Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

I believe in Sanders very much... in what he represents, hell, I would have been proud and happy to march in the streets with him. I can understand the anger, frustration and sadness of Sanders supporters, for many, this is a devastating defeat. It is not only that our candidate was defeated, but for some of us, it feels that our principles, the very foundations of the things we believe in, have been challenged - and overcome, perhaps by someone who will not represent us. The fear among many, is that under a Clinton Presidency, we may not have a place at the table.

Yet... I am also from Maine. I also lived through, twice, the election of... Governor Paul LePage. I have seen, experienced, firsthand, what happens when progressives and democrats, independents and liberals... cannot make common cause. When we insist that our principles are the only way, that it is not enough to stop evil (and yes, I do indeed call Mr. LePage evil) but that we must have only the greatest good. Only what we believe it to be.

The results of the split between democrats and progressive, liberal - and independent allies, many of whom share the very same principles and basic goals... devastated my state - and my own personal life. One example of this is how we did not pass medicaid expansion. As a result, many thousands (myself included) are without health insurance. I have a bad back I can't fix (though treatment could probably fix it), teeth that, for all of my brushing, are beginning to fall apart, because I can't afford to see a Dentist. There are people suffering and even dying because they cannot get medication or treatment that they need.

There have been cuts to social programs that the poor people of Maine desperately rely on. To add insult to injury, LePage has, over and over again... demonstrated that he is indeed a bigot, a blowhard, a braggart and bully of the worst sort. He is an ignorant imbecile who has somehow declared himself the "Commissioner of Education" for the state of Maine. The list goes on and on...

I do not want the entire Nation to know that suffering. I do not want all of us to witness, to experience, firsthand, what happens when we fail to stop evil. Yes, I say and mean evil. Bigotry, cruelty, anger, hatred, intolerance, ignorance, racism, economic injustice, social injustice. These things, they are promoted, led, even embodied within the likes of Mr. LePage and Mr. Trump.

I'll do whatever I can to stop them. So, I humbly suggest, should we all. The defeat of Sanders may have been a setback for the progressive movement, but it has not defeated the progressive movements. We can't move forward by insisting on our way above everything and anything else... but by making common cause with people with similar ideals, thoughts and goals. The best way to move forward is to unite, to put our strength together into a movement that can defeat Trump, push Clinton to the left - and promote, maintain... and I hope... accomplish, progressive policies.

With Clinton, perhaps we can move forward - even move our cause forward. With Trump, everything falls backward, behind - and we have a President who lead our Nation into greater suffering, ruin and devastation. For me, it is a very clear choice.

Pardon my rant. I tend to get very... passionate about these things. For good reasons, I think.