Although I still profess to be a Sanders supporter, be it more meekly by now; I
don't see any hope of the party platform moving to the left. The reason is that
politics, pick your party, any party, runs on money and you get who you pay
for. This is where I think the left went wrong and lost a prime opportunity to
move a major party to the left. Every politician and every party is responsive
to those that back them. Since the left pulled its support (read that money)
away from the Democratic party, the party will have to fill in the gap somehow.
The only conclusion is that it willbe be forced to turn to the right to make up
for the losses.With Trump alienating many middle of the road voters it was a
prime opportunity for the left to harvest that power and take the helm of the
Democratic party. Instead the left made the mistake of doing the old I didn't
get everything I wanted so I took my marbles and went home, leaving the right
to run the show. This is the same thinking that leads my state, Massachusetts,
into having republican governors most of the time.
Frank
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Miriam Vieni
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2016 5:09 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Sanders Launches 'Our Revolution,' Dedicated to a
Progressive Agenda and Better Democratic Party
Published on Alternet (http://www.alternet.org) Home > Sanders Launches 'Our
Revolution,' Dedicated to a Progressive Agenda and Better Democratic Party
________________________________________
Sanders Launches 'Our Revolution,' Dedicated to a Progressive Agenda and Better
Democratic Party By Steven Rosenfeld [1] / AlterNet [2] August 24, 2016 Bernie
Sanders' revolution seeking a kinder, fairer, more egalitarian and dignified
America will continue, working to elect progressive candidates, introducing
nationally significant state ballot measures and pushing the Democratic Party
to abide by its recently adopted platform, the ex-presidential candidate told
thousands of supporters in a national webcast Wednesday night.
"We changed the conversation regarding the possibilities of our country-that is
what we changed," Sanders said. "We redefined what the vision and the future of
our country should be and that is no small thing. And what our campaign showed,
making the establishment very very unhappy-and that is a good thing-what our
campaign showed the world is that the American people are prepared to stand up
to a corrupt campaign finance system, a rigged economy, a broken criminal
justice system and the global threat posed by the fossil fuel industry that is
destroying our planet through their carbon emissions."
The webcast was previewed as the launch of a new national progressive campaign
organization, called Our Revolution [3], to pay forward the energy of the
Sanders campaign that received 13 million votes nationally, won 22 states and
virtually tied Hillary Clinton in several others. But it also served as an
opportunity for Sanders to remind volunteers and followers about their
accomplishments and to again feel the energy that was kindled by the campaign.
"It is important to say a few words about what we accomplished together,
because by understanding what we accomplished we will know where we have to go
in the future," Sanders said. "As I have said a million times, and what I
believe in the essence of my soul, is that real change never ever takes place
from the top on down. It's not some guy signing a bill. It always takes place
from the bottom on up, when millions of people come together and demand
fundamental change in the country."
Sanders went on to cast his presidential campaign as part of a continuum that
spanned decades and includes the trade union movement, the ending of child
labor, women winning the right to vote, and the civil rights movement and now
faces the unfinished business of addressing racial, social, economic and
environmental injustices in America and across the planet. Before listing a
litany of progressive stances that were adopted by Hillary Clinton, the
Democratic Party platform and Democratic candidates running for state and
federal office-all as evidence of the Sanders campaign's unexpected and deep
impact on the nation's political culture and electorate-Sanders reminded those
in the audience in Burlington, Vermont and watching online at 2,600 house
parties across America, that their values and agenda were embraced by a
majority of young Americans.
"Here is what I think is most important," he began. "We won overwhelming
support, in I believe every state in this country where we competed, from young
people, people 45 years of age and younger. And by the end of the campaign, we
were winning good majorities, not only from white young people, but from black
youth, Latino youth, Asian-American youth, Native American youth, all across
the board. The importance of that is when you capture, by large majorities, the
young people of this country, it means that our ideas, our vision, is the
future of this country."
