Late May Uprising
God bless Bernie Sanders for melting my political cynicism. His presidential bid reminds us that the fire of civic activism still burns beneath the status quo. Enthusiasm builds when old-school grit combines with fresh spunky memes. Such stuff sustains our molten dreams of blowing the top off corporate servitude.
Newscasters have thrown cold water on Bernie’s insurgent wins, repeatedly lecturing the public about delegate math. And yes, after New York, I knew his nomination was a long shot. That shouldn’t distract us from the greater significance of his campaign. There is long-range force in the core political convictions he has nurtured for a lifetime and championed for his network of followers.
Miracles happen, often in the ways we don’t anticipate. Bernie’s perseverance opens the door for his campaign to transform into an evergreen movement. In Oregon he has set the stage for us to reboot a revolution and gain freedom from partisan control.
Bernie is the longest-serving Independent in congressional history, yet for decades he has caucused with Democrats. Party elites used this against him in the primary, implying that he has less political standing than others who have long been registered Dems. In the general election Democrats will change this tune, seeking to woo Independents who they absolutely need in order to prevent Donald Trump from occupying the White House.
I changed my party membership to support Bernie in the Oregon primary. Previously I was registered with the Independent Party, which was formed to counter legislative efforts that restrict voter access in elections. Today I went to the Secretary of State’s voter webpage and changed my registration back to Independent. The two-minute ritual felt like a homecoming. Other Bernie supporters should give it a try. A mass civic migration over the coming weeks and months could have volcanic political consequences.
Note to newscasters: I’ve got your math right here. Independents are America’s largest political group and our numbers are increasing rapidly. The Independent Party was the fastest growing group of voters in Oregon following its inception in 2007. Between then and 2015, twice as many citizens registered with the Independent Party as new Democrats and Republicans combined. The state now recognizes Independents as a third major party and must treat us equally with respect to political primaries. That makes Oregon a key testing ground for political reform.
The Independent Party of Oregon is like a voter co-op. It uses online surveys to determine electoral preferences and legislative priorities. It is a natural home for Bernie supporters, because it emphasizes campaign finance reform, consumer protections (especially with regard to banks, insurance companies, and private utilities) and transparency in government. If enough of us switch to Independent we can build upon this platform. Folks who do so before June 24 can also participate in a survey to determine who the Independent Party should nominate for president. You can help decide, if you change your voter registration in the next few weeks.
This is a valuable exercise. The dynamics of partisan politics will shift if there is a groundswell of Independent activism. It can change the way primary elections are conducted and funded, opening the process to all voters. Over time our leaders will be forced to abandon the current game in which politicians play to polarized camps and then cater to the same moneyed interests.
New coalitions could be forged amidst this shift. If the general election unfolds as expected, the “Bernie or Bust” folks could be in the same boat as lifelong Republicans like my father (who says he will not vote for Clinton or Trump). Maybe people of different backgrounds will find common ground. Regardless of how we each choose to vote, I hope others will join this Indie Exodus. It will signal our resolve through creative civil means to reject establishment politics.
Dad has a story that boosts my optimism. Back in college he bucked the system and served as president of the Independent Students Association. By banding together, he and his colleagues were able to compete against the established frats. And the “GDI’s,” as they were called, won All School Sing that year.
Let conscience rise like magma from our civic core. Time to pour forth a new song.
It seems to me, Watt, that the Independent Party is the moderate version of the Green Party (or the Pacific Green Party – PGP – in Oregon). Both are considered small i independent parties for the purposes of the data floated around that over 40% of us Americans are independents. I’m not sure why the Independent Party has flourished in Oregon and the PGP is barely hanging on. The platform of the PGP, like all Greens, is pretty much progressive heaven, with the most important thing, in my mind, being its foreign policy, which is pacifist, empire-unbuilding, and engaging.
I will be going back there, from where I took a short break to vote for not only Bernie, but other progressive candidates challenging the establishment. The Greens and many parties, including the Dems, also use technology and outreach to get their members’ opinions on candidates, policies and even strategies. I think what we really need is a way to get all the idealogical viewpoints into the pot for our elections. The best way to do this would be for the parties to select their candidates however they want (without public assistance), and then have publicly funded elections between the parties’ candidates and anyone else (true independents) that wants to run independently of parties. (With instant runoff or ranked-choice voting, we could select a candidate that many more of us could be happy with, without the spoiler effect.)
