21 votes

Noam Chomsky: Bernie Sanders campaign didn’t fail. It energized millions and shifted US politics.

3 comments

  1. twisterghost
    Link
    Between this and the 2016 election he has certainly introduced me to a way of thinking abkut government that I previously thought wasn't possible. Structuring around empathy and lifting people up....

    Between this and the 2016 election he has certainly introduced me to a way of thinking abkut government that I previously thought wasn't possible. Structuring around empathy and lifting people up. My leaning has shifted wildly throughout the past decade and it's made me a better person overall.

    So yeah, sucks that he's not getting the nomination, but I don't think my story is unique and I think he has left a pretty big impact on folks.

    13 votes
  2. [2]
    sqew
    Link
    I hope Chomsky is right here. Bernie's campaign definitely energized a lot of people and pushed a lot more into activism, and I can already see lots of people calling to keep that momentum going....

    I hope Chomsky is right here. Bernie's campaign definitely energized a lot of people and pushed a lot more into activism, and I can already see lots of people calling to keep that momentum going.

    Just hoping that people don't get too dejected by having to wait another four years for a shot at the presidency and that they take up the fight at the local level in the meantime.

    8 votes
    1. cmccabe
      Link Parent
      Yes, the worst case is if the perceived defeat turns these people off from civic engagement. Let's do our part to prevent that. I agree with Chomsky that, if these people do stay engaged, this is...

      hoping that people don't get too dejected

      Yes, the worst case is if the perceived defeat turns these people off from civic engagement. Let's do our part to prevent that.

      I agree with Chomsky that, if these people do stay engaged, this is one of the most important movements in recent U.S. history. It is exactly what the corporate-funded overlords fear the most: normal people ORGANIZING in support of a socially and environmentally sustainable future. The 330-ish million people of the U.S. are weak and easily manipulated if they are unorganized and if they don't vote. If a large fraction of them take the still existing powers of democracy back into their hands, there is no multi-billion dollar, multi-national corporation or corrupt political party that can stand in their way.

      For those of us looking for something to do, somehow to support a positive difference in our current collective situation, one valuable action is to keep the optimism alive. Maintain discussions of the topics Bernie has brought up, and motivate others to stay at it, keep voting, continue educating themselves, and demand progress toward a sustainable future!

      7 votes