Learning from Bernie

When Bernie Sanders circulated his petition, I believe it was in 2011, asking people whose opinion he valued whether he should run for President of the United States, he sought the opinion of thinking, concerned people such as David Korten, author of When Corporations Rule the World. David said “Yes, we need you.” Unlike most candidates Bernie was seeking knowledge not money. 

Another lesson Bernie has for Progressives is to seek knowledge of the human condition and of the potential for improving it. Bernie has, for example, declared that he would value Paul Krugman and Joe Stiglitz as members of his administration. For Bernie, thinking and a fundamental concern for human welfare matter. With this kind of focus Bernie invites people to be participants, not merely supporters.

Bernie has shown us how to deal with distractions, important though they may be. After the Black Lives Matter people interrupted and stopped his speech he met with them, presented his proposals for addressing racism, which met with their approval, but did so in the context of his overriding economic message.

After the disruption some pundits voiced their belief the Bernie’s campaign was finished because of this racial issue. However, he has continued to draw large crowds and now has overtaken Clinton in New Hampshire and Iowa. I believe we have seen something of the depth of Bernie’s understanding and commitment in this episode. The lesson Progressives should learn is, when dealing with distraction learn, but keep your focus on the fundamental issues.

One of the largest lessons to be learned from Bernie is his deliberate choice to go South, not just in pursuit of additional voters, but to demonstrate to the Democratic Party and progressives that their practice of writing off the South as a lost cause, of which I have been guilty, is wrong and flies in the face of the unification this country so badly needs. By demonstrating  the economic plight Wall Street has placed so many ordinary Americans in, Bernie has shown that economic issues can surmount racial divisions. That he was able to draw thousands in Louisiana evidences the viability of the 50-state political funding emphasis that Howard Dean and Bernie have both pushed. The 50-state policy says, in effect, that all Democrats count when it comes to the use of party campaign funding.

Dean was promptly removed from head of the DNC when Obama was elected and replaced by Rahm Emanuel who strenuously opposed the 50-state idea. Emanuel  eventually went on to become mayor of Chicago and push privatization of the Chicago public school system.

Underneath all of this Bernie is teaching Americans that politics must focus on people and their wellbeing, not on money and the well-being of the rich, both corporate and personal. Maybe we can stop teaching our children that seeking one’s fortune is not a suitable goal in life for a citizen of democracy and that wealth is the enemy of democracy.

Bob Newhard