Sanders went on to describe what those ideas were and how many have been
adopted by the Democratic mainstream, when just a few years ago they would have
been dismissed as fringe. Though Sanders didn't once say why it was important
to support Hillary Clinton for president, which is surely going to be
criticized by national political pundits, he did say several times that she
adopted positions the campaign raised, such as making public college and
universities tuition-free.
"If somebody had said that two to three years ago, what somebody would have
responded is, You're crazy! That's too radical for the United States of
America, making public colleges and universities tuition-free! Will not happen
in our lifetime!" he said. "Well, guess what, as of today, there are Democratic
candidates all over this country, running for the Senate, running for the
House, and you know what they are campaigning on? Making public colleges and
universities tuition-free."
"And also, dealing with the horrific situation facing millions of Americans, in
terms of outrageously high student debt. That is now mainstream," he continued.
"Now, I was able to work with Secretary Clinton, didn't get her
100 percent onboard, but she is now out there talking about a proposal to make
public colleges and universities tuition-free for every family in America
earning less than $125,000 a year, 83 percent of our population. You know what?
That is a major step forward."
Sanders continued in that vein, listing the issues his campaign raised that
have now been embraced by Democrats and even some Republicans. Those included
raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour-which is doubling the current federal
minimum wage; making people who earn more than $250,000 a year pay more in
taxes, which polls say is now supported by 54 percent of Republicans; expanding
Social Security retirement benefits, instead of cutting them; and reforming the
criminal justice system, such as the Justice Department's announcement it will
stop using privatized prisons.
Sanders, of course, also listed what needed to be added to that national
political to-do list, such as guaranteeing health care as a right via a
Medicare-for-all national health-care program; and stopping pharmaceutical
companies from making tens of billions yearly when one in five people cannot
afford to fill the prescriptions their doctors have ordered. He also praised
Clinton for agreeing to double federal funding of community health centers,
which he said would "create universal access to primary health care in
America," adding that was "no small thing."
Then he turned to trade agreements, spending 10 minutes discussing why the
Trans-Pacific Partnership must be defeated when it comes before Congress later
in the fall. There are two main reasons: First, international trade agreements
force American workers to compete with workers overseas who are paid pennies
per hour, he said, causing a "race to the bottom" that benefits corporate
bottom lines but abandons American workers. But they also contain what's known
as "investor state dispute" mechanisms, in which a private company can go
before an international panel of corporate lawyers and try to collect billions
from governments whose political decisions are impacting future profits.
Sanders said Trans Canada, the corporation that wanted to build the Keystone XL
pipeline which President Obama rejected, is suing the U.S. for $15 billion
under those provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement.
"The idea that a major, multinational corporation can sue us for $15 billion
because the president made the decision that he thought right tells you what
trade agreements are all about. They are designed to protect corporate profits
and the hell with the environment, human rights, health care or the needs of
the people," he said. "And that is why the TPP has got to be defeated."
Our Revolution
Three-quarters of an hour after he took the stage, Sanders turned to the launch
of Our Revolution, saying it was the next step in his progressive political
mission.
"Tonight, I think the question on the minds of a lot of people-OK, we ran a
great campaign. We woke up the American people. But where do we go from here?
And that's kind of what tonight is about," he said. "So tonight I want to
introduce you to a new, independent, nonprofit organization called Our
Revolution, which is inspired by the historic Bernie 2016 presidential campaign.
"Over time, Our Revolution will involved hundreds of thousands of people,"
he continued. "These are people who will be fighting at the grassroots level
for changes in their local school boards, in their city councils, in their
state legislatures, and in their representation in Washington. Not only that,
they will be involved in major ballot items dealing with campaign finance
issues, environmental issues, health-care issues, labor issues, gender-related
issues, and doing all that they can in every way to create an America based on
the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice."
Sanders said "a new, very diverse board of strong progressive men and women
from across this country" was being put together to lead it. The chair will be
Larry Cohen, the ex-president of the Communication Workers of America, who led
the campaign's anti-TPP protests at the Democratic National Convention. "As a
United States senator, I will not be directing or controlling Our Revolution,
but I have the utmost confidence that this leadership team and the board being
assembled shares the progressive values we all hold and I expect very big
things from them, and from all of you who join with them to carry the political
revolution forward."
