Will the realization of Sanders’ political program chase Thanatos from the human soul? No, Gray and Freud have that right — all evidence confirms that’s part of who we are — at least until the next transformational random mutation. But Sanders’ program does promise to accent those “better angels of our nature” by utilizing pre-existing institutions of the state to balance economic and political power (no guillotines required). As I wrote above, Sanders’ vision for utilizing the state to redistribute (and balance) socio-economic and political power is gaining traction across many of the major world economies; but as we see from Germany’s (almost sadistic) suffocation of Syriza in Greece and the British establishment’s hysterical response to Jeremy Corbyn’s victory as leader of the Labour Party, there is tremendous resistance on behalf of the allies of capital to allowing this political tendency to implement its program. At the same time, I don’t think there’s any other political proposal on the table that will come close to satisfying the public. And so, while I could be wrong, I foresee us stranded in a myriad of crises until such a left formation gets a go at leading a major government. Not that simply winning an election will produce magic. Indeed, you can foresee the right wing’s counteroffensive from Paul Ryan’s words in Cleveland recently, as he railed on how the left wants to give out free stuff in a world designed by faceless bureaucrats. Indeed, if a government with a Sanders agenda comes to power in the coming decade or so, it will be tasked with instantly improving government institutions that have fallen into disrepair during the current regime of austerity. In order to achieve such a transformation, the masses in support of such an agenda will have to be well-informed about the task ahead. One thing I certainly worry about after the convention I just left is just how well Sanders supporters understand what they’re up against and what it will take to achieve their goals. It’s clear to me that he understands these things — but, hey, I’m a program director of a radio station that Sanders spoke on once a week until his presidential campaign overwhelmed his schedule. (Note to Bernie: Please come back to the airwaves.) In contrast, there was a tangible sense of frustration, and even desperation, amongst many Sanders delegates at the convention. In contrast to the Clinton lemmings, the Sanders delegates were always happy to talk policy; but, at least last week, their favorite subject was the corruption of the Democratic National Convention. Yes, Team Clinton stacked the deck, and this merited exposure, but it wasn’t surprising. Achieving a true 21st-century social democracy through the electoral realm would mean an incredible struggle. We need to build toward it using every asset we the people posses. As such, nothing could be more important than helping everyone gain the kind of sophisticated sense of what we’re up against that Bernie Sanders possesses, since we can expect fierce resistance from the social, political and economic elites and their lemming-like allies. Lastly, this essay is itself an experiment in the political value of “contempt.” As it were, it’s a kind of weapons test. I must confess: I am a product of the punk rock era. I grew up believing Sid Vicious an intellectual paragon. Malcolm Gladwell (for whom, you can imagine, I have tremendous contempt) writes in his best-selling book “Blink” that research into romantic relationships has shown that they can survive fighting and all sorts of other negative components; but if either partner in the relationship has contempt for the other, then the couple is doomed. Lovers, beware contempt. Per Hillary Clinton, this is good news for me, as I have no desire to be enmeshed in a romantic relationship with any member of the Clinton tribe (strikes me as awfully messy). But I wonder if, perhaps, contempt might be a necessary instrument to be deployed, especially if she does become the next president. Hillary Clinton is very hard to reach. You may not have noticed, but she is unique among recent presidential candidates in absolutely refusing to give news conferences. In other words, we may be on the brink of electing a president distinctly unaccountable to the public, with a predilection for pursuing public policy in stark contrast to her public promises (see the Clintons’ track record). And given the myriad severe crises afflicting the country and the world, pray tell: How do we influence such a chief executive? My theory, and the inspiration for the condescending tone of this essay, is that the contemporary American professional class, the meritocrats — the very core of people Hillary Clinton relies upon for maintaining any semblance of support — will not be immune to scathingly caustic (and yet charmingly playful) truth-telling. They think they’re both cool and (somehow) pro-justice, and thus invulnerable to attack on this front. Seriously, though, they have got to wake up. All evidence suggests that they believe they can persist with the charade that somehow, simply because they are not Republicans, they are opposing the reign of the 1 percent, when it is clear to anyone with more brains than a rodent that Hillary’s election will ensure the continued unabated rule of the oligarchs, which leads working people and the environment (and thus the meritocrats themselves) to their doom. Unless Jill Stein’s Green Party candidacy defies expectations, catches fire and makes this a three- or four-person race (which I am praying for), we’ve got to break through the meritocrats’ lemming consciousness, first in time to defeat Donald Trump, and then, if that goal is achieved, by not dropping the attitude when Zombie Presidents 42 and 45 move back into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Otherwise, we’re doomed to four more years of rampant and unaddressed economic, judicial and environmental crises. So, bring the contempt. It’s what our political class and its sycophants deserve; and if it’s combined with constructive activism, it just might save the world. Worst-case scenario, it will help us cope, as gallows humor will be the spirit of the times. Certainly, it helped me survive the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Your support matters…

Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.

You can help level the playing field. Become a member.

Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.

Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#2016 election#bernie sanders#democratic national convention#democratic party#dnc#hillary clinton#jill stein#progressive#td-original