La Riva, Stein, Chomsky, and Blum on Sanders' Surge
by Roger Copple
I recently read an article entitled "Please Don't Poison My Brain With The US Elections!" by Andre Vltchek in which he calls for direct democracy, having no faith in electoral politics: "The moneyed and bellicose clans always get elected; there are ways to assure it. Several Greek philosophers protested: they were defending direct democracy, the direct rule of the people. [But] They were sidelined, or silenced altogether." http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44170.htm
If we take all money out of politics (my plan is to equally empower the seven largest national political parties) with representative democracy intact, and it still does not work, then we can explore ways to implement direct democracy, as social ecologist Murray Bookchin advocated. Others have said it is hypocritical to be antiwar and excited about Bernie Sanders, but all progressives (and leftists too) need to put their gripes aside and help get Bernie elected.
The article by William Blum entitled "Is Bernie Sanders a Socialist?" raises some excellent points. Bernie Sanders has been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, and he would be called a "social democrat" in Europe. Both of these groups have no desire to get rid of the profit motive. Blum states: "I personally could live with the neighborhood grocery store remaining in private hands, but large institutions are always a threat; the larger and richer they are the more tempting and easier it is for them to put profit ahead of the public's welfare, and to purchase politicians." http://www.intrepidreport.com/archives/17310
Alexandra Rosenmann of Alternet provides a summary and video entitled "Noam Chomsky Praises Sanders, But Says Democrats Must Win at All Costs." Chomsky says Sanders may call himself a socialist, but he's basically a New Dealer in the current American political system. Chomsky says there are enormous consequences of not voting in the Democratic primaries of a swing state. The major difference between the two mainstream parties is Islamaphobia, and Ted Cruz has actually suggested "carpet bombing" the Middle East. If Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, Chomsky says he would only vote for her to keep the Republicans out of office. http://www3.alternet.org/election-2016/noam-chomsky-praises-sanders-defends-clinton-and-democratic-party
Lastly, in an excellent interview, Brian Becker of the "Loud and Clear" radio program at SputnikNews.com interviews Gloria La Riva, the presidential candidate of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Jill Stein, a presidential candidate of the Green Party. The words of all three provide a perspicacious analysis of Sanders' and Clinton's foreign policy records, and they each agree that the banks need to be nationalized. If at all possible, readers are encouraged to listen to this 54 minute audiotape. I transcribed the salient points of the interview for myself, but it would make this article too long if I included it here. http://sputniknews.com/radio_loud_and_clear/20160210/1034506753/new-hampshire-primaries-sanders-crushes-clinton.html
(Article changed on February 13, 2016 at 12:24)
(Article changed on February 13, 2016 at 17:06)