The vigor of a society is directly proportional to its capacity to conduct difficult conversations.
VICTIM CULTURE IS WRECKING A LOT OF IMPORTANT THINGS, TO INCLUDE GUTS AND RESILIENCE.
Who said anything about a riot? No, millennials see democracy dying and the government becoming increasingly corporatist but the nation isn't going to overcome decades of growing voter apathy over a single nail in the coffin. What's going to happen if Bernie loses the nomination is the voter apathy grows and the democrats will lose the white house, the house, and the senate, and we'll have either 4 years or 8 years or republican rule, depending on how long it takes for the next recession to trigger.
"Advocates of capitalism are apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: the fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate." - Bertrand Russell
I'm starting to think that might be a lesson that needs to be learned the hard way. Let's be clear, I am not saying, like Chernyshevsky, 'the worse, the better.' Nor am I ambivalent about the consequences, both for workers, and the human race, as a whole, of a Cruz, Rubio, or lord forbid, Trump administration. That being said, the common wisdom in the Democratic party, and among the pundit class, is the 'Mondale myth'; the belief that a candidate like Sanders can't possibly win in the general. This was the argument of Clinton, and the DLC, neoliberals like Blair, and 'New Labour', who argued the party needed to move to the right, to move away from organized labor, etc. Which, I would argue, is a classic case of confirmation bias, they found the answer they were looking for. I think Hillary's loss might do more good than harm. I think it would teach the Democratic Leadership that if they don't stand up for workers, workers will not vote for them. I think it might be beneficial for the standard bearer for that clique, a 'serious' politician, a right-wing corporatist hawk, to get totally creamed in the election. I think it might teach the Democratic leadership a painful, but necessary lesson.
Economic Left/Right: -7.25, Authoritarian/Libertarian:-7.13
All over the place, from the popular culture to the propaganda system, there is constant pressure to make people feel that they are helpless, that the only role they can have is to ratify decisions and to consume. -Noam Chomsky
If your view is truly representative then there is indeed an intra-Dem war in the offing, but that's a large "if." If the New Dems are driven out, would you expect them to migrate to the Repubs? Their presence might be just the thing the Repubs need to become a durable and sober center-right governing party.
"It's always reassuring to find you've made the right enemies." -- William J. Donovan
Depressing sumbitch aren't you.
I agree with the assessment, but I do agree with FieldTheorist is correct in that the next recession is coming, and the effects of that on political demographics cannot be overstated. That, and a pyrrhic victory over the long term for liberals is really a hard a pill to swallow when I think of what Clinton manages to do in the White House. I think this movement we're seeing from the establishment democrats on supporting payday lenders is a dark foretelling of what we'd likely see in a Clinton administration.
"Advocates of capitalism are apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: the fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate." - Bertrand Russell
Putting it that way, what President is not a world class prick? It goes with the territory. What I meant is that Obama moderates his positions more than he would if he had a free hand and he is restrained in part by self consciousness over his breakthrough standing as the first black President. Maybe I'm wrong but this is how I read him.
"Advocates of capitalism are apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: the fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate." - Bertrand Russell