First, I really like both candidates, Clinton and Sanders. Democrats are fielding winners, not the clown car. I shall be proud to vote for our Democratic candidate in November. But this will be a long war against the conservatives, their money, their noise machine, their exclusionary politics, their packed judges.
Fortunately we have the opportunity of a revolution every four years. Those in government, acting in their own self interest, will keep the magnitude of the revolution as small as possible. This happens until one side pushes so far that there is a real rebellion at the voting box. What we see today are Republicans using a Scorched Earth policy and telling everyone who will listen that it’s the other guy’s fault. They have the Big Bucks at their back to convince the average low information voter of that. A big rebellion is coming this year.
I hope the Campaigns understand the long and tortured path that leads to today’s choice so that perhaps you will understand what to do moving forward.
The Background
It all started about this time eight years ago, the economy was starting to fall apart, Yet I had no idea of how bad it would get in Nevada. We needed new leadership, I knew that Barack Obama was the more conservative of the contenders in the Nevada Caucus, yet he was fresh blood, a great orator and rising fast from State Senator to the US Senate. I supported Obama, with a bit of trepidation because we needed big changes from the Bush Years. Meanwhile, between the Caucus and the Election, the economy fell apart, my fledgling small business was struggling, I was doing all that I could to keep my business afloat and keep the 9 people I had hired working, because they and I knew there was nothing else for them out there.
The Banks were bailed out, “Where’s my bailout?” a common refrain I heard from people anytime the subject of the economy came up, which was often.
By then I was a daily reader of Krugman, needing to understand what went so horribly wrong with the economy. I took a while, but I figured it out, slowly the rest of the world came to understand what went wrong. It wasn’t the Big Short that was the problem, it was the guys who kept inflating the bags of derivative shit they were pushing as gold and reselling it to each other, 16 times over, inflating it each sale. The Big Short guys were the ones who figured out what was going on first, bet on the Crash, and Won. Jamie Diamond and his buddies were the problem. Nothing ever happened to them, meanwhile the world was crashing around me. I struggled on.
Obama got his first Stimulus Package passed. I knew from reading Krugman that the Stimulus package was too little, too late. As I studied more, I slowly realized that reading Krugman on economics was like reading Daily Kos for politics. I saw Krugman’s predictions at least six months to two years before it happened. In the past eight years he hasn’t been wrong yet. Not listened to by those in power, a Casandra of economics.
In the light of what I knew I realized that the Republicans had embarked on a Scorched Earth policy Remember the 99 weeks unemployment fiscal belt tightening? Yet Obama kept up the incremental approach, trying to negotiate into traps. When the renewals came up for stimulus, the budget hawks (Republicans and blue dog Dems) cut it down to a point where it did not do much of anything. Obama, in my opinion needed to be more aggressive. I think because he is the first black President, that has held him back. The decision making process errs on conservative rather than make a decision that would reflect poorly on his race by being aggressive. I understand and accept that. I am more comfortable since the last election with his Public Policy stances.
Nevada suffered so much more than the rest of the country, our economy is built on tourism, warehousing, and mining. Whole neighborhoods became ghost towns overnight, a condition that still exists today. Republicans seemed to take a special delight in inserting small ‘gotchas’ in bills targeting Nevada that Reid was unable to get out without greater damage to the nation. Reid chose the Nation. These last eight years have been the hardest of my life, and as events would show... I’m not alone.
The Decision Process
I really like Hillary, I really like Sanders. I was listening to ‘brunch with Bernie’ on Thom Hartman radio show until the local democratic leaning talk station folded. It wasn’t long, but Bernie made sense, so I kept alert and picked up my ears when Sanders name was involved. Hillary, we all saw her rise and achievements on the Nightly News. Good Job.
When Sanders announced, I was pleased. The Overton window would move a bit more to the left, but I didn’t think he would win against the Hillary Firewall, who knows. Either would be a good Democratic President, each can win against the Republican field. But that Koch money does worry me.
As the caucus moves closer, I started evaluating more. Then something strange happened. Bernie suddenly was catching up, Kos got pissed and went on a rant (something I thought was a bit premature). But hey, It’s his successful business, I’ll wait my turn. My business is more conventional, and it’s still struggling, with more failures than successes, because of Scorched Earth Republicans (Never forget where the blame truly lies).
I know that Hillary can stand up to the Koch onslaught, She’s had 25 years of hate from Republicans poured on her. From the time she first proposed a National Health system during the Clinton Years, it never stopped. Can Sanders do the same? Will his populist approach stand up to the coming Koch Advertising onslaught? I don’t have the answer for that one.
But why did Sanders catch on fire so quickly in Iowa? In reviewing articles and information, I came to realize that I wasn’t the only one still struggling. Life is still very, very hard for many. As Sanders became known, he caught fire with those who are like me, like a small Daycare owner I know who lost her business to the Republican Recession and was tending bar to make ends meet … and making tips to avoid the IRS issues from her business. Lots of those around still I guess.
I took stock, looked back and checked up on Jamie Diamond and his buds from eight years ago, gee, they’re not having any problems. For all the Grief he and they have caused me, I have a small, cold, hard, place of hate in my heart for them. If they were Drawn and Quartered, I would rejoice. But I would settle for him and his ilk having quality time in the House of Many Doors (prison).
The Decision
Who will move more aggressively against my enemies? Who will take the steps needed to right the Ship of State? What do Progressives need now? I feel we are at a tipping point. I sense the pendulum has reached it’s zenith and is moving in a progressive direction. The people who put us into this mess need to be Punished, loudly and publicly. It comes down to this: Do I want someone who is incrementalist, or someone who is willing to use broad sweeping strokes to bring back equality, and opportunity.
I vote for the broad sweeping strokes. Progressives need a wave election and a Candidate with long coat tails. We need a President who will insist on using the bully pulpit in prime time pillorying a reluctant Congress when progress stalls, and keeping the electorate informed. Democrats need a leader who is a not an incrementalist.
Will that person get everything they want; No. But neither did Obama, except for healthcare, he really hasn’t come too close. Especially on the economy.
We are still being punished by the banks, yet they still live large.
My sword is my vote, and today I caucus for Sanders...
And I shall proudly carry my sword in the service of whomever is the ultimate candidate…
