The Sanders phenomenon is not politics as usual. It is bigger than Sanders himself. And it exposes the fundamental differences between the progressive left and the Wall Street Democrats who have controlled the party for decades.
Progressives oppose the centrists in the party on trade, on foreign policy, on military belligerence, on corporate welfare, on universal healthcare, on the revolving door between industry and government, on public financing of campaigns, on aid to Israel, on drone killings of civilians, on coal mining, on fracking, on truth in labeling of foods, on breaking up the big banks, on Wall Street reform, on lobbying, on private prisons, on legalizing marijuana, and on the death penalty.
On all those issues, Hillary and the Wall Street Democrats are indistinguishable from the Republicans.
There are certainly issues upon which we agree, but Hillary’s mercurial positions on almost everything over the years raise serious questions about whether she even means what she says about one issue or another. She was once a champion of universal healthcare, now she opposes it. She has been for and against the war in Iraq, for and against gay marriage, for and against NAFTA, for and against the Trans Pacific Partnership, for and against gun control, for and against hunting, for and against private prisons, and on and on.
But even giving her the benefit of the doubt on her most recent positions, where she stands is quite troubling. She supports fracking, she opposes truth in labeling of foods, she opposes breaking up the Big Banks, she refuses to disclose the transcripts of the 20 minute speeches she gave to Goldman Sachs for $225,000 each. She opposed a $15/hour minimum wage until the New York primary last month. She continues to support the death penalty and opposes decriminalization of marijuana. Marijuana convictions have caused hundreds of thousands of young black Americans to spend years in prison, yet Hillary continues to oppose legalizing pot. The private prison industry, which heaped its largess upon Hillary spends millions of dollars fighting any change in marijuana laws, as their profits are dependent upon the highest prison population possible.
And yet, Hillary’s pitch is that there is more that unites us than divides us.
Actually, Hillary, there is much more that divides us than unites us.
Author’s Notes:
• I am unaware of any other blog with the Armory’s mission of radicalizing the animal movement. I certainly hope I am not alone, and that there are similar sentiments being expressed by comrades unknown to me.
If you know of other blogs dedicated to animal rights and the defeat of capitalism, please comment with a link.
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• Feel free to comment. I encourage open discussion and welcome other opinions. I moderate comments because this blog has been attacked by hunters and right wing trolls. I approve comments that are critical as well as those which agree with me. Comments that I will not tolerate are those that are spam, threatening, disrespectful, or which promote animal abuse and cruelty.
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