Better How?

The Potemkin facade of the Democrats being the higher minded and more ethical Party has toppled over and revealed the shoddy framework and underpinnings of the structure that claims it represents the best interests of the citizenry. 2016 is a pivotal year since this is the year that we finally learned:

1. The Democratic PTB don't feel the actual voter has any part in selection of the candidate -

By lining up virtually all the super-delegates ahead of time in Hillary's camp, they sent a large signal to any potential contenders that anyone else who had an interest would be simply wasting their time, money and energy and the primary process was but a formality whereby the voters who bothered to show up were simply rubber-stamping the already determined selection process.

I have never seen or imagined that any political Party could be so contemptuous of its own voters. Also beyond belief is that the Party weakened its own back bench and roster of both up and comers and old stalwarts by denying them the opportunity for greater national exposure for future elections. All of this was sacrificed so that Sure Thing Hillary would be the sure thing. This speaks to a lack of confidence that she could carry the race on her own merits. Since we are in the Derby season, it's akin to the party making any competing horses wear 200lbs of extra weight. Because it was HER TURN and because the VOTERS DON'T MATTER.

2. Democratic poobahs and insiders don't give a rat's ass about previously touted virtues of transparency in government and legitimate oversight and review by Congress and/or citizens and/or Fourth Estate (just pretend we still have one).

They are completely comfortable with HRC conducting all her public business on a private server under her direct control and retaining all those official government records until she was forced, kicking and screaming all the way, to turn them over by the Benghazi Committee and various civil lawsuits. The Party has FOREVER given up grounds for complaining about actual or potential corruption by any other individual or party due to the opacity and furtiveness of their conduct. Sunshine as a disinfectant has been removed from the Democrats cleaning cart.

3. Democrats don't really care about the technical requirements of maintaining national security, since they are giving a pass to someone who whether intentionally or unintentionally opened up the highest levels of the Department of State to foreign and/or domestic eavesdroppers and hackers because Convenience.

4. Democrats (DWS) ADMITTED that the function of the DNC is to protect incumbents from grass roots competition. It's a big club, etc. etc.

5. Democrats are OWNED by PACS, Super-PACS and special interests and that's the way they want it despite any lip-service to the contrary.

*********

Let's talk about the concept of Lesser Evil for just a bit.

Democrats have maintained for quite a while that simply because they are inherently the Party of Lesser Evil, that should count for a vote.

I have a new theory which is that the recent iteration of Democrats, specifically the DLC New Democrat model ushered in by Bill Clinton, is the purveyor of Lesser Overt Evil but may be in reality the vehicle of Greater DELIVERED Evil.

When Republicans are in power, Democratic legislators are forced to pretend to be Democrats in opposition to awful Republican constructs like privatizing Social Security, as one example, and most of the more horrendous Republican initiatives are beaten back due to citizen outrage plus social media and mainstream media pushback. The Democrats like to convert the outrage to their own advantage in any upcoming elections. Their best traction in attracting new voters or converts is as an opposition Party. Ironically, once in office themselves, they then often turn most of their energies towards alienating their own supporters.

Whether Democrats are in a majority or minority position, a significant number of them cannot wait to "compromise" (also known as complete capitulation) with Republican positions. Bill Clinton DELIVERED the largest, most complete slate of Republican legislation ever as President. President Obama DELIVERED the Republican healthcare model of keeping for-profits as the linchpin and also became the first President ever to offer up cuts to Social Security (chained CPI) in budget negotiations. Democrats DELIVERED the Iraq War by being compliant and cowed. The Lesser Evil Democrats are often the hand-maidens and facilitators for Greater Evil Republicans or Republican Policy.

