Threads Touting or Trashing Clinton, Warren, Sanders, Etc., Miss The Point
At this point, I don't know who I would vote for in the Democratic primary. I have not seen any platforms, heard any debates or heard the things that each candidate plans to emphasize. Heck, if I made my decision back in 2002, I would not have supported Howard Dean, because who knew anything about him back then?
Still, I see the familiar threads from folks saying, "I support so-and-so, and if they don't win, I will vote Democratic, but I will so grudgingly and with little enthusiasm." Conversely, many folks push the idea that if so-and-so does wins, things would be so much better, because they are so forceful, charismatic, liberal, progressive, etc., that things would be different.
The problem with such threads is that they are based on the false assumption that all progressives need is some messiah, and empowerment will then filter from the top down to the masses as the chosen one leads us to the progressive promised land. It does not work this way. Change comes from a massive and persistent force from the outside and politicians will fall into line. If you are a Republican, this change is powered by billions in corporate dollars and corporate sponsored media coverage persistently pushing right wing memes.
But progressive do not have this luxury. If we elect Bernie Sanders, Kucinich, Dean, Clinton, etc., that person will be met by the same wealthy entrenched interests that poured billions into a midterm election where less than 40% of eligible voters voted. It is not about the message or policy. Indeed, the more progressive the policy is, the more likely that the media will fill the airwaves with cries of "socialism" and "fascism." Some have blamed Democrats for their inability to "stay on message." However, Fox News is not attacking Democrats because they are using bad soundbites.
The mistake that the threads touting candidates as a Democratic savior this far from the 2016 primaries is that it suggests that any one person can magically lead the U.S. toward a more progressive future without the constant and persistent support of the people. We cannot count on any one candidate to leads us to victory over the entrenched wealthy interests that powered the Republican majority in the Senate. We need to stop holding our breath waiting for a Superman or a Superwoman to single-handedly leads us to a liberal utopia.
So, in 2016, I plan to pick and support a favored candidate in the primaries, but even if they do not prevail, I will support Democrats and point out the differences between Democrats and Republicans, because despite their faults, there is a world of difference between Democrats and Republicans on the policy issues I care about. Put another while I can criticize whether any Democrat has done enough to address climate change, poverty, healthcare, public education, etc., with Republicans, all I get on this is either denial or the insistence that giving tax breaks to the rich will solve the issue at hand.