The debate is on - but whatever happened to the Revolution ?

The debate that I refer to is the progressive debate that started before the Democratic convention - Chris Hedges vs. Robert Reich: What do we do NOW ? 

https://youtu.be/jr4cXH3Fil8

The debate that I face most often in my political life is that between the HRC campaign and the 3rd party and/or protest voters. It has been a harsh and often condemnatory debate with questions of who is attacking whom and are there any standards of political purity (- as opposed to ‘political correctness’ ) to be enforced.

With the most recent revelations of #donthecon ‘s inflammatory, misogynistic statements there are fewer who would debate the importance of voting AGAINST Trump, but a strong few who would still conclude that a vote for HRC is not their best bet for the future. Now, there are even more Re-thug-li-cans (moderates, women) and independents who debate their choices. I don’t really want to aim for them because there will be plenty in the DNC and Hillary’s campaign who will be out to capture their votes.

But, there are two levels where I feel that my support of HRC has been put to the test of political fire - the false equivalencies of the “lesser of two evils” and the fact that I actually do see where Hillary has done great Public Service for several decades, especially in an unrelenting support of Women, Children, the LGBTQ community, education, healthcare and those with disabilities. With a master’s in political administration, I actually enjoy discussions of policy and realize that the heat of a political election only paints with the broadest of brushes. Despite Hillary’s failings as a Secretary of State, New York Senator and even as FLOTUS, her candidacy is qualified and has merit. It DOES represent many, if not all or most, of my political interests.

First, my MOST IMPORTANT political concern is the planet, the ecology of the planet and Climate Change. There is NO COMPARISON between the two party’s candidates. I really am less concerned with HRC’s record and more where she wants to head and how she wants to address the future. Yes - I DO KNOW that both the Obama administration, the DNC and HRC are NOT as bold advocates as we would have with Bernie Sanders or Jill Stein. We desperately NEED this advocacy. But, I personally cannot pour gasoline on to the fires consuming the planet by supporting anything that would advocate more deregulation and/or destruction of the few regulatory agencies that are doing their jobs. The difference is in plain sight in Michigan with the Re-thug-li-cannot sees super majorities in the state house, a criminal governor who sold himself as a moderate business geek committed to ‘efficiencies’. They have been a front for truly criminal, racist behavior leading to damage of peoples. No excuses - NO COMPARISONS.

That helps to address the U.S.A., but what of Hillary’s foreign policy record: the Middle East, Syria, Libya, Israel, etc. Then, there is more trouble and criminal activity in Latin American and destabilizing democratically elected governments and the environmental activists and peoples who would fight against the corporations. Yes - I truly, totally acknowledge that this is horrendous and it has been supported far too long by bought and paid for elements of our current administration. Any continuation is painful and will cause death and destruction for millions.

My weak defense - at least Hillary has the cojones, the brain and stomach to understand the complexities and take on different elements that would truly continue a corporate raping and pillaging without limits. No fan of the Pentagon, but like Pope Francis at least they acknowledge that Climate Change may be the greatest danger to the future of the planet and international relations. In other words, whether you are disturbed by capitalism or worry about national security - it would seem to me that while HRC advocates for both capitalism AND national security, she will understand competing interests and advocate for >least damaging< solutions. Will this privilege white peoples in the United States and western Europe ? Of course, as it always has, but will it make it impossible to reach her ???

In the past, I have often disparaged the Great Distractions that dominate our male-stream media and bury the truly hopeful aspects of organizing and mobilization around crucial, “we cannot wait for this to be over discussions and debates.” This debate is often one of those things for me that keeps postponing the revolution.

