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Related: About this forumThis Election Is About Retaining Democracy - Senator Bernie Sanders
When you hear people telling you this is the most important election in our lifetimes, theyre not kidding.
This election is not just about the economy, climate change, education and health care.
This is about whether we retain American democracy.
Budi
(15,325 posts)No Bernie, 2016 was the most important election of our lifetime.
This 4 year horror show could have been prevented.
But I must wonder... knowing all we know... and remembering all we've seen... WHY would anyone think it was a smart move to denigrate the Democratic party with further lies and false accusations that the party is "corrupt" or "elite" or "no different than the GOP"??
I know it's just Bernie being Bernie and "that's what he does" and "that's what he's known for" and "that's what makes is fan-base cheer" ... but WHY NOW? WHY RIGHT NOW?? WHY??
Sadly, I believe that his appearance on Seth Meyers (and the horrible lies and accusations made about the Democrats) probably had a bigger NEGATIVE IMPACT than this little video did.
As of right now, this video on the "Bernie Channel" on YouTube has fewer than 3000 views. And it's only reaching those who are already politically active (whether fans or foes of Bernie). In contrast, the smears on Seth Meyers' show reached a much larger audience and it caused much more damage that this video can "fix".
Bernie's smearing of the Democratic party creates an atmosphere of negativity about Democrats. Negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.
This doesn't erase damage caused by what he said to Meyers, but from what I saw, it seems to be a good video with no attacks against Democrats. (It would have been more appropriate, I think, if he had included the web address for the Biden campaign at the end instead of his own.)
panfluteman
(2,065 posts)Because we now gotta return to democracy and clean up the huge mess that Trump left behind. Unfortunately, there were way too many dumb voters out there in 2016 - voters who were too dumb and impressionable to see through Trump's lies and empty promises, voters who did not take the time to do their homework on Trump's past track record in business and figure out that he would do the same kind of crap as president. voters who were too mesmerized by that dumb TV show "The Apprentice" and fell hook line and sinker for the false image created on that show of Trump as a successful businessman and super deal maker. And dumb voters who had forgotten everything they learned in civics and American Government class in high school, or were asleep in class when they covered the red flags or warning signs of an aspiring dictator, all of which Trump threw out there on the campaign trail.
To remedy the situation, I think that we need to return to teaching Civics and American Government in high schools across this country - no ifs, ands or buts, and make that a universal prerequisite for graduation. I believe that we also need to teach a class in philosophy, logic and critical thinking skills; to help young people see through the lies and misleading statements and arguments put forth by demagogues like Trump. "A Republic, if you can keep it," said Benjamin Franklin when asked what the Constitution had given us. And the whole crucial difference is education. EDUCATION IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF A DEMOCRACY!
panfluteman
(2,065 posts)Nothing could be further from the truth. It's a delicate balancing act on the campaign trail. If Biden himself just came out and said this truth that democracy itself is on the ballot, and "vote for me because I will retain American democracy" he could alienate many voters who would then see him as too extremist and radical. So he has surrogates like Bernie Sanders go out and deliver this important message for him.
Budi
(15,325 posts)'Dance with the one who brought you'. And they still are.