Sanders gave a few examples of candidates and ballot measures that the groups
will be supporting. He cited Vernon Miller, a native American teacher running
for local school board in Nebraska; San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim running
for the California State Senate; Mari Cordes, a nurse and union activist who
just won the state Assembly primary in Vermont; Zephyr Teachout, who is the
Democratic nominee running for the U.S. House from upstate New York; and former
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, seeking to return to the Senate. (He
didn't name Tim Canova, who is challenging former DNC chairwoman Debbie
Wasserman Schultz in a Florida primary that votes next week.)
Sanders also said Our Revolution would be supporting a Washington ballot
measure seeking to overturn the Citizens United ruling by the U.S. Supreme
Court that further deregulated federal campaign finance laws; California's
Prop. 61, which would require state government to pay no more than the federal
Veterans Administration for prescription drugs; and a Colorado ballot measure
to create a statewide single-payer health-care system.
He predicted that Our Revolution would endorse upwards of "100-plus"
candidates and ballot measures for the fall 2016 election and be active for a
long time.
"In the months and years to come, Our Revolution will be involved in one
important fight after another," he said. "We have got to stand with our
brothers and sisters all over this country in the fight to reform a broken
criminal justice system and for comprehensive immigration reform, and also to
end the injustices that are currently taking place again the native American
people all over this country..
"But let me just conclude on a personal note," he said. "I speak of Jane and my
whole family in thanking all of you for the love and support you gave us all
over this country. As I have said many times, election days come and go, but
the struggle for justice continues. Thank you all very much."
Steven Rosenfeld covers national political issues for AlterNet, including
America's retirement crisis, democracy and voting rights, and campaigns and
elections. He is the author of "Count My Vote: A Citizen's Guide to Voting"
(AlterNet Books, 2008).
Share on Facebook Share
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Report typos and corrections to 'corrections@xxxxxxxxxxxx'. [4]
[5]
________________________________________
Source URL:
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/sanders-launches-our-revolution-dedica
ted-progressive-agenda-and-better-democratic
Links:
[1] http://www.alternet.org/authors/steven-rosenfeld
[2] http://alternet.org
[3] https://ourrevolution.com/
[4] mailto:corrections@xxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=Typo on Sanders Launches 'Our ;
Revolution,' Dedicated to a Progressive Agenda and Better Democratic Party
[5] http://www.alternet.org/ [6] http://www.alternet.org/%2Bnew_src%2B
Published on Alternet (http://www.alternet.org) Home > Sanders Launches 'Our
Revolution,' Dedicated to a Progressive Agenda and Better Democratic Party
Sanders Launches 'Our Revolution,' Dedicated to a Progressive Agenda and Better
Democratic Party By Steven Rosenfeld [1] / AlterNet [2] August 24, 2016 AddThis
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MoreShare to Email
Bernie Sanders' revolution seeking a kinder, fairer, more egalitarian and
dignified America will continue, working to elect progressive candidates,
introducing nationally significant state ballot measures and pushing the
Democratic Party to abide by its recently adopted platform, the ex-presidential
candidate told thousands of supporters in a national webcast Wednesday night.
"We changed the conversation regarding the possibilities of our country-that is
what we changed," Sanders said. "We redefined what the vision and the future of
our country should be and that is no small thing. And what our campaign showed,
making the establishment very very unhappy-and that is a good thing-what our
campaign showed the world is that the American people are prepared to stand up
to a corrupt campaign finance system, a rigged economy, a broken criminal
justice system and the global threat posed by the fossil fuel industry that is
destroying our planet through their carbon emissions."
The webcast was previewed as the launch of a new national progressive campaign
organization, called Our Revolution [3], to pay forward the energy of the
Sanders campaign that received 13 million votes nationally, won 22 states and
virtually tied Hillary Clinton in several others. But it also served as an
opportunity for Sanders to remind volunteers and followers about their
accomplishments and to again feel the energy that was kindled by the campaign.
