Warning: An LONG open letter to my fellow Bernie supporters, especially to any of my "Bernie or Bust" friends.
Dear fellow Bernie supporters,
I mean this in the kindest way possible. I promise.
However, if you've invested absolutely ZERO energy into helping reform the Democratic party after 2016, why on earth would you expect a different result four years later?!??!
For four years, I have been literally begging fellow progressives to help us reform the Democratic party from the inside.
Not only have many refused; but have INSTEAD made our work harder by demonizing the entire Democratic party as opposed to the old guard of the party, therefore discrediting much of the work progressives have done within the Democratic party.
Trust me, I know that you THINK that the people in power within the Democratic party care about your vote. And that all you have to do is refuse to vote for the nominee and therefore "teach the Democratic party a lesson". However, you are WRONG!!!!!!!
Not only does the "old guard" of the Democratic party not care about winning your vote, but Bernie supporters refusing to vote for whichever centrist candidate they shove down our throats; actually allows you to become an easy scapegoat.
Just look back at 2016. The old guard in the Dem party still hasn't accepted ANY responsibility for the stunning loss of the white house. Instead, they have shifted the narrative to place the blame solely on Bernie supporters who didn't vote for Clinton and have managed to demonize all progressives along the way.
Also, the lives of the old guard (and the people who consolidate power in the party) doesn't really change regardless of of whether or not we win. They will still have their privilege, power and opportunity to make money from their positions; regardless of whether or not Democrats win (especially if there are "stubborn" progressives to blame).
Listen if you want to withhold your vote, that's your choice and I am NOT here to shame you for it. Personally, I refuse to withhold my vote because I know that withholding my vote WILL NOT bring about the changes that we so desperately need. Instead, it will HURT the most marginalized members of our society - the very people I'm fighting for. It will not hurt the Democratic Party or the the old guard. Do you see the checkmate here? (And people say that only Republicans know how to play dirty!!)
And while I refuse to vote shame you, I will say this: if you have done NOTHING to help reform the party; please don't act shocked that the DNC is repeating itself from 2016!
Truth bomb: What WILL bring about the changes we so desperately need is actually OCCUPYING the Democratic party, grabbing the voting power internally and making the structural changes within the party needed to support the progressives causes and candidates we care about. In Florida, that means breaking up the weighted vote!
Love,
Your local frustrated, battered and exhausted progressive friend/fellow Bernie supporter who has worked inside the Democratic party for the last four years
P.S The party doesn't have to "rig" anything to win. All they have to do is literally change the rules anytime they want (without any input from the voters) right in front of your eyes. That's the extreme power consolidation we have allowed them to have by eliminating our voices from the party.
P.P.S Both parties have engineered statutory laws so that a third party will NEVER be successful. If you really want a multiparty system to rise and thrive, you must first occupy one of the two parties and CHANGE the laws which the powerful members of the party have created (and fiercely guard) purely engineered in order to stop another party from becoming powerful/successful.
<Deep sigh>
Jessica Vaughn
