Who Are We?

:

"Give me your tired, your poor,
    Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
    The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
    Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.
    I lift my lamp beside the golden door"

The words on our Statue of Liberty used to define the United States.

Now fear and those who voted for the demagogue president elect are attempting to redefine us.
How did we get here?  There are many explanations and each contains a piece of the fascist puzzle.
Hate, fear, racism and a perception of exclusion from the "good life" are some of the causes.

Once again the Republicans and Billionaire bankers and corporations, through legal bribery of public elected officials are the main culprits.  Once again people have been duped into voting against their self interest.  Who believes Mr. Trump is the champion of the poor vs. the billionaires?  He never pretended to be anything but the gutter rising to the top.  How long will this con persist?

Listen and learn:  The government may be ineffective and that is disgusting.  They have allowed the wealthy class to oppress the rest of us.  The actual problem is the billionaires sucking the resources and life from us.  The government is culpable due to corrupt elected representatives accepting bribes form lobbyists and corporate campaign contributions.

Bernie Sanders proved that an honest man with financial support in small donations from the rank and file can shake up an election and wake us up the potential for good that still lives in our country. We are in mortal danger of being crushed by unAmerican greedheads who would deny a document which has served us well for 230 years:  the Constitution.
The famous inscription on our Statue of Liberty faces outward and beckons the vulnerable to the "land of opportunity."

The answer begins with aid and sanctuary to those in peril.  Terrorism  More people are killed by violence in a week in Chicago than in a year by terrorists in the USA.  What is wrong with that picture.  I know a teacher in Chicago who hears the cries of kids in terror of their families being torn apart by deportation and even worse fates.  The image of the new reality are chilling. It has been seventy short years since the same happened in Germany.  Does anyone remember Hitler?
Apparently scapegoating remains effective.  Help the kids and their families stay together.  Where is the Party of "family values?"

Liberal organizations must unite and coordinate strategy to "make America compassionate again." In unity is strength.  We must stop lamenting and turn our words to action.  If we don't help, who will?

Oxymoron: Reality TV

Most importantly it is imperative that those us us in relatively secure positions are compelled to aid those most vulnerable.  We all know who these people are.  That is the way to be compassionate and do the right thing.  That is how we fulfill the promise of our revolution.

One of the big reasons we find ourselves in this nightmare circumstance is that many people do not understand that there is a difference between reality and television.  The entertainment divisions of networks have taken precedence over the news which used to be "fair and balanced."

Walter Cronkite is spinning in his grave.

"Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid scandals.
Don't want to be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handle"

A prophecy by B. Dylan

                                                                 

A Modern Underground Railroad

Democrats have no one to blame but themselves for nominating a weak candidate.  If Bernie had won the nomination, we would be rejoicing with President-Elect Sanders.  Unfortunately it did not turn out that way.  I am disgusted but not remorseful that I voted for the dishonorable Hillary Clinton. That vote reflects my fear and loathing of the alternative.  The glass ceiling is back in place.  Hillary and the Democrats are guilty of hubris and we all must pay the price.

Last night one of my adult daughters called me to see if I was alright.  She, my other daughter, my wife and many of my friends and associates were and are strong Bernie supporters.

The current debacle has raised more questions than answers.  I tried to allay her fears.  We will weather the storm.  The pendulum swings and we will succeed with our liberal progressive movement.  The mid term elections favor the party out of power.  Trump lost the popular vote which means that more voters rejected him overall.  That majority represents a lot of people.  I mentioned that since we live in poor rural areas, the money grabbers will most likely get to us last.  I advised her to try to fly under the radar and wait it out.

She proceeded to point out that while we may be in less jeopardy, millions of people of color and/or poverty are potentially in danger.  Rather than just accept the bitter fate we have drawn, she and her boyfriend are printing and wearing shirts that say, "I am safe."  That means I am approachable and sympathetic.  Sometimes people need to talk to a kind and understanding person to try to sort things out.  Other people may need accompaniment to feel safe walking through some areas or neighborhoods.  We have to let people know they are not alone.

I am so proud of them and anyone else who takes on the challenge.  We cannot wait for a progressive to win the presidency in 2020 but must act now.  It is said, "Think globally, act locally."  Now is the time for bold action and for helping those more vulnerable than ourselves.

Call it what you will.  We need and must deliver a modern underground railroad.  If we think we are safe and do nothing to help, we will be the next vulnerable minority:  progressives.

Feel the Bern, help those who need it, and support Our Revolution.  It means nothing to get knocked down.  The challenge is to get back up.

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I am Scared to Death: Mea Culpa

Anyone who had read my blog (all three of you) would know my opinion of Hillary Clinton.  It is not favorable.

