Update: The letter was published in the News-Press on Sunday, July3, 2016.
Quo vadis, Bernie Babies?
The Brits' Brexit vote has shown that Americans aren't alone
in yearning for substantive change in their system of governance. Indeed, if
one were to string together the last decade's worldwide movements for real and
dramatic change in the way things are – from a black U.S. President to Hugo
Chavez; from Arab Spring to Occupy; from Tea Party to Donald Trump – it's
clear: The Times They are A-changin'.
Or so we progressive Americans thought, we who so ardently
worked and spent (an average of) $27 for Bernie Sanders' campaign for the
Democratic nomination for President, a campaign carrying the banner of "A
future to believe in," and calling for a "political revolution."
But no. Hillary Clinton will become the party's nominee and Bernie,
after (at best) causing meaningless language to be inserted into the Democrats'
meaningless platform at the convention, is going to vote for her, he says.
So, do we hold our noses and, out of fear of Trump, vote for
her too? Do we stay home on election day, or move to Denmark (if they'll have
us)? Do we vote for Trump in spite?
To me, the answer is simple: I shall do as my high school
civics teacher taught us was the purpose of each citizen's vote in a democracy
– to give voice to that person's unfettered choice of the best candidate. And
that person, hands down, is Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party.