It's for this reason that I am actually conflicted whether which vote, Clinton or Trump, would result in greater damage to the average Joe. Trump's proposals might be so outrageous that they are all or mostly all beaten back successfully and he becomes a one term Presidential aberration. Clinton on the other hand will be so anxious to "get things done" that she will work hand-in-hand with New Democrats of her own ilk and Republicans to emulate the administration of her husband and deliver us with a full slate of safety net reductions, military misadventures, crony Clinton Foundation Capitalism, and Free Trade serfdom.

I am on the side of those who are coming to a conclusion that Democrats don't serve progressive goals because the power structure of the Party DOESN'T WANT TO. Liberal or Progressive voters who are tired of incremental lengths of rope being thrown towards them as they drown economically may be finally be at point where they realize a completely new party could be the more efficient way to obtain results. The Democratic Party is an old wheezy fixer-upper with a cracked foundation on a landfill. Time to move to a sounder home.

(Edited for 2 syntax/grammatical errors)

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WindDancer13's picture

The media is busy covering something else.

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

That being said, I just made a contribution to Bernie.

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legislative agenda: Democrat in the White House could easily deliver worse stuff since as you say opposing GOP legislation gives Democrats out of power something to pretend to be Democrats about (no bigger example than in California, where the State Legislature sent two single payer healthcare bills for Arnold Governator to veto, then when the got Jerry Brown, they refuse to test him by throwing such a bill to his desk...)

war and peace: This one is a tough call because Trump is unpredictable; Hillary will deliver more warfare, but she'll probably do it on the drone/installment plan mostly, and avoid the George W Bush type of shock and awe

supreme court: always a losing move to pick the GOP nominee. The Democrat will choose corporate friendly Democrats, the Republican will choose loony foaming at the mouth wingers.

it's definitely not an easy calculation

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WindDancer13's picture

She will feed poor elderly to the soyent green producers. At least since 2000, Trump has been consistent about protecting it.

HRC has a number of other dictators on her list to overthrow, but you may be right that she will stick to the sneakier methods rather than do something like get agreement from the people or Congress to start a war. For Trump, we would need to take a look at who his advisers are to get an idea of what he will do. I think we know who HRC's will be. Between Kissinger and HRC, strt building that nuclear winter shelter.

PS. I am hoping that Sanders will chose Tulsi Gabbard. = )

Supreme court: They will both be equally bad on that.

Spot on on the agenda.

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

janis b's picture

in its well thought and articulated conclusion. You paint the bigger picture in beautiful colors. Thank you.

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It is time for the Democratic party not to abandon its principals but rather return to them, ala FDR. The party and its leaders have become the Republican party of the 1960's, hawkish but willing to throw a bone or two to the 99%. They are not looking for ways to make the 99% lives better but rather for the 1% to strengthen their hold over us peons.

Bernie is both the Democratic Party's and Americas only chance to return us to the hey day of FDR (in philosophy) which made our country great.

HRC, DWS, Harry Reid, Chuck Shumer and the rest of the band of outlaws DO NOT represent Americans they all represent corporations and Oligarchs.

It is time to eject the vast majority of elected Dems for candidates and a party that will represent America.

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I'm no great essayist, so I couldn't have put it nearly so eloquently, but yesterday I had the same thoughts as you put forth n your second-to-last paragraph. Trump might indeed be such an awful President that he wouldn't actually make it through his first term (I'm thinking impeachment, not violence). Hillary, on the other hand, with her incrementalism, would turn us into frogs in cool water; not noticing as the flame is turned up to boil us alive.

Your closing line in the last paragraph is also thought provoking: yes, we need to move on to a more sound dwelling, but it would be irresponsible of us to not tear down the old structure as we leave. Who knows what vermin would take up residence there?

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Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

or any Republican for that matter, but I have finally evolved to a point where I won't let my vote be taken for granted or guilted out of me by Democrats in order to ward off Greater Evil.

