We, Bernie and the pendulum.
Is the pendulum of American history reversing course? Far too early to say, but American presidents have often been reflective of those changes, e.g. Washington, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and Reagan. Each was truly transformative in his own way (perhaps Jefferson also because of the Louisiana Purchase, etc.).
Because of wealth inequality, pitting people against each other with racism and the other “isms” and all the other ugly aspects of billionaire control, the American people may be ready for that pendulum to reverse.
Bernie Sanders’ election could be necessary but it is certainly not sufficient to effect that change. The thing I find most exciting about his campaign is that he has a clear vision of a mass movement of people (a “revolution” he calls it) to do the legwork to effect transformative change. This is how he can get his agenda passed, by massive organizing and action.
Check out the linked video interview at about 19 minutes in (or precisely 19:38 remaining). Katie Couric asks him how he can overcome McConnell, Boehner, etc., and actually get Congress to enact his programs if he is elected. His response? He calls for millions to get actively involved and for a million young people to march on Washington!
[link:https://www.yahoo.com/politics/bernie-sanders-talks-to-katie-couric-bernie-120458581061.html]
I believe there are millions more people willing to participate in such a movement than was the case for the astro-turf Tea Party. Because of the Koch brothers' and Fox News' assistance that little astro-turf group was transmogrified into the most dynamic political movement in the US since the emergence of the New Left during the Viet Nam/civil rights era. Look how much power they have garnered by passion, without great numbers.
I believe Bernie can win the nomination and the general election, but that is just the beginning. Bringing an end to the Age of Reagan won’t take 100 million people in the streets. It might not even take ten million. But it will require millions of energized people and passion and commitment. That is what Bernie could catalyze. He is asking for a million young people to march on Washington and demand change on behalf of the people. Maybe it should be called “BernStock” or “Occupy on Steroids,” I don’t know. But I do know that a march on Washington by a million young people would be a damn good start. We have a selfless leader who is putting himself out there for us. But there are no saviors, we must save ourselves. The lesson of history is that the pendulum does not change of its own accord.
https://www.yahoo.com/politics/bernie-sanders-talks-to-katie-couric-bernie-120458581061.html
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