"It is important to say a few words about what we accomplished together,
because by understanding what we accomplished we will know where we have to go
in the future," Sanders said. "As I have said a million times, and what I
believe in the essence of my soul, is that real change never ever takes place
from the top on down. It's not some guy signing a bill. It always takes place
from the bottom on up, when millions of people come together and demand
fundamental change in the country."
Sanders went on to cast his presidential campaign as part of a continuum that
spanned decades and includes the trade union movement, the ending of child
labor, women winning the right to vote, and the civil rights movement and now
faces the unfinished business of addressing racial, social, economic and
environmental injustices in America and across the planet. Before listing a
litany of progressive stances that were adopted by Hillary Clinton, the
Democratic Party platform and Democratic candidates running for state and
federal office-all as evidence of the Sanders campaign's unexpected and deep
impact on the nation's political culture and electorate-Sanders reminded those
in the audience in Burlington, Vermont and watching online at 2,600 house
parties across America, that their values and agenda were embraced by a
majority of young Americans.
"Here is what I think is most important," he began. "We won overwhelming
support, in I believe every state in this country where we competed, from young
people, people 45 years of age and younger. And by the end of the campaign, we
were winning good majorities, not only from white young people, but from black
youth, Latino youth, Asian-American youth, Native American youth, all across
the board. The importance of that is when you capture, by large majorities, the
young people of this country, it means that our ideas, our vision, is the
future of this country."
Sanders went on to describe what those ideas were and how many have been
adopted by the Democratic mainstream, when just a few years ago they would have
been dismissed as fringe. Though Sanders didn't once say why it was important
to support Hillary Clinton for president, which is surely going to be
criticized by national political pundits, he did say several times that she
adopted positions the campaign raised, such as making public college and
universities tuition-free.
"If somebody had said that two to three years ago, what somebody would have
responded is, You're crazy! That's too radical for the United States of
America, making public colleges and universities tuition-free! Will not happen
in our lifetime!" he said. "Well, guess what, as of today, there are Democratic
candidates all over this country, running for the Senate, running for the
House, and you know what they are campaigning on? Making public colleges and
universities tuition-free."
"And also, dealing with the horrific situation facing millions of Americans, in
terms of outrageously high student debt. That is now mainstream," he continued.
"Now, I was able to work with Secretary Clinton, didn't get her
100 percent onboard, but she is now out there talking about a proposal to make
public colleges and universities tuition-free for every family in America
earning less than $125,000 a year, 83 percent of our population. You know what?
That is a major step forward."
Sanders continued in that vein, listing the issues his campaign raised that
have now been embraced by Democrats and even some Republicans. Those included
raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour-which is doubling the current federal
minimum wage; making people who earn more than $250,000 a year pay more in
taxes, which polls say is now supported by 54 percent of Republicans; expanding
Social Security retirement benefits, instead of cutting them; and reforming the
criminal justice system, such as the Justice Department's announcement it will
stop using privatized prisons.
Sanders, of course, also listed what needed to be added to that national
political to-do list, such as guaranteeing health care as a right via a
Medicare-for-all national health-care program; and stopping pharmaceutical
companies from making tens of billions yearly when one in five people cannot
afford to fill the prescriptions their doctors have ordered. He also praised
Clinton for agreeing to double federal funding of community health centers,
which he said would "create universal access to primary health care in
America," adding that was "no small thing."
Then he turned to trade agreements, spending 10 minutes discussing why the
Trans-Pacific Partnership must be defeated when it comes before Congress later
in the fall. There are two main reasons: First, international trade agreements
force American workers to compete with workers overseas who are paid pennies
per hour, he said, causing a "race to the bottom" that benefits corporate
bottom lines but abandons American workers. But they also contain what's known
as "investor state dispute" mechanisms, in which a private company can go
before an international panel of corporate lawyers and try to collect billions
from governments whose political decisions are impacting future profits.
Sanders said Trans Canada, the corporation that wanted to build the Keystone XL
pipeline which President Obama rejected, is suing the U.S. for $15 billion
under those provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement.
