I'd like to say this movement's growth is a surprise, but, I do believe Bernie Sanders knew it would take over pessimism among young Americans. I remember him saying the USA needs a political movement to take over the country. He started with a few people, it grew into hundreds, then thousands and now he is a railroad train.
PLOW THE ROAD!
The worst thing that could happen is for his supporter to think they lost anything. Lost is what they were before Bernie's leadership. They have gained a political movement from a couple that profoundly believes in them, their potential and their RIGHTFUL place in demanding and invoking political change.
Right now the Democratic and Republican establishment can't believe what is taking over the USA. It is about time. Wall Street is forced to the sidelines and they are worried. I am confident they are worried.
For those dedicated to a far different USA the idea Wall Street big money actually existed in cronies demanding influence is so very, very alien it is hard to understand why the corrupted can't see it.
In the 1960s the American generation known as the Baby Boomers started to demonstrate to end "The Draft." At the height of the Vietnam War there were 300 to 500 dead per week. Every young heart and mind felt it. All to often it manifested as a funeral of someone nearly legally able to drink alcohol.
The change came, but, it didn't happen in one presidential election. It happened over a few years. But, with every election the opposition by the 'educated generation' was felt and as the body counts showed up in the news it was evident the Vietnam War was not really a war in a country far smaller than Europe when the USA moved in during WWII.
A political movement needs tending. Occupy Wall Street was a great beginning. There needs to be more and more young hearts and minds moving into politics at all levels of government. The change will come. I promise it will. But, any great movement needs people to carry it forward. This movement is right, just and moral.
By the way, there was 'the establishment' during the sixties, too. There was a counter culture that spoke opposition out loud. Long hair, far different clothes and there were days I used to wear my father's old air force jacket and shirt. There were times I would wear a college sweater with a tie. The jerks would call me Mr..... I loved it. I rocked the boat on a regular basis and argued opposition views with instructors whenever they had the guts to dive in. A girl gets a sexy reputation after awhile. I went to church every Sunday and still had a few party dresses. I believed in pushing the envelope in which ever way it would expand.
Opposition culture is a great thing and it acts as a cohesive to know who ones friends are. Marches are vital. Organizing a million person march for change in DC works to make an impression.
By Phillip Locker
...Contradicting the cynics (click here) say Americans are hopelessly apathetic and conservative, his announcement has been met with a tremendous wave of enthusiasm. In the first day of his campaign 100,000 people signed up to get involved on his website and 35,000 people donated $1.5 million, more than any other presidential contender raised in their first day. By the fourth day of his campaign, an incredible 75,000 people had donated $3 million at an average of $43 per donation. Over 99% of contributions to Sanders were for $250 or less.
This campaign can gain a big echo among the millions who are disgusted by corporate politics that are making the rich richer while living standards for the rest of us are increasingly lagging behind. This is why first the Occupy movement and now the Fight for $15 have won such support across the country. It is also why there is increasing openness to the idea of a “third party” and explains how Kshama Sawant won almost 100,000 votes in 2013 when she was elected as a socialist to the Seattle City Council.
Unfortunately, despite Sanders being an independent member of Congress for the past 25 years, he has declared he will be seeking the Democratic Party nomination, a move Socialist Alternative has argued against over the past year....