This lying lawless lawyer plays the grey areas and barely escapes being caught and held accountable.  But she does evade responsibility and her dishonesty and is not trustworthy. That short coming is well known though accepted by many.  I believe Hillary, Wasserman-Shultz and the DNC swindled the most popular and transformitive candidate, Bernie Sanders.  Bernie is a gentleman and kept his word to endorse the Democratic nominee if it was not him.  I have respected and listened to Bernie for thirty years.  Can I ignore him and his insistent warning that we must defeat Trump?  Hillary’s campaign consists of “I’m not Trump.”  Here is one rare area where I agree with her.

Trump is a walking turd under a red cap that ought to say,   “Make America Hate Again.”  He looks like Mussolini and acts like Hitler.  Both Trump and Hitler use hatred, racism, scapegoat politics, fear and unrealistic promises.  Hitler rose during the Great Depression and promised a better economy and standard of living:  A chicken in every pot, so to speak.  Trump exists under the shadow of the post Great Recession.  He  makes unrealistic promises and pledges to make people’s lives better and more affluent.  Hitler blamed the Weimar Republic while Trump blames Obama’s administration for causing economic misery, poor living conditions and general suffering; forget about the billionaires: he is one of them, the and source of poverty, false hope to the neglected lower classes and shrinking middle class.  Both Hitler and Trump are unstable maniacs capable of destroying the countries they rule. What kind of life do we want to leave our children?

Once Bernie was defeated I had no candidate I could in good conscience support.  That left me with the option of not voting or supporting Jill Stein and the Green Party.  I have ten Jill Stein pins, nine when I wear one.

I have a tee shirt that depicts a distorted picture of Hillary and the word “crap.”  I also have a similar one of Trump over the word “nope.”  Furthermore I wear one that says “Vote for the Green Party.”  We can conclude that I like tee shirts.

Back to Trump.  He is no longer the buffoon baboon good for some laughs who could never be elected.  That is a fallacy.  He is a serious would be dictator with a chance to be elected President.  Trump is unstable with bad intentions.  Given the power he could devastate the United States and perhaps the world.  He likes our enemies (Putin) and exercises contempt for our allies.  In short, he is a dangerous evil man.  What won’t he do?

As much as I dislike Hillary I have decided reluctantly to vote for her.  I detest Hillary but I fear Trump.  The choice is between rotten and crazy rotten.  I think the Donald  must be stopped at any cost.  Sometimes we must swallow the bitter pill, this time to save the country from the megalomaniac Trump.  I cannot stomach an evil game show host.

I battled my conscience as to whether to support the Greens or the distasteful Clinton.  I spent a great deal of time and soul searching trying to resolve this dilemma.

I came to the sad conclusion that I must vote for Hillary to stop Trump, a great menace who must be blocked at any cost to save the country from a fate worse than Hillary.  It makes me sad but my vote is too important to allow a Trump victory to be realized. 

The other major party candidate is the only chance of saving us from a latter day Hitler.  Unfortunately she will increase the poverty index due to her friendship with the billionaires but at least there will still be a United States which may someday enable a future where “Our Revolution” might rise with the power to be transformitive.

I have to draw this unpleasant conclusion to keep the unstable baboon out of the Oval Office.  After all, who would clean up the mess? 

I reluctantly take this position because I am scared to death.  Who wouldn’t be?

The Ballad of Bernie

     

I walked into the voting place

To cast my ballot; where

I saw the arsenic and old lace

But Bernie wasn’t there.

An honest man was swindled by

A ceiling made of glass

The Democrats were riding high

A woman Prez at last.

I thought I'd vote for Dr. Stein

The Greens were my best bet

Although my conscience felt just fine

My heart was heavy yet.

Bernie Sanders ran a race

From him we all did learn

To live with honor, truth and grace

And always Feel the Bern...

What’s the Beef with Bernie: The Method to His Madness

           

Lately I have been reading about betrayal, defeat, and surrender of Bernie Sanders.   This has been emanating from angry disappointed people who a short month ago were Feelin’ the Bern in a large way.   Who is the culprit?  Hint:  They rigged the primaries and stole the nomination from Bernie.

Now some people are the trying to condemn the inspiration of the Political Revolution as though all was over for progressives.  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

For the record, I will not be voting for either nominated nasty nutcase.  My vote will be cast for whichever progressive is on the most state ballots.  Right now that looks like the Greens and Jill Stein and that is fine with me.

Those who think we have heard the last of Bernie Sanders are not Vermonters, the people who know him best.  Bernie never gives up.  He has defied attempts to underestimate him time and time again.  Bernie will return to the Senate, promoting progressive legislation and doing his best to hold Hillary to her tenuous promises.

Why then, did Bernie endorse the queen of corruption?  Why is he urging his supporters to vote for Hillary?  His stated reason is to block the horror of an orangutan in the oval office.   After all, who would clean up the mess?  That is a valid argument but I think there is more in play here.