"The idea that a major, multinational corporation can sue us for $15 billion
because the president made the decision that he thought right tells you what
trade agreements are all about. They are designed to protect corporate profits
and the hell with the environment, human rights, health care or the needs of
the people," he said. "And that is why the TPP has got to be defeated."
Our Revolution
Three-quarters of an hour after he took the stage, Sanders turned to the launch
of Our Revolution, saying it was the next step in his progressive political
mission.
"Tonight, I think the question on the minds of a lot of people-OK, we ran a
great campaign. We woke up the American people. But where do we go from here?
And that's kind of what tonight is about," he said. "So tonight I want to
introduce you to a new, independent, nonprofit organization called Our
Revolution, which is inspired by the historic Bernie 2016 presidential campaign.
"Over time, Our Revolution will involved hundreds of thousands of people,"
he continued. "These are people who will be fighting at the grassroots level
for changes in their local school boards, in their city councils, in their
state legislatures, and in their representation in Washington. Not only that,
they will be involved in major ballot items dealing with campaign finance
issues, environmental issues, health-care issues, labor issues, gender-related
issues, and doing all that they can in every way to create an America based on
the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice."
Sanders said "a new, very diverse board of strong progressive men and women
from across this country" was being put together to lead it. The chair will be
Larry Cohen, the ex-president of the Communication Workers of America, who led
the campaign's anti-TPP protests at the Democratic National Convention. "As a
United States senator, I will not be directing or controlling Our Revolution,
but I have the utmost confidence that this leadership team and the board being
assembled shares the progressive values we all hold and I expect very big
things from them, and from all of you who join with them to carry the political
revolution forward."
Sanders gave a few examples of candidates and ballot measures that the groups
will be supporting. He cited Vernon Miller, a native American teacher running
for local school board in Nebraska; San Francisco supervisor Jane Kim running
for the California State Senate; Mari Cordes, a nurse and union activist who
just won the state Assembly primary in Vermont; Zephyr Teachout, who is the
Democratic nominee running for the U.S. House from upstate New York; and former
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, seeking to return to the Senate. (He
didn't name Tim Canova, who is challenging former DNC chairwoman Debbie
Wasserman Schultz in a Florida primary that votes next week.)
Sanders also said Our Revolution would be supporting a Washington ballot
measure seeking to overturn the Citizens United ruling by the U.S. Supreme
Court that further deregulated federal campaign finance laws; California's
Prop. 61, which would require state government to pay no more than the federal
Veterans Administration for prescription drugs; and a Colorado ballot measure
to create a statewide single-payer health-care system.
He predicted that Our Revolution would endorse upwards of "100-plus"
candidates and ballot measures for the fall 2016 election and be active for a
long time.
"In the months and years to come, Our Revolution will be involved in one
important fight after another," he said. "We have got to stand with our
brothers and sisters all over this country in the fight to reform a broken
criminal justice system and for comprehensive immigration reform, and also to
end the injustices that are currently taking place again the native American
people all over this country..
"But let me just conclude on a personal note," he said. "I speak of Jane and my
whole family in thanking all of you for the love and support you gave us all
over this country. As I have said many times, election days come and go, but
the struggle for justice continues. Thank you all very much."
Steven Rosenfeld covers national political issues for AlterNet, including
America's retirement crisis, democracy and voting rights, and campaigns and
elections. He is the author of "Count My Vote: A Citizen's Guide to Voting"
(AlterNet Books, 2008).
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
Report typos and corrections to 'corrections@xxxxxxxxxxxx'. [4] Error!
Hyperlink reference not valid.[5]
Source URL:
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/sanders-launches-our-revolution-dedica
ted-progressive-agenda-and-better-democratic
Links:
[1] http://www.alternet.org/authors/steven-rosenfeld
[2] http://alternet.org
[3] https://ourrevolution.com/
[4] mailto:corrections@xxxxxxxxxxxx?Subject=Typo on Sanders Launches 'Our ;
Revolution,' Dedicated to a Progressive Agenda and Better Democratic Party
[5] http://www.alternet.org/ [6] http://www.alternet.org/%2Bnew_src%2B
