I Support Bernie Sanders Remaining an Independent

[MuseRider]

23. Excellent post Tom and thank you.

I have been in unaffiliated voter in Kansas for a long time. I had to register as a Democrat to vote in the primary and voting for Bernie meant enough for me to do that even when I absolutely had no use for the party in my state. After the primaries showed Bernie (I cannot remember the numbers but I think he got 60% of the primary) winning here I thought perhaps it has changed and I might feel comfortable there. It IS changing but I do not think it ever would have if it had not been for that circumstance of Bernie. It was too easy to follow the wealth and social status parties and keep the party just barely to the left of the Republicans. Our platform was never as conservative as our reps were. It just sucked and I saw friend after friend get involved and get chewed up and spit out because they just did not fit in. Well, Bernie allowed people like me and people like my friends to feel comfortable again with being different in the party. Enough so that the party is swinging rather quickly to the left, our platform is a good one and one I can support.

Bernie would never want to belong to something that he had to support just because he was a member. There are a lot of us out here who do not fit into the "you are us we are you we are all together, vote for it or be gone" mold. A lot of people can tolerate that, I am not one of them. I think Bernie would be less effective inside. I agree with your assessment of his directing people to see the Democrats as the solution. I had friends who are Tea Party who loathed both Trump and Clinton but liked and wanted to vote for Bernie. They either did not vote or became extremely pro Trump after the deplorable comment. Bernie did appeal to a large group and I have no problem with him still trying to do so. We may not understand why some voted for Trump, I know I sure do not understand it but what is the harm trying to teach them a better way?

Thanks Tom, excellent writing.

Sorry, you did not need my views. I just came in to agree and tell you thanks for this. It is a lovely piece as you always write and it should help some maybe understand better why he is who he is and says what he says. Does the Democratic party need work? What party doesn't? Friendly criticism is only meant to help and ignoring it only keeps things where they are. We do need to listen and give it a fair hearing. Would we listen to Trump or McConnell or Ryan like they could help? Nope, but Bernie wants it all to be better on this side of the aisle. I think that is a good thing.