Bernie is not really a Democrat.  He is the longest serving Independent legislator in American history.  However, he was always in the Presidential race to win.  Though we hate to admit it, third parties historically have a hard fight and are at somewhat of a disadvantage.  So, he ran as a Democratic Socialist.  As the candidate of a major party the presidency was realistically within his grasp. 

Bernie spoke to rank and file Democrats.  Perhaps this honest and straight forward man did not count on the extreme swindle of the DNC in their compulsion to anoint Hillary.

I say, glass ceiling be damned.  I am disgusted but not surprised by the dastardly DNC.

Did Obama boast about his African American heritage?  No, he has too much class to play the black card.  He accepted the nomination as a candidate, not a black candidate.  I respect him for that.  He must have followed the example of Jackie Robinson who broke the color barrier in baseball but excercised humility and never traded on his breakthrough.  He just played great ball and revealed himself in that way.

Bernie knew when he cast his lot with the devilish Democrats that should he lose the nomination he would be required to endorse and support the nominee no matter how distasteful it was to him personally.  He knew this going in and he deemed the risk worth it to legitimately engage in the presidential race.  As a man of honor, he lived up to his promise.  Also, he got some progressive concessions.  Who but Bernie will hold Clinton’s feet to the fire on these claims and promises.

Once the elections are over, he will Bern brighter than ever inspiring and leading the Political Revolution.  After all the aspersions and accolades he and ourselves experienced, who would believe Bernie would abandon the movement?  If you think so for a minute you have another thing coming.  As I said before and his opponents have learned:  underestimate Bernie Sanders at your own peril.

So, I implore Political Revolutionaries not to abandon Bernie as he would never do to us.  The Bern may be subdued for the moment.  It is temporary.  We should respect the man and the movement now more than ever.

Scum and Scummer

                                           

Do not deny it.  The majority of Americans even marginally interested in politics were rooting against a Trump and Clinton general election.  Some may be resigned to politics as usual, but this is far worse.  These two are likely the least deserving or capable of serving as President and Commander in Chief.

We could go into their many shortcomings and long winds as has been done to death.  Here is a different slant:  I am offended that such egotistical elitist punks feel entitled to the most powerful office in the world by self promotion and proclamation.  Who died and left them boss? 

So why, to the disgust of many did these two dangerous corporate cons get the go and who is responsible.  The causation lies with two archaic parties who need to become extinct as Tyrannosaurus Rex (no offence to this noble creature.)  While we are at it, we need to get rid of legislative whores who represent corporations for bribes rather than the people who elected them.  Is jail appropriate for bribe taking?

The Democrats need to reveal without deception their conservative cadence.

A third progressive party needs to be consolidated.  That is where Bernie’s Political Revolution, the Greens, and any truly liberal Democrats and Independents come in.  We will all feel the Bern again and sooner than we think.  Vermonters have learned never count Bernie Sanders out.  His message is in his genes.  He could not stop if he wanted to which he does not now or ever despite his apparent endorsement.  He wants to beat Trump, who can blame him for those sentiments?

The Republicans need to go away.  Their nomination of Trump and rush to his sleazy side is their swan song.  These operatives and religious nuts are paranoid to the point of psychosis, candidates for strait jackets.  Beginning with Reagan, these control freaks devolved into the Tea Party who hate everybody and any idea that emanates elsewhere.  

They crossed the line of dirty politics into plain old insanity.  There is nothing new in the political world.

It’s the Parties.  They do not care a hoot about the quality of their candidates.  The Democrats cheated and chaffed Bernie in order to keep a lame promise to Hillary made in 2008; she is less relevant now than then when an obscure Senator put her in her place.  Between her and Bernie, she is the lesser candidate.  The party’s choice over the popular and qualified Sanders could lead to a Trump White House.  Imagine that.  We may live to be sliced to bits by the falling glass ceiling.

The Republicans disdained and dismissed Trump while one by one being humiliated and dropping out.  When the grim truth was no longer avoidable, they flocked to their nemesis like moths to a light.  These guys will jump on any band wagon they think will carry them to victory.  Problem is the driver is a megalomaniac among other horrible traits too numerous and too well known to dwell on here.

Our conscience dictates that we vote for neither anointed one and cast one for Jill Stein or whichever progressive gets on the most state ballots.  Right now, the Greens are getting closer than anyone else.  Perhaps it is time to start the Political Revolution right now.  Why wait?  Corporate capitalist America has crushed the American people long enough.  The time for major structural change is now.  One certainty is that the conservative Democrats and nutcase Republicans will fight the bad fight to prevent that from happening.

We need to ignite the embers in order to delight in our progress.  The Bern still feels us.  Those who deny Bernie do so at their own peril.  I Feel the Bern.  Do you?