I also feel a civic responsibility to participate in our nominally Democratic process. I also would like the country/world to know what sort of politician and stances I support, so that my little bead on the abacus gets slid into the right position. To all those ends, my individual decision in the upcoming general election will most likely be to write in Bernie Sander's name if he is not the nominee. I'm not advocating that outcome for anyone else, because how one dispenses one's own valuable vote is an intensely personal decision. But, if anything, I'm more than comfortable with it, especially after the outright attacks on the character of both Bernie and his voters by the Democratic machine. They handed me my hat and asked what's my hurry and I'll oblige them by leaving the tent.

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

I stop listening. You honestly cannot set the bar any lower than that.

Americans have been saying to Republicans and Democrats for years "You suck". Democratic political systems are supposed to be about leading the countries shared goals - most of which are progressive.

Who cares which party is "better". This system managed to re-elect George W Bush, perhaps the most flawed and ultimately hated President ever. And all the Dems can say is, Hey ! we're better. THIS is why the Democrats may lose...they represent nothing we want and have chosen a leader no one trusts.

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Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

George W Bush did not get elected once, much less twice. He was installed. And as a Floridian, I know more about how that went down than I ever wanted to.

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

except to say, in Banana Republics like ours that's how it works.

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and they'll probably get her, even if it takes another four or five mountains of lies and voter purges. Their choice. Not mine. NEVER mine. You know, the last time the Democratic Party decided to kick the left half of the party to the curb it was 1968. I was fifteen, too young to go and protest that sellout convention, although God knows I wanted to. Now I'm 63, and too old to go. Maybe. But Rendell doesn't look a bit better than Daly, and his snotty comment about all those ugly women who'll vote for Hillary may be just the impetus I need to pay a visit to Philadelphia.

And yeah, I know I'll scare Barbara Boxer. But sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.

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Twain Disciple

gulfgal98's picture

It is also the reason why I am so glad that you are writing here. Welcome back after your hiatus and I hope you will continue to write on a regular basis.

I have some thoughts, most of which I have expressed as comments recently on other essays and I may repost them here.

First, what Bernie has done is by running, he has yanked the curtain back on the corruption that is the Democratic party. And make no mistake, the Democratic party was remade by the Clintons into Republican lite or the Neo-liberal party. They really want to destroy the left and all the vestiges of the New Deal. Neo-liberalism is all about funneling wealth and power to those who "deserve" it based upon their idea of meritocracy. All the rest of us who are left behind get what we "deserve" which is nothing because we did not work hard enough to rise to their levels.

Hillary does not want the left to participate in her campaign. she will gladly take our votes, but she wants no part of our issues and policy prescriptions. This is why her campaign has gone out of its way to demonize us and demoralize us. She figures a significant number of Bernie supporters will eventually vote for her as the lesser evil. But she is also courting moderate Republicans and Independents as her backup. If she is able to create that coalition, the wheels will be greased for her to gut Social Security and Medicare. And there is no doubt in my mind that she will try to do just that. And the Republicans will be only too happy to help her do so.

I vote in Florida which is a swing state. Right now all options are open except for one. I definitely will not vote for Hillary Clinton. I will be watching the polls carefully and may have to vote strategically. I am hoping I will not have to do that and can vote for the Green party. Since Floridiots voted Rick Scott into the governor's office twice, there is a good chance I will not be forced into a decision that I really do not want to make. If Bernie acquiesces to being on the Green party ballot, I definitely will vote Green, regardless. I had considered writing Bernie's name in, but am fearful that a write in will not be counted. I know that a vote for Green will be counted as they are going to be on the Florida ballot in Nov.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

Thanks for your comment. I will try to participate more because things are certainly getting "interesting" and not in a good way.

I'm in complete agreement - the Democrats would like the left to sit down, be quiet and vote. Bernie really threw a wrench in their works because I'm sure the initial game plan would have been to be "moderate" to the max in order to attract those elusive moderate independent swing voters they fixate on so much in their daydreams. Trump would have been the perfect opportunity for Hillary to be the Comforting Sensible Centrist.

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

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