MonkRome

Bernie could have easily been the nominee, if people actually showed up and voted for him more than Hillary. I'm not shocked or bothered that a party protected their own. Bernie came from the outside as an independent and tried to take the nomination. And he could have the same way trump did to the right. I was all for it and supported him as well, but either way he didn't get the votes he needed. Why? Why didn't his mass of supporters show up in large enough numbers either time? Because the far left doesn't do the work, they never have in my lifetime. While I'm pretty far left, I don't identify with most of you because your all lazy fucking cowards. Your primary position is giving up and bending over and taking it. Politics is work, if you're unwilling to do the work then for the love, stop fucking whining, your constant inaction built this. Own it, move forward, and fucking do something for once.

Do you mind me asking, what was the group recruiting?

Florida

It's like the state has deep pride in their idiocy.

I've worked for the party and even helped recruit candidates. Some of what you're writing here seems very inconsistent with how we did things at least in Minnesota and Wisconsin. No one would ever address religion or social class at all here. And funding your own campaign is usually a fools errand, because raising money helps people become invested in your campaign.

But candidates are still expected to fundraise in some way shape or form. You can't be a viable candidate in today's world without money. Until elections are publicly funded and banned from raising their own money, money will always be necessary. The ability to fundraise also proves viability, people that raise money show people are quite literally invested in your campaign, making them statistically likely to vote and more likely to volunteer for 'get out the vote' efforts.

Yeah, the Dems are made up of scared moderates, because the left has completely abandoned politics and conceded all their power. If you want the party to move left, become the party. It really isn't mystical or complicated, power goes to those that take it. The left would rather stand on the outside looking in be cause at least they can complain and blame everyone else but themselves.

You're missing my point. I am much further left than the party on most issues. I too wish for the party to move left. It won't move left by left wing people disappearing, that behavior only serves to move the party right. The party needs 50% of the vote plus one, if you don't show up to vote, they will get it from the moderate right next cycle. Every time you fail to be part of the solution you make the problem much worse.

Alternatively, people can get engaged with the party now, while we have time to take over. The party is made up of it's members. If those members shift heavily left, so will the platform. You don't win the game by refusing to play, you win the game by becoming the team.

But that's the opposite of what is happening. Instead each time the party fails to gain enough power to enact left wing policy and instead is forced to concede to the middle they get punished and they have no choice but to move towards the votes.

We are repeatedly doing exactly what the right wing wants. Stay fractured and disorganized, and we all lose, forever.

100% of the USA relies on fossil fuels. Dems have always done both in the last 2 decades, focus on energy independence (which means meeting the present need) and on preparing for the future (clean energy alternatives). And they weren't trying to ban green tech, they were trying to stop spyware from entering the country from china. Yes Biden blew it on the wall.

The real sticking point is war.

It's the real sticking point now. As soon as the party shifts their policy stance there will be others, that's my point.

People on the left have no clue how policy is made, how party platforms change, how minds are changed. If you want a seat at the table you actually have to take it. That means showing up and joining, going to meetings, voting on policy platforms, holding your nose and voting for your team and then pressuring you side to do what you want. It means saying "hey, if you take a moral stand on this, I'll back you up in the next election."

But that's not the way of self righteousness and moral purity, the lefts smug moral purists would rather torch the world than work with people. They say "thank for taking a stand on this, but it will never be good enough, kindly go fuck yourself". The party doesn't move left, because the left is far far too self righteous to ever actually work with anyone that doesn't pass their purity test. People like that don't actually believe in democracy, in consensus building, it's their way or the highway.

I agree the party needs to move left, but people that actually want to govern on the left need to meet them there.

It didn't work with Bernie for more reasons than the parties resistance. A lot of people on the left that dislike the party don't seem to understand that you still have to join the party and get involved with it if you want the party to move left. Party members and active involved people shape where the party goes. We absolutely can shift the Dems left, but it means holding our noses and becoming the party. The Dems have always been an open door, big tent, party. Walk into the tent and change minds...

Voting is a small part of political change, it needs to be done but that's not where the work is. Getting involved in your community and pushing for changes is far more productive, activism of all types.

I would start by getting on mailing lists for things you care about and email for local city council meeting minutes. You might be surprised by some of the meeting times of local orgs. Some events are evening, but you can still learn about what is needed if you are staying engaged with local things. I can't tell you what will work, but I reiterate I would start by getting on mailing lists for things you care about and take opportunities when they come.

Edit: and don't be so hard on yourself, you can only do what you can do. Take your wins when they come and focus on those.

One more thing I might suggest is to start attending some of your town/city council meetings. You can also ask the clerk to put you on their mailing list for meeting minutes. Some have a sign up on their website. Just getting a feel for what your locality is dealing with can help you to understand what the local issues are. Local politics are often more accessible to change.

Pick an issue, or a few, you care about. Find the local or regional group that is already fighting for that issue. Join their newsletter. When they have events or meetings near you, go. Meet people and network. Someday you will find a way you can help in a way that fits your skill set, say yes.

It really is that easy to get involved, and these organizations need volunteers way more than they need money. People make the world move forward, not money, not votes. I mean voting and giving helps too, but giving your time is often way more important with activism.

doubt it will work as well as you think

Whatever the Dems do, even if it move their platform to the furthest left in the known universe most moral puritans on the left will just lable them mainstream, or corpo shills and find a reason to stay home. Regardless of policy position or idea, the far left has always moved the goalposts between each election cycle just out of reach of the main stream.

When they refused to vote for Gore because of climate change the party moved to the left to meet those voters, and the left said fuck off. When they moved to left to get voters that refused Hillary because of corporate speaking gigs the party moved further left on corporate accountability, and the left said fuck off. When Biden moved left during his term to protect the environment, hold predatory schools and lending servicers accountable, attempted loan forgiveness, expanded overtime guarantees, etc etc etc. the left said fuck off to his predecessor. The people who claim the left will just show up if you give them x are big fat liars. Their perceived moral purity will always be more valuable to them than progress and action.

And I say this as someone that is further to the left than the party. I am also profoundly disappointed in the parties lack of moral courage. I just believe in practical progress and action, something most self righteous moral puritans absolutely don't believe in.