Reforming The Democratic Party
I understand that this is not a popular idea around here, and I have a firm belief that it will not happen in my lifetime.
On the other hand, if In These Times publishes an article describing a state where it might actually happen it is a worthwhile discussion to consider:
The Unlikely Alliance That Could Stop Keystone and Transform the Democratic Party:
Natives and ranchers are teaming up to save their water and land from corporate takeover.
That's the actual headline. Here's the intro paragraph:
OFFICIALLY, THE FATE OF ONE OF THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE CORPORATE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN A GENERATION now rests with an obscure regulatory body in one of this country’s most sparsely populated states: Nebraska’s Public Service Commission. Unofficially, the homegrown movement that blocked the Keystone XL pipeline once before is ready to stop it again—even if commissioners give it a green light.
Ok! The pipeline not only threatens the water supply of Native American tribes, but the water supply that Nebraska farmers and ranchers depend on. Here's what the chair of the Democratic State Party has to say:
Jane Kleeb, one of the pipeline’s highest-profile opponents and now the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party—flanked by landowners who live along its proposed route—made an unconditional pledge: “Standing Rock was a dress rehearsal compared to what this will be. We are not going to let an inch of foreign steel touch Nebraska soil.”
A gauntlet had been thrown.
The article covers the populist political history of Nebraska and background of the Keystone fight. Here's Kleeb again:
Though Democrats seem to agree they need a 50-state strategy that operates between presidential election cycles, the realities of getting there are thornier. Kleeb laments, “The mistake that Democrats and progressives have made over the last 20 years is that they have written off rural communities as racist and not progressive.”
Here's the rest of the story:
http://inthesetimes.com/features/keystone_nebraska_climate_activism_jane...
Comments
Not so much racist as
just not into the Dem thing, much more into the business owner Repub thing.
I actually thought the XL Valdez Pipeline thing just might develop into some mild 'revolution' type thing. When it didn't, when the whole thing was put down - just like most "revolutions" before it - I said, "well, that's that." Good try, but we Lose again. And, I don't know that farmers trust The Left enough to form any "coalition." But, hey, I've been wrong before. Sure would be sumpthin' if it gains momentum.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Trust the Left? Like DNC? Like DLC? Like HRC?
Hohohohoho hahahaha
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Please be more optimistic. I believe change is always possible.
Betty Clermont
Well, it is. I just
don't know that it's going to happen thru or via rural America. I thought Occupy might be it, then I thought maybe the XL Pipeline might be it.
One thing I Do know: we can hope 'til the cows come home, without action there is no change.
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
Jane Kleeb
I remember reading about Jane Kleeb during the primary and was impressed by her. I hope she's able to do some good with this. It sounds like a lot of lessons have been learned from the DAPL protests.
"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi
"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone
Although I agree with the sentiment
Are the ranchers going to get armored personnel carriers, vicious attack dogs, water cannons, armed drones? Maybe they'll have longhorn cattle charge the Police.
I'm sorry. I can't get too optimistic about fighting pipelines when the balance of power is so uneven.
No, but at least they're white.
I apologize for bringing up race and ethnicity. I am sick to death of it. None the less, ranchers joining in with Native Americans will help. Militia joining in would be better yet.
There is a duopoly, and it is them and us. The only answer is to put aside our differences and take them down before they take us down.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
yep. n/t
the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.
What an interesting
What an interesting coincidence. I was just reading an old 2012 issue of In These Times, and it had a very interesting article on this topic - discussing how the Democrats are much better than the Republicans but both parties are not going to really help anyone beyond the rich (this was before Bernie's increasing the progressive wing visibility).
It laid out how firmly the powerful are going to keep taking the wealth from others and had only one suggestion - a constitutional amendment taking money out of politics.
@Craig234
Doesn't the US Constitution already state that the US government must be of, by and for the people, with equal rights, treatment and opportunity for all - something contravened by the notion that the wealthiest can purchase not only extra 'speech' rights but policy, politicians and entire political parties - and that the rights of Americans must be upheld throughout all of the United States of America? Something public officials must swear to uphold prior to taking office, in order to qualify for holding it? I don't think crossed fingers behind the back relieves them of the requirement to do so, in order to form a legitimate government...
A bad and unconstitutional precedent by the Supreme Court should not require a Constitutional change; any such Constitutional Convention thereby opening the US Constitution up to those likely eager to 'legalize' abuses by whiting out the Constitutionally guaranteed rights of the American people, against which so many unconstitutional laws have been already written by those on both sides of the corporate Two-Party Trade-Off. There must be a better way...
Edited for a sizable explanatory addition to the first paragraph.
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.
i don't want to REFORM the democratic Party, I want to
SEIZE the Democratic Party, then turn it around, point its business end at its former controllers, and blast them to smithereens.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.