The NEW Federalist Papers
A Message to All Bernie Sanders Supporters. And All Americas.
Let me start by saying, if you are not a Bernie Sanders supporter, I have words to say to all Americans. However, in the beginning, I start out talking to those who stand beside me in support of Bernie. I apologize for making you read though all of this, but I first need to build up to my point, then spread that point to include everyone, and the best way to start with this is to start where someone like me is coming from. Please bear with this to the end; I assure you it will be worth your time in the end.
To my fellow Bernie supporters, this has been a long year. We have come a long way. We have faced many hardship. We have gone through all the other typical platitudes. The point is, we have come together, we have donated, we have phone banked, we have waited in endless lines, we have been insulted, spit on, and generally looked down upon. We have given our all to see Bernie Sanders, someone who cares for the American people, become the Democratic nominee. We have done all we could to bring this dream to reality, but as a realist I think it is time to point out how narrow the path to this result really is.
Let me be honest here; at this point, Bernie Sanders has zero chance of getting the Democratic Party nomination. And he never did. That is part of the problem. Many Bernie Sanders supporters are probably intimately aware of this, but there have been various allegations of election fraud in many of the primaries. From fuzzy math in Iowa, to ballots being hidden in the closet in Florida, to the indescribable debacle that happened in Arizona, to many registered Democrats mysteriously being unregistered the day of the New York Primaries, to Bill Clinton actually campaigning in Massachusetts polling stations, it has been clear that the Democratic Party has done all it can to bend over backwards and drag its name through the mud in order to make sure Hillary Clinton wins the nomination.
The most obvious and infuriating being what is known as the Hillary Victory Fund. This fund was created as a joint venture of Hillary for America, the Democratic National Convention, and the democratic parties of 33 states (Wisconsin, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Nevada, Colorado, Ohio, Utah, Alaska, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wyoming, North Carolina, Louisiana, Indiana, Arkansas, Maine, and Virginia) to increase the money a single person can donate by filtering it through the parties of various states before being given to Hillary. In other countries, this process is referred to as “money laundering.” It was created with the promise the money would be used to fund the campaigns of Democrats to ensure they get a majority in the House and Senate. At this time, a majority of it has instead found its way into Hillary’s pockets. But the worst part of all is when the Fund was formed; September 10th 2015, long before there was a single vote cast. That is how long ago the Democratic Party crowned its queen. How is that for democracy?
But that is fine. Let the Democratic elite choose their candidate, whether it is by merit and bribery. It is their party, let them have it. However, I do not understand how her being crowned the Democratic candidate, especially after making it clear how little they think of us and our ideals, automatically means that myself and my fellow Bernie supporters should vote for her. Why, after sitting through a four month train wreck of misinformation, blatant condescension, and, and I mean this in the most neutral and nonbiased way possible, corruption, should I bow my head and vote for her?
You see, I happen to subscribe to the radical idea of voting for a candidate instead of automatically putting a checkmark into a certain party’s box no matter how terrible a candidate they are. Crazy, I know. So I am going to be voting Bernie Sanders. When my state does their primary, I am voting Bernie Sanders. When the general elections come around, I am voting Bernie Sanders. If he does not run Independent, and instead support Hillary, I am writing his name on the ballot. If he tells all of his supporters to vote for Hillary, I will vote for Bernie Sanders. If he tells his supporters not to vote for him, I am voting for Bernie Sanders. If he comes to my house and tells me personally to not vote for him, I am voting for him. And I really hope my fellow Bernie supporters are the same.
Bernie supporters, why are you supporting Bernie in the first place? Do you support him because he is a Democrat, and you feel obliged to always vote Democrat? Do you support him for fun? Do you support him because he is against a certain candidate and he was the person who was not them? Or do you support him because you see a broken system that needs to be fixed and believe he is the first step in doing so? Do you support him because you can see the problems of the planet, both foreign and domestic, and want someone who will fix the problem instead of being payed to make it worse? Do you support him because you want this country to have a future while the establishment politicians are more interested with filling their pockets and egos as much as they can before they shuffle off the mortal coil, not caring what comes after?
