Fellow Bernie supporters, I have a harsh message for you. But it's not necessarily bad news.
We lost the nomination. Sarah Silverman put it best when she said at the DNC: "You're being ridiculous." I won't lie and say some part of me didn't wish Bernie could still end up the nominee, but that's not going to happen and we have to move forward. The Political Revolution does not stop at the DNC.
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I've been a supporter of Senator Sanders since he announced his candidacy last Spring. I knew then I'd be backing a losing candidate but I still never expected him to get so far and I admit, I got carried away in his early success. However from the start he made his message clear: this election isn't about him, it's about us. It's our revolution. The youth are what drove his support to such high numbers, but with Bernie's loss it's not time to give up the good fight. Hillary is far from perfect, and she's far from what we wanted, but it's time to accept reality. Donald Trump has the chance of becoming our president and if that doesn't scare you, I can't say I believe you are a true Bernie supporter.
Sure, some of us supported Bernie because they just want change — plain and simple. That's why so many are tempted to switch to a third party candidate like Johnson or Stein (or even Donald Trump), but that is a huge mistake. None of those candidates will bring Bernie's policies closer to fruition, and voting third party is, unfortunately, throwing your vote away. Yes the system needs to change, but casting a purely emotional vote because you're upset with the system will do no good, it will only bring the Donald closer to the White House. If you're a Bernie supporter who switched over to Trump, I suggest you read up on his policies. While many erroneously think he carries on Bernie's message of change, it is not the same change. His policies are so vastly different than Bernie's, we can't afford to cast our support behind him. I could write an entire article on why Donald Trump's policies are in many ways the antithesis of Bernie's. He will bring us no closer to universal healthcare, free public collegeor closing corporate tax loopholes. While Hillary doesn't burn for those policies, she's certainly one step closer than anyone else in the field.
Gary Johnson wants a small government. Bernie's whole message was that we need a largegovernment to work for all Americans. While you make agree with his social policies and his message of change, Gary Johnson would limit the programs Bernie wants to expand. Do not vote because you want to shake up the system, it won't get our Political Revolution anywhere. Bernie fought hard to get important policy planks in the DNC platform like the most aggressive stance on climate change and an end to the war on drugs. Hillary will support these policies now, Donald Trump will not. Voting third party is throwing your vote away no matter how terrible that is to say, it's the truth. We need to reform the electoral system to remove the two-party system but voting for a third party candidate now is not going to achieve that goal. Want to make a difference? Look to the locals.
This is our revolution, change must come across all levels of government and the easiest way to start is at the local level. Get involved with your town government. Pay attention to county-wide races like the Freeholders, Sheriff and Surrogate. They will hear your voice, the people at the top won't listen until the local foundations are shaken. Data shows that country's operating on a single-member simple-plurality system (like ours) to elect representatives is what feeds into the two-party system. Most nations who elect representatives on a proportional basis see vastly more political parties. Advocate for change at the local level, that's the way to make the difference we all want. For now, however, we must rally behind Hillary because she is the closest thing we'll see to achieving our goals of a government that works for all Americans.
In short, pay attention to the local elections, that's where your voice can be heard. That's how we can get the change Bernie wanted. For now, vote for Hillary so we can maintain the progress our country has made in the past 8 years. Don't waste your vote for short term validation. Think about the big picture.
