'We Will Never Give Up': A Note of Thanks to Bernie Sanders
'Your courage in taking on the political establishment has emboldened millions of us to stand up and demand our voices be heard.'
Editor's note: The following open letter first appeared on the author's personal Facebook page on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
Dear Bernie,
I don't know what you're going to do from here on, and I'm not going to advise you. You've earned the right to figure out the next steps for your campaign and the movement you have launched.
But let me tell you this: You've already succeeded.
At the start they labeled you a "fringe" candidate - a 74-year-old, political Independent, Jewish, self-described democratic socialist, who stood zero chance against the Democratic political establishment, the mainstream media, and the moneyed interests.
Then you won 22 states.
And in almost every state - even in those you lost -- you won vast majorities of voters under 30, including a majority of young women and Latinos. And most voters under 45.
You have helped shape the next generation.
You've done it without SuperPACs or big money from corporations, Wall Street, and billionaires. You did it with small contributions from millions of us. You've shown it can be done without selling your soul or compromising your conviction.
You've also inspired millions of us to get involved in politics -- and to fight the most important and basic of all fights on which all else depends: to reclaim our economy and democracy from the moneyed interests.
Your message - about the necessity of single-payer healthcare, free tuition at public universities, a $15 minimum wage, busting up the biggest Wall Street banks, taxing the financial speculation, expanding Social Security, imposing a tax on carbon, and getting big money out of politics - will shape the progressive agenda from here on.
Your courage in taking on the political establishment has emboldened millions of us to stand up and demand our voices be heard.
Regardless of what you decide to do now, you have ignited a movement that will fight onward. We will fight to put more progressives into the House and Senate. We will fight at the state level. We will organize for the 2020 presidential election.
We will not succumb to cynicism. We are in it for the long haul. We will never give up.
Thank you, Bernie.
Bob
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Editor's note: The following open letter first appeared on the author's personal Facebook page on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
Dear Bernie,
I don't know what you're going to do from here on, and I'm not going to advise you. You've earned the right to figure out the next steps for your campaign and the movement you have launched.
But let me tell you this: You've already succeeded.
At the start they labeled you a "fringe" candidate - a 74-year-old, political Independent, Jewish, self-described democratic socialist, who stood zero chance against the Democratic political establishment, the mainstream media, and the moneyed interests.
Then you won 22 states.
And in almost every state - even in those you lost -- you won vast majorities of voters under 30, including a majority of young women and Latinos. And most voters under 45.
You have helped shape the next generation.
You've done it without SuperPACs or big money from corporations, Wall Street, and billionaires. You did it with small contributions from millions of us. You've shown it can be done without selling your soul or compromising your conviction.
You've also inspired millions of us to get involved in politics -- and to fight the most important and basic of all fights on which all else depends: to reclaim our economy and democracy from the moneyed interests.
Your message - about the necessity of single-payer healthcare, free tuition at public universities, a $15 minimum wage, busting up the biggest Wall Street banks, taxing the financial speculation, expanding Social Security, imposing a tax on carbon, and getting big money out of politics - will shape the progressive agenda from here on.
Your courage in taking on the political establishment has emboldened millions of us to stand up and demand our voices be heard.
Regardless of what you decide to do now, you have ignited a movement that will fight onward. We will fight to put more progressives into the House and Senate. We will fight at the state level. We will organize for the 2020 presidential election.
We will not succumb to cynicism. We are in it for the long haul. We will never give up.
Thank you, Bernie.
Bob
Editor's note: The following open letter first appeared on the author's personal Facebook page on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.
Dear Bernie,
I don't know what you're going to do from here on, and I'm not going to advise you. You've earned the right to figure out the next steps for your campaign and the movement you have launched.
But let me tell you this: You've already succeeded.
At the start they labeled you a "fringe" candidate - a 74-year-old, political Independent, Jewish, self-described democratic socialist, who stood zero chance against the Democratic political establishment, the mainstream media, and the moneyed interests.
Then you won 22 states.
And in almost every state - even in those you lost -- you won vast majorities of voters under 30, including a majority of young women and Latinos. And most voters under 45.
You have helped shape the next generation.
You've done it without SuperPACs or big money from corporations, Wall Street, and billionaires. You did it with small contributions from millions of us. You've shown it can be done without selling your soul or compromising your conviction.
You've also inspired millions of us to get involved in politics -- and to fight the most important and basic of all fights on which all else depends: to reclaim our economy and democracy from the moneyed interests.
Your message - about the necessity of single-payer healthcare, free tuition at public universities, a $15 minimum wage, busting up the biggest Wall Street banks, taxing the financial speculation, expanding Social Security, imposing a tax on carbon, and getting big money out of politics - will shape the progressive agenda from here on.
Your courage in taking on the political establishment has emboldened millions of us to stand up and demand our voices be heard.
Regardless of what you decide to do now, you have ignited a movement that will fight onward. We will fight to put more progressives into the House and Senate. We will fight at the state level. We will organize for the 2020 presidential election.
We will not succumb to cynicism. We are in it for the long haul. We will never give up.
Thank you, Bernie.
Bob