And, if there does come a time when Bernie does not want my vote, it is a little too late for that. The only way I am not voting for a person is if they do not run or are a terrible choice. As he has said multiple times, this political revolution is not about him, but about the people. I agree one hundred percent. However, he was the man who took the lead. He was the man who stood up and gave many America’s something to believe in. He is the man who inspired many to try and take back this broken process. He offered the take the heavy burden that comes with the badge of leadership, and promised to fulfill his role as a leader.
And, as followers, it is our duty, in our leader’s darkest hour, to put in the extra work needed to do what is needed to win. To look at a seemingly unwinnable battle and charge in with a smile. To pump out every ounce of blood, sweat and tears we have, and some we do not, to make sure we have done everything we can. To, when our leader say it is time to pack it up and surrender, grab him by the collar and tell him we are not abandoning him, no matter the consequences.
Bernie Sanders has stood up and preached about a future many politicians are too busy stuffing their own pockets to care about. And as someone who is going to have to live in America that we create today in the future, I am tired of corrupt politicians doing their best to undermine the America people and the American dream.
Politicians in both parties. As I promised, this is not just about Bernie Sanders supporters, but it is a problem of all Americas. It is a problem caused by greedy parasites invading both parties. Now, I am sure this is the point where my fellow liberals try to say that the Republicans are worse or for my conservative brothers to say that the Democrats are the ones causing problems for this country and I have no right to talk about their chosen party. However, before either side rages, let me give you one important fact that shows both sides are even. A recent study by Princeton Academy looked at the voting records of politicians and compared them to public opinion at the time. The study found that, often times, the politicians votes had little to no correlation to what their constituents wanted. Let me repeat: often times, politicians have actively voted against how the majority of US citizens, and many times their own constituents, wanted them to vote. And this has been how it goes as far back twenty-four years. For longer than I have been alive, many of the people in Washington, in both parties, have actively ignored the people who have voted for them and they are there to represent and instead voted for their own self-interest. Should we really waste time calling them better or worse?
Again, this is not all elected officials, but it is enough to make it so a majority of both parties are not operating in the interest of the people. Is this a surprise? If it is, I am surprised, especially how obvious I find the play fighting to be. Because, no, even if they were trying to, the Democratic Party is not protecting your rights from the big bad Republicans, and the Republican Party is not protecting your rights from the big bad Democrats. Individual members of both parties are trying to sell your rights to the highest bidder for the highest profit, while trying to make us all believe they are on our side. Well, they have proven they are not, so why should we for a moment be on theirs?
Now, let me take a moment to address that buzzing voice shouting out “you’re dividing the party. You’re dividing the party?” As I am more on the liberal side, allow me to respond to Hillary and those on her payroll and leave the right to someone more conservative. So Hillary, let me tell you what does not divide a party and what does. Saying, truthfully, that you are stronger on the issues and that your opponent does not go far enough does not divide a party. Having someone from your campaign say there is “a special place in hell” for women who do not vote for you does. Saying, truthfully, that your opponent has a spotty record in many of the decisions they have made does not divide a party. Having your Super Pacs spend a million dollars to pay people to falsely report your opponent’s Facebook groups for child pornography so they will be taken down does. Giving the people real answers instead of political talking points does not divide the party. Talking down to a section of voters and saying they are “low information” if they dare question you does. Bernie Sanders is not dividing the party. You have done a great job of that yourself.
And, please, stop the fearmongering about how terrible the Republican nominee will be and how we have a duty to vote Democratic no matter what to keep our rights. They are not demons, just people who are putting their own self-interest above the American people. Just as you have proved over your career. You served as a Secretary of State who stirred up wars instead of promoting peace. You have publically talked against trade deals while promoting them behind closed doors, to the detriment of the American people. You have taken dollar after dollar through speeches and through your “non-profit” Clinton Organization to put into your own pocket. As far back as when you were fired from the Watergate investigation for unethical behavior, Hillary Diana Rodham Clinton, you have proven you are no different than the worst the Republicans can nominate. America should fear you as much as they should fear Trump or Cruz. No matter how much you try to deny it, between the three of you, I see three people interested in stroking their ego, two interested in filling their pockets, and zero interested in anyone besides themselves. Take a guess which are which.
