2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: I'm old and jaded. I sure hate to see the enthusiasm of young people stifled instead of encouraged. [View all]Jezza
(30 posts)genXer w near perspective here...
just as an introduction, in my younger college days, i leaned to extremes and really wanted Ralph Nader to be president. i remember Bush and Gore both being equally "empty of truth" and neither right to lead our country... Still think that our country needs more doctorates in economics than lawyers, and now as i get older, more humanists.
...no condescending of anyone for considering/voting ideologies or platforms; because i do the same. if someone thinks Hillary's the one, for whatever reasons, then who am i to judge!? ...however i engage and ask tough questions when "conversating" w those peers, by challenging on facts and historical actions. Like you, i am "a bit jaded" getting older, but hopefully wiser now.
i remember it being a hard decision to vote Obama (initially); especially as i tried hard to believe in the "her" that Hillary tried hard ta sell. Hillary worked tirelessly & fooled a lot of us/dems in beginning of 2008 primaries, but, she's always been not-liberal-enough in mine eyes, and totally lost me as her negative machine manifested in 07/08. never felt She was particularly strong in economics nor social issues. and Frankly, i was hugely surprised when Obama put her on his staff, but after learning/studying more of corporatism i now know why.... anyhow,
Now 2016, we have seen her grow up these past 20+ years... and cannot claim that we don't know for whom she's decided to stand. "What" she says in her speeches and campaign is certainly not "What" she doe$. --- (my contextual interpretation of your "realism".)
Alternatively, with a historical base-line of programs, votes, and senatorial orations define Bernie Sanders' platform; he's taken consistent action over a few decades on Medicare (now evolved), Education, Civil-Rights, Citizenship Reform, Farming/Food Reform, Police Reform, Taxes on upper 1%, public works programs, ...etc.
i do choose to be part of a different democratic party... far more liberal and much more progressive than the conservative democrats ("moderate" if you prefer) represented by the likes of HRC.
Thanks for heart-felt post.
Vote accordingly.