Summary
Bernie Sanders criticizes the Democratic Party for neglecting the working class, leading to their recent election losses.
He highlights issues like economic inequality, job displacement, healthcare costs, and foreign policy as key concerns for the American people.
Sanders questions whether the Democratic leadership will address these issues or remain beholden to big money interests.
I really think ranked choice voting is the answer here. It will open up the opportunity for third parties to actually gain traction.
Me too but how are we going to get that changed before the next election?
Before ranked choice voting we need at least one party to rally around with a candidate that focuses on popular issues. Once we have someone in office that will commit to those issues we can then talk about these kinds of changes.
A good place to start would be at the state level since states run their own elections. For that all I can suggest is to get more actively involved in local politics than you ever have before.
Of course, that’s assuming we have another election.
Never underestimate the obstruction from establishment Democrats at every level of government. We passed a bill authorizing statewide use of ranked preference voting in CA and our neoliberal democrat governor Gavin Newsom vetoed it. I generally support his policies but this one was a flat out “fuck you” to everyone alienated by the neoliberal business as usual party that runs our state.
The answer to obstruction at every level of government is to push back at every level of government then.
That means getting involved in local government. You. Me. Us. All of us. Starting now.
I’m nearly pissed off enough to try and run for local office myself now and I hope others also feel that drive.
Only reason I haven’t done it is because I’m a nobody retail worker with no money. I can’t afford to upend my life to go campaign. And I feel that a lot of other people are in a similar boat. But I also feel that the last hundred years of American politicians have been so far up their own asses that having a regular everyman in office like myself can’t possibly be worse.
We should be able to take out a business loan or something to run for office. But also we shouldn’t have to do that.
TBH I would love to vote for a regular working class citizen and would gladly contribute to the local candidate that has values I agree with.
Can only imagine there are others willing to pitch in.
That’s a good question. I think we need a massive push towards it, from our local officials all the way to the top. Bernie may get onboard.
True but nothings going to happen until we both demand it and actually do something about it.
The time to be hopeful that one of the major parties has an awakening is over.
Absolutely. I think that the best path of action is to let our local politicians know clearly that this is the desire of their constituents, and push hard to vote in candidates that support this. All of these politicians started somewhere, so the best hope for change starts locally and grows from there as word gets out.
Certainly easier to convince them than career politicians at the national level
Definitely need to change our voting system. I really like Veritasium’s recentish video on voting systems. Sounds like approval voting is even better than ranked choice. Anything but first-past-the-post, please!
We must only support candidates whose main policy position is electoral reform.