So, no, do not be surprised when many Americas do not vote for these three. Instead, we who support Bernie to the end stand open as a better option to the alternatives. For the lifelong Democrats who are not going to vote for Hillary, no matter what. For the Republicans who refuse to vote for Cruz and Trump, while at the same time having no reason to go with Clinton. For the Independents who would rather not watch a slow motion train crash, who want solutions without party politics. And those that do not normally vote, the half of America that stays home, this is your year. Are you not tired of the ramblings of these talking heads? This is your chance to help make an America that will actually listen to you. Listen to the American people. For this, all voters, allow me to personally beg your assistance. Let me beg you all to join me in trying to fix this government we have.
Do not get me wrong, though; I will support Democrats. Non-corrupt Democrats who actually listen to the people. And I will support Non-corrupt Republican who actually listen to the people. And I hope many of you people reading this feel the same. We Americans have put up long enough with the two parties play-acting childish arguments to get our votes and their money. We need people in office who will come together and actually debate, working to find a solution that will benefit the American people and not just the people making the laws. Not the centralist “compromise,” political slang for accomplishing nothing, but actual solutions. To do that, we should be willing to do what needs to be done, whether it is replacing Democrats with Democrats, Republicans with Republicans, Republicans with Democrats, or Democrats with Republicans.
There are many people who need to get out of office and many who need to be put in. We recently already have had one victory; last week in Maryland, Jamie Raskin, one of the biggest critics of corruption in politics, won a primary for the House, and is favored to win that seat, while being outspent 6-to-1 by other, more corrupt candidates. Here are some other names that need support, from all sides. Tim Canova, from Florida, who is adamantly refusing all corporate and Super Pac donations, openly criticizing reliance of the parties on Wall Street. In Iowa, Tom Fiegen is working to create transparency in political financing. In Pennsylvania, John Fetterman is working to protect consumers from predator lenders.
And, for examples of people who need to leave office, there are two obvious Democratic standouts. First is Rahm Emanuel who, as a financial advisor during Bill’s term in office, was one of the largest pushers of trade deals that cost America millions of jobs and of Clinton’s unfair crime bill. As a congressman, he was one of the people pushing hardest to get corruption into politics. Recently, as Chicago’s mayor, he was found to have hid a video that would have guaranteed he would have lost the election for a total of 400 days. The other is Debbie Wasserman Shultz, a name all Bernie supporters should be familiar with, the head of the DNC and the one directly responsible for the one-sided primary we have had to sit through, showing clear favoritism to Hillary every step of the way. In addition, she supports legislation that would put many Americans at risk for predatory loans, while accepting money from people who sell predatory loans. Both represent the darkest, clearest spots upon the Democratic Party.
These are just a few of the solutions and a few of the problems on the Democratic side. Once again, I will leave the judging of the Republicans for someone on the right. Find me Conservative who want to works for the people and against corruption, I will lend a hand in supporting them, despite my disagreement with them, and I implore the American people to do the same. If you find a Republican who is intent on harming our nation, I will insist on taking them down, and I implore the American people to do the same.
I ask all Americans to take a look at all representative and candidates and look to see whether they are working to hurt Americans or help them. This requires looking deeper then whether they write a D, R, I, or G behind their name. Once we take our government back, that is the time we worry about the issues. Because, as it stands, regardless of what is done, no progress will be made in either direction and, more importantly, no one is focusing on finding actual solutions to the problems, instead just using them as a carrot on a stick to garner a vote.
So I beg all Americans, regardless of party, to vote for a candidate, regardless of party, who will stand against corruption in government. And I beg them to please assist myself and my fellow Bernie supporters to put the only candidate who will work to correct governmental corruption into the White House. No, I do not suppose many of you agree with everything he says. I myself disagree with him on some issues or solutions to those issues. However, freeing our nation from the tyranny it is under is more important. And, if in the future the situation were reversed, where a Conservative with morals was fighting against people on both sides without, I would vote for them. And, in the future, that chance might come.
