Democracy

2016 Elections, Bernie Sanders, Democracy, Green Party, Hillary Clinton, Jill Stein, Social Justice, Socialism, Third Party February 5, 2016

Why Socialists Can’t Wait for Bernie to Lose

How the biggest socialist candidacy in a century is dividing an already divided movement. Politico By Bill Scher February 4, 2016 Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the 2016 presidential race is that Bernie Sanders, somehow, has made “socialism” a safe word in American politics. Nearly 100 years ago Socialist presidential candidate Eugene Debs had to campaign from prison; today, Sanders campaigns on socialism in broad daylight. For eight years, Democrats winced when Republicans hurled the “socialist” slur at President Barack Obama; now, 43 percent of likely Iowa Democratic caucus participants, many inspired by Sanders, embrace the label. But the…

2016 Elections, Bernie Sanders, campaign reform, Democracy, Green Party, Hillary Clinton, Jill Stein, National Politics, Socialism, Third Party February 3, 2016

Political Revolution and the Third-Party Imperative

OdEd News By Scott McClarty February 3, 2016 “You’ve had your fun with Bernie. Now it’s time to get serious and support Hillary.” That’s the harangue Bernie Sanders’ supporters have been hearing from mainstream bsmocratic Party leaders and their apologists in the media. It’s bound to intensify in the wake of the virtual tie in the Iowa caucuses on February 1 and his projected win in the New Hampshire primary contest. When Dem leaders look at Mr. Sanders, they shudder over the prospect of a repeat of George McGovern’s crushing loss to Richard Nixon. Like Mr. McGovern in 1972, Mr….

2016 Elections, Bernie Sanders, campaign reform, Democracy, Green Party, Jill Stein January 29, 2016

Think Green: Jill Stein on ‘Abusive’ Political Relationships, Restorative Justice and Bernie Sanders

The Green Party supports reparations, fights against environmental racism and takes an unambiguous stance against police brutality and deportation. So why aren’t more African-American and Latino voters paying attention? The Root By: Kirsten West Savali January 28, 2016 Election cycle 2016 has kicked into high gear, and the unrelenting battle for political power between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party has taken center stage. This political paradigm is not new. In a 1956 piece titled, “Why I Won’t Vote,” published in The Nation, W.E.B. Du Bois issued a statement many considered radical for his time, one that appears to…

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2016 Elections, campaign reform, Democracy, Green Party, National Politics December 24, 2015

Voting for Either Business Party Does Not Work (Been there, done that)

Dissident Voice By Jack Balkwill December 22nd, 2015 Americans understand the elections are rigged. In the last national election, in 2014, just 36.4 percent of the voting-eligible population cast ballots. Of the 320 million Americans, about 80 million are under age to vote. of the remaining 240 million about 100 million do not participate in the elections. There are a great many reasons to be discouraged. The American government does not represent the American people. One may look at any number of polls showing what the American people want, and what they get, often the direct opposite. For example, citizens…

Democracy, Green Party November 22, 2015

College students have plenty to protest

The Norwich Bulletin By Scott Deshefy November 20, 2015 In May 1971, while occupying an administrative building during the Vietnam moratorium, I stopped a fellow freshman from damaging a desk. Scratching furniture for which mahogany trees paid dearly just didn’t jive with nonviolent civil disobedience. Since then, whenever someone blows off steam, however righteous the anger, I’m reminded of a 1799 sketch by Francisco Goya, “El sueno de la razon produce monstruos” (The sleep of reason yields monsters). Belying their agitation, the bats, owls, cats and other “children of the night” in Goya’s dream are rather inviting. But, the message…