One view of the Democratic Party divide.
My gradual estrangement from some in the Democratic Party establishment has concerned me, especially since I`ve been a party loyalist for over five decades. Equally troubling is the unsolicited opinion of many Democrats who feel just as I do. There is a reason for this estrangement, and it has nothing to do with unicorns.
I started thinking about the similarities between many in the Democratic Party leadership and my alcoholic parents. Even though some of us kids were sick and all of us were hungry, nothing stopped our parents from leaving us and going where the booze was. My parents paid no attention to kids without shoes or a house without heat, but they always found money for those jugs of gin or those tall bottles of Pabst Blue Ribbon. The extended family was filled with enablers and don`t-make-wavers, so of course no problems were ever resolved. Although some days brought new excuses, most days were a continuation of parents disregarding the dysfunction. After all, they had everything they needed, so what`s the beef?
The actual old soul of the Democratic Party has been replaced by a bright and shiny pot full of contributions and I.O.U.s similar to the bright and shiny pot in the Republican Party. The dead children in Chicago aren`t very bright and shiny. The lab results in Flint, Michigan aren`t bright and shiny, nor are the boarded-up clinics in Appalachia. If the awful number of domestic violence incidents in Native American villages or the number of children sleeping in their mother`s station wagons mattered, we`d see all our Democratic leaders lined up and screaming about it. We certainly see them lined up when a bridge is named after them or when there`s a big fundraiser.
This election isn`t about the Democratic or Republican Establishments and the candidates they have chosen for us. It`s about the people of our country that both party Establishments have long ignored but whose support they took for granted. It`s about taking a different path and working together for a different outcome. It`s about TRUE social and economic justice, not campaign slogans we`ve heard over and over without results.
The David Brocks of the world are learning that their pitiful lack of respect for the left wing of the Democratic Party works well with old DLCers and new Third Wavers, but that`s about as far as it goes. The "fringe" should be very proud this time around, because apparently we have a lot of company. Win or lose, the strength and enthusiasm of this expanded "Fringe" will be something solid to build on. This new soul, similar to the old soul, will be of the people, by the people, for the people....as grassroots as grassroots can be. The establishment road will lead to law-writing lobbyists. The other road will lead to our brothers and sisters, and with hope, a new solidarity.
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I haven't been on DU long, but long enough to be grateful to find there are still thoughtful decent liberal motivated determined articulate people in the country.
I am caucusing for Bernie in Las Vegas on Saturday and I think we will win. I was at a lunch today in a middle class neighborhood hosted by some wonderful Bernie supporters. About 150 people. Lots of precinct captains, lots of volunteers, lots of young volunteers who came here from Iowa, lots of older people (like 63 year old me). Just regular folks. Black, brown, asian, white. And Susan Sarandon. Not being a movie star. Not being the center of attention. Not being a big shot. Just rocking a baby on her knee and being part of this revolution. And I thought this is my America. This is where I live. And there a more of us than them. And everyone in that room is committed to make it happen. We WILL have our democracy and out country back. End of rant