Yes, I will cloak myself with the fierceness of Angela Davis, the intellectual veracity of Noam Chomsky, the pragmatism of Richard Reich and Bernie Sanders, the political understanding of Thomas Frank, but I also will not be painted as “the Enemy” of all that that is good and just and morally equitable. I have made a personal decision that I stand by and can represent to others. No, I don’t want to call it into question with every single failure of the HRC campaign, soon to be (hopefully) administration. I know that it will be difficult, with many failings, but that makes me no more complicit or complacent than I have been any time in the last 20 years since I returned to the United States and made a decision to live here and participate in the political system as I understand it. There is conscious agency in my decisions and I will defend those with my last breaths as I strive to understand my comrades: sisters and brothers who are working for a more social and sustainable world for all beings who live and breathe on this planet.

GOTV - Repression vs. Fraud: carrying the Revolution forward

I go back to the League of Women Voters - YES, they still exist and I might even finally get back in touch with them. My mother and I found them before I was 16 years old and even eligible to vote. We became ABC correspondents for the exit polling done in the Ford / Carter election. Neither one of us were "registered" anything, no party affiliation, no voting rights, just Americans excited about the U.S. national election and willing to participate. Wow - what a difference that has made in my life. I never thought about it this deeply, but it probably made more of a difference to me than the work that followed in the field of Computers and computing or what I do now - Academia and communications.

I have NEVER taken citizenship and/or my responsibilities to/for the Government of/by and for the People for granted. I was not eligible to vote until 1980 in the national election Carter / Reagan. It was a terrible disappointment to me, and I don't remember how that evening ended - personally. Of course I know that Reagan won by a landslide and that was part of what was so terribly disappointing. My mother was still not eligible to vote at that time as she was a green card holder. I felt like I was voting for "us."

Of course, by the time I was able to cast my first national vote, I had already organized a major campaign at the University of Michigan for Students for the E.R.A. I had been hired by the National Organization for Women as a field organizer, organizing and speaking at college campuses between the Northeast and Midwest. I was a member of Michigan N.O.W. in its hey-day and held state office as the Lesbian Task Force chair. I worked in Illinois on that state's campaign and travelled between Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Washington D.C. God - I hated Washington D.C. Not only for all the sins of "the beltway," but for what it did to the feminists and the organization(s) that I admired. (Discussion for another day). In any case, I understood Bernie Sanders when he talked about "the establishment". I don't believe it has changed that much.

The E.R.A., Phyllis Schlafly and the campaign in Illinois taught me a great deal about political organizing, the national level of campaigns and state's "rights." I could tell more stories about Illinois and Springfield than I have room to write here. Let's just say it was more than disheartening for this 20 year old. After the campaign in Illinois was defeated, I was sent back to Michigan to figure out my life there. I read Emma Goldman's Autobiography and started feminist anarchist reading groups in Ann Arbor. We had some actions, as well as discussion, but I never felt the same way about the government and its power over women and ALL peoples.

After watching many, many bright women politicos, I will never be able to divorce power from my understanding of the right to vote. We stand on the shoulders and backs of giants - back to the Abolitionists, women of ALL colors, suffragists and second wave feminists. I was given the opportunity to leave the United States in the early 1980's and I did so gladly. I protested Ronald Reagan where ever I could - I certainly did NOT feel that he was "my" president, even or especially when he told Mr. Gorbachev "tear down this wall."

No - it is NOT Hillary's turn, but, for me she does represent what every woman who has ever fought for equal rights has fought for. Just a chance, despite all of the things lined up against you, to have the same rights, the same say, the same pay as your brothers. Misogyny is alive and well, as present across the spectrum as any or all of the 'ism's' of hate. I am completely outraged that #donthecon is already calling the vote in to question. I am completely outraged that the Re-thug-li-cannot sees have learned the lesson of the culture wars of the 1980's well and are completely prepared, organized and able to suppress the vote. I don't even want to discuss voter repression - that is the true fraud here. That our political right to vote has been completely called in to question by a dysfunctional two-party system guided by the SCOTUS ruling on Citizens United.

