"In a Democracy..."

[pameladlloyd]

copperwise recently posted about a number of LJ folk whose journals she recommends. One of these was leemoyer who posted a quote, which I repeat, from Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Senator Sanders is officially an independent, but caucuses with the Democrats and describes himself as a "democratic socialist," according to the Wikipedia article on him.

In a democracy, elections are not beauty pageants or reality shows, or soap operas for political junkies. Elections are the real business of democracy, and they should be about real things.

Without sounding too corny, what this election is about is the well-being of hundreds of millions of Americans and about what kind of country we will be leaving to our kids and grandchildren. And, at a time of global warming and severe environmental problems, this campaign is also about whether our planet survives in a condition that can sustain human life in the decades and centuries to come.

Given all that is at stake, as American citizens we must demand that the media not continue to trivialize our democratic process, dumb down coverage and, in the process, deflect attention away from the most important issues impacting our lives. This election must, first and foremost, be about the needs of the American people.

Now, I honestly know nothing more than what you see here. I haven't even read more than the first two paragraphs of the Wikipedia entry on him. But, I'm very impressed by the sentiment expressed in this quote. We so need to realize that our votes have consequence, not just for ourselves, but for the entire world for generations.

Comments

[crinklequirk.livejournal.com]

I like what he said there. It IS larger than the next Spears tragedy, or teen pregnancy, or name-calling bout. Those things all pass - and only really affect a few. But considering that we're in the midst of abrupt climate change, and that it affects the entire world we live in (think waves of refugees rioting with Europeans as they flee their now-unsustaining countries), whether or not we want to admit it.

I want a future, for me, you, our families - for all of us, not just the richest members of this society.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

I want a future, for me, you, our families - for all of us, not just the richest members of this society.

That is such a beautiful way of expressing it. If everyone in the room could just recognize this as a basic starting point, I think we'd all be so much better off.

[crinklequirk.livejournal.com]

Hmm. That's the hard part, I think (getting all to that starting point).