04/15/2020
https://www.socialistpartyusa.net/post/beyond-bernie-an-open-letter-to-sanders-supporters
Beyond Bernie: An Open Letter to Sanders Supporters
If we have learned one thing from Bernie Sanders’ two presidential campaigns, it is that radical politics cannot be advanced from within the Democratic Party. This is not a criticism of the hard work done by countless volunteers on the Sanders campaign, but an indictment on a party that will do everything up to and including rigging its own presidential primaries to prevent meaningful change.
For many, Senator Sanders’ loss in the presidential primary is still raw and deciding your next political step may take time. For others, you may be ready now to continue advocating for radical solutions in the 2020 election.
Wherever you find yourself at this moment, do not give in to the hopelessness and defeatism being sold by the Democratic Party in the form of their candidate Joe Biden. As was the case in 2016 with Hillary Clinton, radical alternatives do exist to the unpopular neoliberal being peddled under the guise of “Anyone But Trump” and “Vote Blue No Matter Who”. The Democrats want to lay the blame for Donald Trump’s victory at your feet if you do not support the Democratic nominee chosen by their section of the ruling class. Do not let them.
Instead, turn yourself to the future.
Now is the time to abandon the Democratic Party for good, not just for another four years. Some will attempt to corral you now into supporting Joe Biden, whereas others will wait to win you back with a 2024 progressive candidate like Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez. So long as these campaigns exist within the framework of the capitalist two-party system, progress will not be possible and your hard work will be in vain. The capitalist parties exist to advance the interests of the ruling class. The working class must organize independently in order to advance its own interests.
For our part, the Socialist Party has signed onto a dynamic presidential campaign by nominating longtime member and organizer Howie Hawkins of New York. Howie’s campaign is one of left collaboration, which is why he is also seeking the nomination of the Green Party as well as support from across the Left. We are proud to be involved in this unprecedented unity campaign and excited for what it can achieve for independent Left politics in the United States.
You can learn more about the Howie Hawkins 2020 presidential campaign here. https://howiehawkins.us/
We encourage anyone interested in becoming involved in independent Left politics to read our Statement of Principles, which describes the core beliefs of our Party that all members subscribe to within our multi-tendency organization. If you believe in our principles and are ready to become involved in socialist politics that are opposed to the Democratic Party instead of beholden to it, apply to join the Socialist Party today!
Beyond Bernie: An Open Letter to Sanders Supporters If we have learned one thing from Bernie Sanders’ two presidential campaigns, it is that radical politics cannot be advanced from within the Democratic Party. This is not a criticism of the hard work done by countless volunteers on the Sanders ca...