Lest we forget, Hillary was central to Citizens United, as well. But, what was even more central was the influence of big money and the "rights" of corporations to free speech. How and when did corporations get free speech when it took our mothers, sisters, grandmothers and others over two hundred years to get equal treatment and some representation. We are still underrepresented and invisible. I am concerned that Hillary AND the other feminist sisters have also learned the lessons of the 80's and 90's better than myself. I don't feel the >HOPE< of the Obama campaigns. I feel the fear of sitting and watching the dick - #donthecon - make himself bigger as a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic demagogue.

THAT is why I will carry the Bernie revolution forward. There are 2 women running for my district in the New Mexico State House of Representatives. I need to get active and figure out who to support, how and why because it is NOT about the party or the gender. It is about each citizen having a right to vote and many of us carrying that burden for "others" who may not be eligible this year, but they are part of our families as migrants and/or our children.

Thanks for listening, I always feel better. Hope you are Getting Out the Vote on your home turf where ever it is. I hope you have the information you need to make an informed vote on all of the positions and items on your ballot. And, if you don't have the information, I hope you find the Voter Guide prepared and maintained by the various League of Women Voters (at least here in the U.S. of A.). It is important that we care enough to make sure we KNOW who we are voting for and why !

C-i-C Forum Sept 6

I just finished watching the Commander-in-Thief (ooops - ) Commander-in-Chief forum on NBC - delayed live streaming. How appropriate as my commemoration to the day - 9/11:

Security - as represented by the United States Military forces and the national government to which it responds - is really a colonizing, imperial force. Anything that I say here represents my suspension of belief that we (as the US American) people will be able to do anything to change this in the near future. Therefore, as I continue to suspend my belief, how do I regard either of the two male-stream candidates in their abilities to be Commander-in-Chief.

Hillary Clinton: has done EVERYTHING in her power to make her the most highly qualified candidate to become the next Commander-in-Chief. She has even made the mistakes, and had the failures necessary, to give her the experience that only men, and most specifically generals carry into their campaigns for the office of C-i-C. She is kick-ass, bad-ass, well informed, will defend the United States of America, will continue the imperial policies of the Obama administration including Drone warfare and other unpleasant subjects we would rather NOT discuss openly and simply leave on the back pages of our "unclassified" discussions. I trust Hillary, sometimes I even like her. She did not do badly in the forum. She is well qualified, as the representative of her party, the Democrats, to become the next Commander-in-Chief.

#donthecon : continues unabated as the liar and con-man that he is. There is no comparison with Clinton because he is playing a TOTALLY different game, "believe me". #donthecon is appealing to the visceral / emotional testosterone waving super hero believing reality tv watching voter who does NOT want to be informed on facts, statistics or policy. The supporter is the guy (or in some instances 'the gal') who wants American exceptionalism, the great American superpower / policeman of the Coldwar - when America was "great" and we only had to worry about the 'other' superpower USSR, and possibly a rising China and/or our allies Germany and Japan and our trade deficits. His Bromance with Putin, and worship of other dictators evinces this reaction from me. Unfortunately, I was born into the cold war and react viscerally when a US wannabe Prez starts playing footisie with a former KGB head and vicious murderer. I think this is also why a large part of our NSA and other behind-the-scenes warriors would rather trust Hillary, the known quantity over the con-man who thinks his bluster and scorn passes as "negotiation."

We have already outsourced a great deal of our military to private contractors - do we really want to outsource the whole government to this "manager" - #donthecon? I will save my rants on outsourcing for another day, but if you want your government further dominated and run as a corporation, good / bad / or indifferent, #donthecon is your man.

Matt Lauer: did an indifferent job as the moderator, but what do you expect from the male-stream media ? I don't think he was harder or easier on either candidate and this IS all about "performance" - right - Communication scholars ?

I actually enjoyed the Forum as a far better format=process for evaluation than 'standard' debates controlled by whoever is now kowtowing to the DNC and RNC. I also enjoyed the fact that it represented some diverse and INTELLIGENT service members of both parties, as well as independents. Good questions, even if everything is highly stylized and vetted by NBC/MSNBC. I will write more about my relationship to the military and service on another page.