential for this year’s presidential campaign to go beyond them… we may get the opportunity to debate some pressing issues, have real conversations about our national priorities, and hear from a person who puts understanding and action beyond the current political spectrum.
We’ve been programmed to believe there are only two viable candidates in a Presidential election; the Republican or the Democrat. We’ve also been programmed to believe the 2016 contest will come down to Hillary against a to-be-determined Republican. But if we look beneath the simplistic labels, what will our choices really be? While there are critical differences between our modern major parties, they also share a toxic similarity… they’re both bought and paid for by a Corporatocracy run amok. Neither Hillary nor any of the potential Republicans show signs they would make any move toward meaningful reform of the inequalities eating away at our society, freedoms, and quality of life. Neither corporate-approved selectee would risk biting the hand.
Enter Bernie Sanders. On May 26, the Vermont Senator took ten minutes to officially announce he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President. Then, without any coy gamesmanship, he went back inside to do his job as a U.S. Senator. He didn’t start a listening tour or board a bus for a 5-state campaign swing; he went right back to the job we’re paying him for. I’m excited that Bernie Sanders will bring more of this much-needed contrast to the 2016 political debate, but I’m fearful that labels may overshadow content. Bernie has dealt with labels for years- “populist”, “crank”, “idealist”, and “unrealistic” are just a few. “Socialist” is the biggest one, as he is the only self-identified Socialist in Congress. Just the word “socialist” might deafen the average American listener, but in a world where “Socialist” is just a mindless insult, having him actually explain the concept to the FAUX-News-poisoned audience could be the high point of the election! But other labels have been applied as well… labels like “integrity”, “principled”, and “straightforward”. These good labels don’t necessarily aid understanding either, but when you dig beyond the labels and into his stances you’ll find Bernie has positions that would actually help rebuild the middle class in our country. And he’s consistently advocated these positions for many, many years.
The American people are deeply and justifiably angry so populism should be welcomed in the 2016 battle, but I worry that without Bernie it would be (corporate) business as usual. Just by being in the race, identifying real problems and proposing real solutions in stark contrast to the Corporatist’s non-solutions, Bernie will be offering people a chance to see a real difference. Despite overwhelming evidence, Americans aren’t always stupid. They’ll ask their mainstream candidates why those differences exist and the candidates will have to scramble their positions more toward something plausible. Just by entering the race, Bernie Sanders will push both Left and Right toward something more sensible.
Current polls put Clinton version 2.0 ahead of Sanders by 50 points, but Bernie will cause some ripples with his campaign, even in a potential $5 billion dollar pond. Bernie has some things I see lacking in other candidates… an accurate view of the fundamental problems (and their causes) facing America, a get-to-work and get-it-done attitude, a coherent vision of where America could be, and rational solutions on how to get there. As America considers its nominees I hope they’ll be able to accurately compare the candidates’ diagnosis and prescriptions, look beyond the labels, and examine the issues on the merits. Bernie Sanders may never be President, but if he changes the fundamental dynamics of the election then he’s already won for the American people.
Take Care and Make a Great Day!
