Last night, in my apartment in north Seattle, I hosted 12 people for a Sanders organizing house party. Nine of the 12 who had RSVP'd showed up, and three were invited guests of mine. When everyone had arrived, we went around the room introducing ourselves, and what brought us here.
My first guests were a woman in her early fifties, and her 30 year old daughter. The mother had worked on Kerry's campaign back in 2004, but has not been active in politics since then, other than voting. Like so many women who raised children on their own, her main concern was economic based. She really resonates with Sanders' messaging on income inequality, and expanding the minimum wage, and expanding Social Security.
Her daughter, a college graduate, is working a minimum wage job outside her field of study, and is over $60,000.00 in debt. I can't even begin to imagine trying to support myself, and pay off that kind of debt on minimum wage, even Seattle's minimum wage (which is now $11 on its way up to $15); the cost of living in this town is extremely high. She shares an apartment with two other adult women in similar predicaments; huge student loan debt, and low paying jobs. Locally, she would like to see rent control, and nationally, she'd like to see a student loan bailout. When she finished speaking she added that she could not afford to have children. Imagine, a young woman in her prime, unable to afford to start a family.
A couple from Tacoma in their late 20s/early 30s were also in attendance, along with their friend from Olympia. The man, a newly minted massage therapist, described himself as a card-carrying cynic, and he proclaimed that he has never voted in his life. Ever. For the first time, he has been inspired to get involved in electoral politics. His main concern was having his cynic's card revoked.
His wife and her friend introduced themselves as, until recent, Clinton supporters. Like many women, issues of reproductive rights, equal pay, paid maternity leave, health care and the like are extremely important issues, and relate to Clinton as a woman who can feel their pain. But when they became familiar with Bernie's message, they felt that he intends to go further and beyond what they believe Clinton can accomplish. The two women were also very much concerned about their high student debt; one's debt was in the triple digits, as she had earned a Master's degree.
My friend Jody was in attendance. We lived in the same condo building back in 2007, but we never actually spoke until our precinct's primary caucus. She was a Hillary delegate, and I was an Obama delegate. As far as I know, she remained a staunch Clinton supporter, and remains an admirer of Clinton, but is supporting Sanders in the primary because again, she feels that his approach to governance will be bold and radical, and will take things further and quicker. Also, there's the Wall Street connection, since so many people her age (she's retired) lost a lot of their savings when our economy tanked, she is very uncomfortable with Clinton's deep ties with Wall Street.
I did take pictures, but forgot to ask permission if I could post them on Dkos, so I regret that I didn't at least take a picture of the snack table, which included a big bowl of fruit, cheese, crackers, spinach dip, shrimp and cocktail sauce, chips, salsa and guacamole … it was a great spread on the cheap.
A few others in attendance, a young woman with chronic health issues, who would like to go to college but can't finance it said, "There's two things America doesn't like right now, and that's sick people and students." One young man, a recent transplant from Vermont, was already a Sanders supporter, but wanted to connect with nearby supporters, as well as meet people in his new city. My dear but sometimes politically misguided friend "Brad" leans heavily libertarian and was supporting Rand Paul, is now leaning towards Bernie because of his stance on racial justice and overcrowded prisons. My sin twister, who I've known since I was a teenager, is also a single mom back in community college to earn a degree in social work. She is finding that supporting her son (who she would like to see go to college), working for low wages, and financing her education is extremely difficult.
We watched Bernie's televised message and at the end of it, every single person whipped out their smart phones and texted WORK to 82623. Everyone was enthusiastic, friendly and seemed to have a wonderful time.
Personally, I am looking forward to participating in the political revolution. Looking back, I see now that in so many ways, the occupy movement was extremely successful in its messaging. A lot of people who have been apathetic toward participating in the political process have been reinvigorated by Sanders' authentic message: I stand with you, the people, against the billionaires and the oligarchy.
I am also one of those once active in the political process who, by Obama's second term, was borderline apathetic, and am also reinvigorated and look forward to participating in this election cycle. Also, I am looking forward to more events like last night, community outreach, phone banking, etc. What are some of your plans?
I really want to start calling you guys "brothers and sisters" now, I really do, but I can only imagine the derision with which that would be met by so many on this site. So, I won't be so hokey. Instead, hermanas y hermanos, thank you for dropping in on my little house party diary, I look forward to speaking with you in the comments.