You know, the way it’s done in every other somewhat democratic country in the world.
P.S. What song did you have in mind????
Greens are definitely good for us, yes siree Bob.
The word “Independent” has a meat-and-potatoes attraction that is similar to “Democratic” and “Republic.” Americans have identified as Independent for a long time, usually with pride in not being attached to dominant brands that often provide more packaging than contents. This may have something do with why the Independent Party has grown so rapidly in recent years, when that packaging has been especially disappointing.
My interest in the Independent Party is functional. I believe it offers us the best chance of adding a third major force to electoral dynamics and improving the democratic process. A third major force can open up opportunities for Greens and other minor parties to gain traction with American politics. Consider registering Independent for a while, get to know people, and help steer the movement forward.
“New song” is used in a deep metaphorical sense, but your postscript sent me in search of a pop anthem for this post. Here you go.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Exodus+Bob+Marley&view=detail&mid=227B75A7AC8D4E37415D227B75A7AC8D4E37415D&FORM=VIRE
Why not cut off your noses at the same moment, to really make a statement? Stamp your foot and shout real loud. That’s all you’ll accomplish by following this advice. I’m sick of “Independents”. Grow up. You whined for years because you couldn’t vote in Primaries, because, … well, that’s what a primary is: the election for members of a certain party to choose their candidate. Independents can’t vote in them for the same reason they can’t vote for members of the College of Cardinals or the board of the Stock Exchange: They ain’t members. So now they’ve convinced the Sec of State to add their name to the ballot, and they still whine, because they have no candidate. Waaah. I love and support Bernie Sanders, but this kind of crap does not help the Democratic Party, the State, or the Country.
Independents and non-affiliated voters can fully participate in states that hold open primaries. Oregon currently has a closed primary. I aim to be part of a coalition that opens it.
You love Bernie, but you’re sick of Independents? I hope you get better if you want a decent candidate to win in November. Cause here’s the thing, Joe: when the final decision is in front of us, you and I might be voting for the same person. From a practical standpoint — if for no other reason — we might as well get along.
By the way, if Oregon’s primary were open, odds are good from what we’ve seen that Bernie would have secured even more delegates. If Kentucky’s primary were open, I believe he would have won that state. This election gives us a lot to think about.
I like Indie books, Indie music, and Indie choice in politics. Nice piece Watt. I like choice. I’m not a big fan of being encapsulated or boxed. I’ve boxed my way out of boxes most of my life, how do u think i got such a pretty nose :P. Well now i just sit back and smile most times. Muster compassion when i can. A left jab usually inspires a counter punch, and even if u win, they just sign u up for another fight. The only way to illicit serious change is to find some common ground (like the Heart) and work with each other. H.G. Wells said “The first man to raise a fist is the man who’s run out of ideas.” Seems like there should be more choices than the low brow breast beating we’ve been force-fed all these years. Just because they do it, doesn’t make it right. Viva le Integrity…
Amen Vinny. Reverend Billy and Uncle Mike were fond of saying there are three rules in life: 1) nobody hits; 2) everybody eats; and 3) there is no third rule.
From our conversations I figure we may end up voting for different people in the general election if Bernie does not win the Democratic nomination. Regardless, I absolutely respect you and know you will vote your conscience. Whether one votes for Jill Stein (Green Party) or Hillary Clinton (assuming she’s nominated), it will boost our chances of leveraging reform if we cultivate common ground outside the two dominate parties. In the general election Independents can vote for either of these candidates, of course. It will strengthen our position as reformers if we move in mass to become Independents following the primaries.
I really like the writing of this piece. I’m glad you found good use of the Mt. St. Helens framing.
Good job Watt. It’s idealist to be sure. I really wish it could work. Maybe one day with enough effort by the dreamers of this world it could make a difference. So, don’t give up.
BTW: I agree with Joe and Vinny both. I tried it with Ross Perot and all it did was hurt the next best choice. I wish we had more say, but it’s rigged.
Thank you so much Greg for passing along the idea for that framing. Ideas freely given can flow like lava through our culture, transform the landscape of our collective mind.
Registering Independent doesn’t prevent us from voting for the candidate of our choice in the general election — Democrat, Republican, Green, etc. It merely signals that we are doing so from a separate political vantage point. In Oregon, that’s an especially potent position because the IPO is a third major party.