SAYONARA BERNIE
Before Bernie Sanders finally falls off the flat earth that
is American politics, I for one would like to say a farewell thanks: He, at
least, had the self-immolating nerve to raise issues that affect the country I
live in.
Education, climate, disparity of wealth, jobs, and a host of
other issues that play out quietly where the applause is stilled and individual
voters secretly care -- these have been among his offerings. No klieg lights,
no confetti -- just a realm in which the good of the country and its citizens
comes first.
Of all the people who helped Hillary Clinton become the
first woman president of the United States,
I would say Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are first in line. Sanders held the
bright torch that Clinton tried and
failed to co-opt with sound bites. Trump's emotional appeal was another sort of
national torch -- of anger and confusion and frustration with no clarity and no
quarter.
Of course, who knows: Perhaps this implicit prediction is
entirely wrong and Trump will gain the day: There is no explanation for the
myth that lemmings jump off an equally mythological cliff and likewise American
voters may have an inexplicable need to go "wheeeeeee!" as they
anoint the acidic boisterousness of Donald Trump. "President Trump"
may be the new normal.
Sanders' bright light held out hope for a nation less
fractured. Clinton has a sound bite
for that, but Sanders touched the quiet passion that unification can engender.
As Trump's supporters can attest, passion can override particulars and Sanders
supporters like me could feel a longing addressed in his cliff-bound travels.
As far as I can figure out, Sanders did fail in one
particular: He never did get the electorate to look up the word
"socialism" to find out what it meant when it wasn't busy being
denigrated by those who likewise never looked it up.
But in the face of the other good things Sanders did, this
failing is minor. Knowing what you are talking about has never been the strong
suit in political jousts.
Before Sanders goes off the cliff ... well, I'd like to say
thanks.
Live long and prosper, Bernie.
If everyone feels that way, it's a self-fulfilling prophesy. Some of us still embrace our naivety and believe it isn't over until it's over. By all rational reasoning, he shouldn't have even made it this far. Your optimism only stretches far enough to say that maybe his presence will make a difference. That is why he got involved in the race in the first place, after all. But I'm not willing to concede to cynicism just yet.
ReplyDeleteSmarti -- I hardly consider it cynicism to say what Bernie himself has been saying in the last few days ... that he is willing to act as a conscience to the Dems.
ReplyDeleteWith you all the way on this one ---
ReplyDeleteG. W. Bush lost the election but became president. As Cheney said, it's not who votes for who that counts, it's who counts the votes. And of course Greenspan's tell all retirement book said that big business and government were hybridized, get used to it. And as well he said, of course we invaded Iraq for the oil. Our government will continue as is because it's owned by banks that are too big to fail. Trump and Billery are just the dog 'n pony show that distracts us from the man behind the curtain.
ReplyDeleteOptimism and cynicism have nothing to do with it. Reality trumps whatever we feel about it. The power of wealth makes these decisions, always has, and unless our species should suddenly become enlightened by aliens or the baby jesus, i don't see that changing. Another beauty from Cheney was "who cares about future generations, what'd they ever do for us?" Those who can afford it want the best berth on the titanic. We're just supposed to quietly shovel coal.