After all, this is not a process that will be over in a day, a month, or a year. It is a fight we are going to have to continue fighting until the day we free our democracy from selfish money mongers, and then farther still to keep them from coming back. One hundred years ago Theodore Roosevelt fought against political corruption. It was only during the Cold War and the Red Scare, when our eyes were turned elsewhere, that the seeds were planted to allow the weeds to regrow. So it will be a hard fight. And yes, we might lose some fights. Whether by corrupt methods or through legitimate means, people intent on putting their own self-interest above the American people will get into the House or the Senate. Maybe, even if we all come together to stand against them, one of the self-centered candidates will manage to become president. Rather, it is expected; at this point in the game, this early in the revolution, a victory of that level could be considered miraculous.
So, what are the plans if we lose? Well, the moment we lose, we start the next fight. We keep mark of all the instances of corruption and put them out there for all to see, bringing more people by our side by showing, yes, we were and are right. And we start looking for and spreading the name of a candidate who will actually stand up to the people, once again regardless of party. We basically give those in charge two choices; either serve the people like they are elected to do or find themselves thrown out of office the next time around. If Cruz or Trump win, we will find a champion on the left to represent the people. If Hillary, the champion will need to be on the right. And, with the most pressing political issue to young people being political corruption, our movement has all the time in the world.
And at the same time, we have little time. Every loss, every position, every moment that has corruption in reign, the more the people suffer. The more politicians make regulations aimed as voting suppression, the harder our battles we will be. The more drawn out the fight, the longer the powers at be have time to scheme up counters to try to keep their way of life going. And problems that they refuse to fix will eventually come to a head. One problem that will cause problems in the near future, possibly even during the next presidency, is the large banks. As you may have heard, the banks are larger now than when they collapsed back in 2007, and, with the lack of (real) regulation, we are approaching a second recession, one worse than the last, unless we get people willing to fix the problem into power. So we do not have the luxury to roll over and give up. We need to keep fighting until the last vote. Until the last vote in November.
Now, some of you, especially those who are not Bernie supporters but are against corruption, might be wondering what I am asking you to do. I am not asking you to fund my candidates for me, am I? No, not if you do not want to. I ask you to do all you are willing to do to support our future. If it is to donate money to the candidates, that is fine, but I personally see more value in work. We need to spread information and facts to people. To do that, we need people willing to phone bank, to take as little as an hour out of a day to call voters. We need people willing to knock on doors and talk to people face to face. After all, this problem began with the mistaken idea that money is free speech. If we desire to take back our government, we need to work as hard as we can to show our government what true speech looks like.
And, if you are so compelled to, feel free to write, just as I have. That is why I named this short essay “The NEW Federalist Papers.” The original were written two centuries ago by three of our founding fathers in order to defend our constitution. Today, we need to defend the people, those who are having their rights taken away by tyrants masquerading as politicians. We need “founding fathers” to unite this country they are so intent to keep split if we wish for it to last into the future.
So, for those who feel so inclined, I ask you to put pen to paper and write. I caution against purely opinionated writing. (I am aware this paper has a little more opinion than necessary. I tried my best to keep contained and to the facts, but passion can get to me at times.) Instead, cut through the lies being spewed. Actually write an essay about why you fight and what you fight for. Do not be critical of the other side for not automatically believing what you believe, but simply state facts first, believes second, and, if truly necessary but cautioned against, opinions third. Maybe through these essays, we will be able to find a true middle ground or, better yet, actually solutions to the problems, bringing us closer together as a nation.
So feel free to do with this title what you will. I only was able to briefly explain the problems we face and the solutions I implore the American people to assist me with, and even that was reduced as much as I could so as not to turn this into an overly long preachy lecture. I hope is was enough to get my points across. Maybe I will pen another, if I find the necessity for it and work up the courage to do it. But for now, as it should be, I place the future of this, and the future of this nation, in the hands of the people.
Si semper evello (civilis) mortem tyrannis,
A Patriot
