Bernie or Hillary? Hillary or Bernie?
The incessant political Primary pandering has my wife and I now sitting at opposite ends of the dinner table. As Democrats, we find ourselves jointly yelling at ludicrous Republican regurgitations, wrapped in religiosity and reality denial, we’re completely at odds on Bernie and Hillary.
Having spent her career under the ‘glass ceiling,’ I understand my wife’s identification and empathy with Hillary’s struggle. I actually believe that Clinton is no doubt the best qualified to work within ‘the system,’ but look what happened when Obama tried it.
The 1968 Undemocratic Convention
As a former long haired hippie who voted for George McGovern, and in my book (‘Sex, No Drugs and Rock n’ Roll (Memoirs of a Music Junkie), I write about the 1968 undemocratic Democratic Convention in Chicago and my college years demonstrating against the ‘war’, the ‘silent majority,’ the military industrial complex, racial discrimination, police and government corruption (yes that’s right, these are not new phenomenon).
Time for Political Change
Maybe it’s time for students and ‘progressives’ to start demonstrating again? Maybe it’s time to break up the gerrymandered political landscape, throw the moneylenders out of the temple, and overturn ‘Citizens United’ (especially with Scalia now gone)?
Maybe it’s time to raise the cap on Social Security payments, work toward public funding of elections, and taxes on Wall Street speculation?
Maybe it’s time for a little redistribution of wealth? Maybe it’s time for someone like Bernie?
On the other hand there’s reality…
The arterial scleroses of the body politic, clogged with bureaucratic waste, built up over years of political power plays, contradictory procedural precedents and the preoccupation with petty personal priorities, has resulted in a constipated congressional system that can’t function. Superimpose the constant financial blood pressure of dueling economic and social interests, and possible surgery to repair or replace even parts of the mechanism doesn’t seem possible. Furthermore, with the legislative branch, unable or unwilling to rule on the President’s nomination to the Supreme Court, the judicial branch is now also compromised.
So, no matter who is elected President, the executive branch can’t act on its own to initiate legislation or overturn judicial precedents. And executive orders can only go so far… On the other hand, if the Republican Party actually implodes, with their embrace of Sarah Pallin and the Tea Party, now giving birth to media mutant Donald Trump, the political prognosis might change.
What do YOU think??
Mary says
February 15, 2016 at 7:49 amI feel bad (and that’s polite) for women who get in lock-step with the Hill just because of gender. Really! She’s what I call a “Yangster” a male-identified woman who sells out to be one of the Old Boyz Club.
When I read about, and identified with, your youthful political activities, I was reminded that Bernie was marching for Civil Rights while she was a young Repug. Hasn’t changed, to my sights, especially her appalling greed.
LE Kalikow says
February 16, 2016 at 2:28 pmHI Mary,
I’m not as negative on Hillary as much as positive on Bernie’s message. I’d take her over ANY of the Republicans!