Which, I'll absolutely admit I've been an asshole to Bernie Bros, and I'll gladly stop as I don't enjoy it, and there's nothing to gain for either of us by it continuing as it'll just further fuel the divide. I could not stand by and accept some of the behavior exhibited, as it is literally the exact same behavior of people like Turmp and his supporters, and I have been calling that shit out the entire time, so its not because I'm just hateful of you or Bernie (but like I've said repeatedly, the Bernie Bros I've known were incredibly dishonest and were always going to vote Turmp and never actually supported Bernie; which I don't believe most of the people I've labeled Bernie Bros on here - very probably unfairly or at least making the equivalence that you are the same as those before - are that way, but I'm mindful that people are often not honest). If you're being honest about your beliefs and you're really are just passionate about Bernie's policies, we have far more in common than not and absolutely do want the same thing. But we've got to work towards that. I get the indignance, I even applaud it to a certain degree. I just want you to focus it in the right direction, and I feel it is misguided currently.
I agree, Biden is a poor candidate. I've never had fondness for him. He was just the kinda weird "Uncle" guy that Obama had as his VP. At best, he's a garden variety old school centrist style politician for the most part, and I think he's often less than that. Which I don't view as a great positive, but I also can see that's still FAR left of where Republicans/Conservatives are these days. Even when I don't agree with him, I don't see Biden being openly hateful like those are (and I haven't heard that he's two-faced and is hateful like that behind closed doors). And that can be worked with. He might not seem like a step in that direction, but it is, merely by it bringing us a step back from the cliff that Republicans keep pushing us towards.
I promise you that there is a coalition of people that are going to vote Biden that will also push for policies like those of Bernie. I won't promise that it'll get results you want quickly (that it'll happen under Biden even), but there will be people pushing things that direction. And Biden is not the final step. He wasn't the first, he won't be the last (ok, well maybe some asteroid or some cosmic event will make me a liar). Its just a step along the way. Its not easy to see, but even in the face of the past few years, of Turmp, there has been some progress. Just like there has been throughout. It happens in our darkest times. And we need to be pushing always for it. Good times too, when its easy to take it easy and not think about there still being a long way to go. We saw that in the 90s, and in hindsight, we see how it can cause backslides.
The important thing is to recognize what we are in fact fighting both against and for. We really are facing one of the most serious times in human history. I do not lightly make accusations about modern right wing politics, these are not empty claims just because I'm partisan. There have been a lot of warning signs about what they are pushing for and we need to heed them before its too late. And we have enough issues ahead of us as it is. Stuff like climate change, which even if societies in general all over the world work together, we will still struggle mightily to deal with. And because of those struggles it makes it easier for people with ill intent to seek power and manipulate it for their own goals. It is vital that we work together.
We can certainly disagree some as well, we don't need to silence dissent and disagreement. If he wins the election, it will be vital for us to hold Biden accountable, just the same as we've tried to for Turmp, and it will be vital for us to do that for all that we deign to give office, and therefore the power of, to. I like Bernie's policies, but I personally am not enamored with him as far as political clout goes (I don't feel he has enough broad support and he also hasn't shown the ability to get broad support including necessary compromises, for the huge policies he's wanting, so I worry they'd end up going nowhere while he'd just keep raging about it, so it would seem like a version of Turmp that I would actually be sympathetic towards as I support the policies). I also have a better idea of how Biden will act when confronted with situations that arose, and that's one of the few aspects that I view him favorably on. I don't necessarily view Bernie unfavorably in that regard, I don't have information in regards to that. It'd be nice if we could separate from persons and instead vote on policies. But that will have its own issues. So, instead, the best we can do is vote for the better candidate, and then try to pressure them to do as well as we can. I think that not only is the starting point with Biden much better, but he'd be more agreeable to pushing things there. Especially if we can galvanize people like Sanders and Warren to provide the pressure via well designed policy with favorable response from Americans (which seems to be the case on a good amount of Bernie's policies, and I have to imagine there will be more broad support for health care after this) coupled with analysis (i.e., Sanders taking his Medicare for all and having it pretty thoroughly vetted for economic costs). I think Biden will listen. Could definitely be wishful thinking, but perhaps this might potentially be an opportunity where we could get movement towards Sanders policies, but without the political baggage (which we saw with the ACA can drastically impact it). So Biden could possibly make a broad sell to the American people easier, or perhaps even just a transition (he doesn't seem to personally believe in Medicare for all, but he does support a public option for health care insurance which might be the next step needed to get to single payer), and Republicans can't just demonize it based on Bernie/Socialism/boogeyman nonsense.
Can we get there? I don't know. I know its a lot more likely if we work together than us taking our current paths. But I also know that diehard Bernie supporters have more to sacrifice to get there, so its easier for me to sit here and say these things than it is for them to hear them.
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