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OpEdNews Op Eds    H2'ed 2/11/16

Is it time for grassroots movements to coalesce around the Bernie Sanders revolution?

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Message Move to Amend

By Egberto Willies, co-host Move to Amend Reports

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Bernie Sanders won in a landslide, a resounding victory against Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary, beat Hillary Clinton 60% to 38%. Based on exit polls, his was more than a significant Hillary Clinton defeat. This was a defeat of the establishment--a defeat of incrementalism and inauthenticity. Both candidates are promoting middle-class centric policies that at least on the surface, appeal to most. In New Hampshire's democratic primary, rank and file voters reviewed the democratic socialist and the establishment candidates' platforms. They found Bernie Sanders message believable and attainable because it is consistent with his long career in public service. They listened to Hillary Clinton's incremental and pragmatic platform, purported to attain the same goal (albeit with implicit corporate dictates) as unacceptable.

The classic example is Sanders' health care proposal. Bernie Sanders wants to get corporations out of healthcare administration (paying medical bills, etc) given that they deny coverage to many in order to make a profit for a few (single-payer / Medicare for all). Hillary Clinton continues to support that arcane construct that is nothing more than a transfer of middle-class wealth to the executives and shareholders of insurance corporations.

The exit polls were strikingly stunning. They indicate that the masses are finally getting it. Bernie Sanders won every demographic classification sans people over 64 and people making over $200,000. And even those were too close for Hillary's comfort.

Bernie Sanders more than any politician has raised the issue of Wall Street/corporate control of American politics. He has promised to fund his campaign via the grassroots. Thus far he is fulfilling that promise. Hillary Clinton's financing is decidedly PAC based.

Many viewed former President Clinton's attack on Bernie Sanders immediately before the New Hampshire primary, when it was evident that Hillary would take a shellacking, as a faux paux. It was not. As David Brock said to Politico Magazine, it was a signal.

"I think that it's about time that voters got a glimpse of reality, which is what's happening, and President Clinton did that. It was a strong call to arms, particularly to her supporters -- and I include myself in that -- who have stayed too quiet in the face of those character attacks, and that's over. What she correctly called the 'artful smear,' we need to call attention to," David Brock, the founder of the Correct The Record rapid response and opposition research group that coordinates with the Clinton campaign, told POLITICO on Monday morning.

In other words, the Clinton Super PACs, the corporatocracy, and Wall Street are ready to pounce. Ignoring Sanders didn't work. Playing nice didn't work. We can now expect the media to throw the kitchen sink at him--no 'artful' smears required. You can bet the corporate-owned news will toe the establishment line, truth be damned, to ensure a corporatist is elected and the status quo remains untouched.

Is America at a turning point? Should grassroots movements pushing for a constitutional amendment to rid our politics of Wall Street control and corporate control jump into Bernie Sanders political revolution?

Hillary Clinton has received almost unanimous support and endorsements from the Democratic establishment. Bernie Sanders is a lone ranger attempting to remake the Nation Democratic Party into one that is people centered. There is much intersectionality between grassroots movement groups like Move to Amend and others.

Bernie Sanders said the following in his New Hampshire victory speech.

"Tonight we serve notice to the political and economic establishment of this country that the American people will not continue to accept a corrupt campaign finance system that is undermining American democracy and we will not accept a rigged economy in which ordinary Americans work longer hours for lower wages while almost all new income and wealth goes to the top one percent."

He has identified the core issue around which these groups coalesce, organize, and fight.

Sanders also pointed out that a large portion of the electorate is starved for solutions to their issues, and sent a clear message that voters on both sides of the aisle are fed up.

"The people of New Hampshire have sent a profound message to the political establishment, to the economic establishment, and by the way, to the media establishment. What the people here have said is that given the enormous crises facing our country, it is just too late for the same old, same old establishment politics and establishment economics. The people want real change.

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The Move to Amend Coalition is a grassroots campaign to amend the Constitution to state that artificial entities such as corporations, unions, and non-profits do not have inherent rights under the Constitution, and that money is not free speech so (more...)
 
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