Organize a New Party for the
99%
http://movement4bernie.org/
By Kshama Sawant, Seattle's
socialist City Councilmember
I'm launching this petition
calling on Bernie to run independent and launch a new party. Here's why.
Despite all the obstacles
thrown in the path of Bernie Sanders by the corrupted American electoral
system, his campaign has made an enormous impact. Sanders has become a
lightening rod for the enormous discontent at the billionaire class and its
domination over the political system. His campaign has shown the widespread
support for breaking up Wall Street, free higher education, a $15/hr minimum
wage, single payer healthcare, major public investment in renewable energy, and
reforming a broken criminal justice system.
Bernie has conclusively
demonstrated that it is possible to raise the resources needed to run a strong
political campaign without begging billionaires for donations. By running on an
unapologetically anti-corporate, pro-worker platform Bernie has inspired
millions of working people to donate to a campaign that actually represents them.
In March alone Bernie raised a
$44 million, his largest monthly haul yet, beating Clinton for a third straight
month - all without accepting corporate donations. He has received 6.5 million
individual contributions from 2 million donors, averaging just $27 apiece.
Blocked by the Democratic
Party
Yet it has become increasingly
clear that the Democratic Party establishment is completely opposed to this
political revolution. Rather than support the candidate who is best positioned
to stop Trump and the Republicans, they are hell bent on defending the Wall
Street and big business interests who bankroll them.
That's why I've launched a
petition urging Bernie - if he is blocked in the rigged primary process - to
run as an independent, or as a Green on the ticket with Jill Stein. If you
agree, sign and share my petition today!
Under 15 percent of eligible
voters will participate in the Democratic primaries, skewing heavily toward
wealthier and older party loyalists. Most workers and young people only tune in
during the general election. We can't allow this tiny minority of primary
voters, the corporate media, Wall Street PACs, and the party establishment to
block Bernie before the real election even begins!
Splitting the Vote?
Unfortunately, alongside Clinton's
supporters, Sanders himself has argued that an independent runs risks splitting
the progressive vote and allowing a Republican victory. Especially with Trump
as the GOP frontrunner, this fear is understandable (though given the mass
hatred of The Donald it's far from clear he could win a three-way race with
Clinton and Sanders).
If electing a Republican is
really Bernie's main concern, there is no reason he could not at least run in
the 40+ states where it's absolutely clear the Democratic or Republican
candidate will win, while not putting his name on the 5-10 closely contested
“swing states.” This could still allow for a historic campaign if linked to
building a new party for the 99% and laying the foundation for an ongoing mass
political movement to run hundreds of left candidates for all levels of
government, independent of corporate cash.
A New Party for the 99%
There is another danger if
Bernie drops out to back Hillary. It would leave Trump, Cruz, or other
right-wing Republicans a free hand to monopolize the growing anti-establishment
anger, while most of the left is trapped behind Clinton, the crowning symbol of
establishment, dynastic, Wall Street politics. Could the far-right even dream
up a better scenario to build their forces? While Trump might not win the
election, support for hard-right populist politics will grow if there no
fighting left alternative offered.
Meanwhile, the confidence and
energy our youthful, working-class political revolution will turn into
demoralization and disorganization if the movement is corralled into Clinton's
Wall Street funded campaign - the exact opposite of a political revolution!
The stakes are too high to let
this moment slip through our fingers. Capitalism is plunging humanity into a
social and ecological catastrophe. Bernie's campaign shows a viable fightback
is possible. What's missing is a strategy to sustain and grow our movement. Now
is the time for bold action to build a fighting, working class political
alternative - a party for the millions, not the millionaires.
#Movement4Bernie was initiated
by Seattle's socialist City Councilmember Kshama Sawant and supporters of
Socialist Alternative. Contact us at movement4bernie@gmail.com
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