NOTHING

I love Bernie, but if he really wanted this political revolution you speak of, then he would've started a third party and not run as a Democrat. You act as if the "unjust Democrats" are ruining Bernie's revolution. But Bernie intentionally chose to enter the Democratic primary as a faithful member of that party. He could have gone alone. Like Ralph Nader did. But both of the parties are dedicated above all else to perpetuating the primacy of the two-party system. Third parties are doomed. Bernie chose to join the Democratic party. Nobody forced him. He is running as a Democrat. Why? Because the Democratic party best represents his values, and the system is rigged against third parties. I'm sure he and Ralph Nader had a long conversation about this at some point. But take a step back ... why did Bernie run for president at all? The president does not have the power to effect the kind of change we all wish for. Bernie is not an idiot; he knows this. It's not about the presidency. Ask Obama how much power the president really has without support from Congress. That's why Bernie speaks in terms of revolutions. He doesn't speak about executive orders or legislation, for those will not work to effect this change. If all he wanted was to become president then we would see him talking about the things he could realistically do as president. He does not. Whether or not Bernie becomes the Democratic nominee, or even if he is elected president, is largely irrelevant to the survival and success of the revolution. Bernie thinks that the best method for revolution and change is to use the Democratic Party as the primary tool. To change that party, through grassroots action, and mold it into a party that works for the people. The Democratic Party is, after all, a powerful juggernaut. Bernie wants to take the reins of that juggernaut, and steer it into a better world. After Nader's many failures, and the failures of so many third-party ascendants stuck with their doomed "principles", it's the most pragmatic and effective tactic he can employ. I think Ralph Nader might disagree, but what has he accomplished? Bernie's plan, his war strategy, is to mold a powerful and energized Democratic Party into a tool for change. Those brothers and sisters of ours who are ditching the Democratic Party because Bernie isn't winning this one little, insignificant nomination contest are missing the entire point of what Bernie is trying to do. Yeah, the Democratic Party is kindof a piece of shit. But it's a powerful piece of shit, and if Bernie gets his way - then it's going to be our piece of shit. That's the endgame. That's how he wins. Not by winning a figurehead position, doomed to be thwarted at every turn, but by taking control of the party and making it work for us. And he certainly doesn't win if his chosen tool, the Democratic Party, is rendered useless and impotent. People are, as always too focused on the presidency, and too focused on the transitory politics of the moment. I have this horrible feeling that millions of Berninators will just walk away from the process if he fails to get the nomination, not realizing that the real goal has never been to just win one office, but to create a real revolution. After 2016, the Berninators are going to own the Democratic party for the foreseeable future. As long as they stay organized. As long as they don't just give up. Think about that ... real, progressive gadflies with the power of a true national party. A piece-of-shit party, to start with, but this campaign has already begun the process of taking it over. Molding it, shaping it, turning it in the direction it needs to go. Sure, the establishment Democratic Party is a piece of shit and not what we want. But we're going to make it better. And it's going to take a lot more than a president Bernie to do that. It's up to us.

/r/circlejerk Thread