https://archive.is/utv0x

The New York Times rejected this article so he had to go to the Boston Globe. Give it a read. Give your thoughts.

I'm a software engineer - that's what I bring to the table, and I'd like to volunteer my time to use that skill for left wing causes. What resources are there for people like myself, or with other skills, to find organizations that need our services?

It would be perfect to go over the election loss for the Dems and discuss possible ways forward for the left, within or without the Dems.

- didn't pack the court

- didn't end the filibuster

- didn't codify Roe

- didn't make DC or Puerto Rico states

- didn't raise the debt ceiling for POPULAR policies like higher minimum wage, voting rights or paid family leave, but did for the precious stock market

This administration was a collection of empty promises. We basically only had a 4 year break between two disastrous Trump terms, but nothing was really actually achieved or even repaired.

If anyone knows any organizations that are seeking to be proactive about the coming four years and fight the second trump administration, be it legislatively or in the community or otherwise, id like to know about them. My main gripe is that many orgs are about spreading awareness, which is fine, but I want to know where action is being taken.

Also, a side note, is a second womens march coming?

If Bernie makes a 3rd party alternative to the democrats, I think he could capture a large chunk of California by the next presidential election.

For those who don't know, California has a primary system that allows voters to vote for candidates regardless of party affiliation. The top 2 candidates in a particular race then move on to the general election. This guarantees there will be at least one non-republican candidate on the ballot in the general which avoids the spoiler effect.

Importantly this means that a Berniecrat should focus their efforts on winning in the primary so that they make it to the general election. Once they're in the general their opponent will be a republican or a democrat. Against a republican that just about guarantees getting all of the dem votes and possibly independent/republican ones too. Against a democrat, they'll be able to pull the democrats to the left for once because the Dems will need to focus on convincing left wing voters to go to them. So even if they lose against a dem it's a win.

Another important factor is that primaries are low turnout elections so progressives with strong ground games will have the advantage even without equal financial backing. And on that note, it's also important to remember that Bernie had a strong hold over California in the 2020 presidential primaries. I'm certain that he'd be able to gain not only political support but also financial support from Californians.

This won't help for a presidential election but it can send a strong message to democrats that a left wing populist message can work. Democrats, especially in states like CA and NY where they have default control, have no reason to ever go for left wing votes because there's no left wing party. They take left wing support for granted and as a result they will always run as close to republicans as they can. That needs to change and it can only change with a left wing party.

If the democrats lose their control over the largest state in the nation and one of their strongholds, it will prove that the democrats need to change or be destroyed. It will also inspire voters in other states to take a chance on Berniecrats and to take them seriously.

But it can only work if Bernie makes it because that initial financial support and voter awareness is critical.

P.S. I believe Washington has a similar system and if so then that would also be a strong candidate.

Most Americans are not smart people. Just the way it is. They don't respond to detailed policy or talk of progress made. There is only emotion and instinct. The real energy of Bernie's campaign was rooted in the emotions a vision of change created. It's no secret that many Bernie supporters ended up gravitating toward Trump because of the same urge for change, just directed in a terrible way. That's why Democrats (or a true left wing party) should dump policy talk for simple, effective slogans that conjure up images of radical change in the mind's eye. Get rid of stats and numbers for universal healthcare, just shout "CHEAPER HEALTHCARE" everywhere until it sticks. Invoke class war imagery and shout about making the rich pay their fair share and cutting taxes on the poor. Focus on bold action to combat climate change, emphasizing how corporations are the real culprits, not workers or the individual. Push climate messaging on young voters, emphasizing how it's going to ruin their lives and Republicans are doing less than nothing by rolling back environmental protections. Simple slogans like "Make Them Pay" or "Time's Up" or "The Second Revolution" to invoke anger. Emphasize "us vs. them" mentality on the 1% and always hammer that Trump has tied Republicans to the billionaire class and forever betrayed workers.

Edit: Responses proving y'all ain't that bright in here either

Today the United States is facing challenges and adversary no one ever thought possible.  A Snake oil salesman with the same authoritarian tendency's as central Europe in the 1930s has hijacked a major political party with the exchange for power to those willing to do his bidding. We are staring in the face of a Hyper-Inflated economy, Government restrictions on the freedom of Press, Religion, and Peaceful assembly, Mass deportation to determent camps for immigrants, a Restriction of bodily choices for every woman nationwide, an Open hate for the LGBTQIA+ community, open Oppression for minorities, The Restriction of healthcare and a decline in public health, A Hotter and hotter climate ruining our standards of living,  and a Termination of the very principals that our great nation was founded on. Now, more than ever, I hope that I am wrong, and that Republicans will PROVE ME WRONG! However, I am less optimistic in the republican party than I ever have been before. I am Optimistic and Hopeful about our future and about our people. 

Like so many I have a principled belief that the American Spirit, Dream, Freedom and Ideals are so much more than ideas written on a document 250 years ago. They live through us in our daily lives and our idealistic principles that are installed in us at birth. The Idea that every Man, Woman, and Child are created equally. That you can do anything you want in this world through our opportunities and live a finically comfortable life. Our government may not have always reflected those principles, but WE HAVE! Now more than ever we are at a crossroads of doing what is Easy and what is Right. Most of the Baby Boomers and Gen X have sealed their fate at the ballot box. In the future, Millennials and Gen Z must take the rubble of what was and rebuild. There is no doubt in my mind that we will, and we will be better than ever if we hold on to these ideas and principles installed within us. Our government has done some cruel and awful things, but WE THE PEOPLE always stood up to Oppression, WE THE PEOPLE have always overcame adversaries, and WE THE PEOPLE will always prevail! Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes we will get back up Stronger, more Moral, and more Just! Proving not only to ourselves but to the rest of the world, that we are America! Second to None! 

Like President Biden said, “Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable,” We also can’t give up on the other people. It’s going to be hard on so many of you, but there is going to be buyer's remorse. They're going to sleep in the bed they made and realize they’re sleeping on nails. WE must let them back in when they discover this for themselves. I truly believe the vast vast majority at the ballot box voted for what they believed to be a more Fairer, Just, and Honorable society. It will be up to us to take care of them as they become more elderly, and I believe in leading that charge with compassion as most of them would for us, and not punishing them because they do not know what they’ve done. 

Allow me to close with this. THE STATE OF OUR UNION has never been about the government but about WE THE PEOPLE. WE THE PEOPLE will prevail! The spirit of America is calling on us Now more than ever to lead with Compassion, Purpose, Humility, and Boldness. I am optimistic because I know WE WILL DELIVER. THE STATE OF OUR UNION is down, but not out. As long as we keep true to ourselves and ideas of who and what we are we are never out. If we keep a ripple of hope, that ripple becomes a Tidalwave of possibility and achievement. I am not excited about our government right now. However, I am excited and optimistic about how we will respond and the better society we will create for it.  

Yes, I know Hillary Clinton is not active anymore, but let us not forget that she did endorse some non-progressives in the primaries when a progressive was running.

It is BAFFLING how Lower Income families are voting for conservative, traditionally pro-corporate, party.

Democrats got too smug about themselves. "We are more educated, we have more creatives, we have more professionals". All the while blasting low income white families with "You're priviliged!"

I stringly believe there should be a party that will start tackling issues like RTO, workers rights, AI replacing jobs and etc. And this should not be tied to identity politics of current democratic party.

And this might even stop the Culture war. Which is the cause of current divide

I’m just thinking realistically, Bernie is only getting older, but I think his movement is so strong. Is there anyone who can follow in his path and keep the fight going?