AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Friday, July 05, 2019

Did anyone else notice that every Democratic candidate now sounds like a Bernie Sanders mini-me?

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Did anyone else notice that every Democratic candidate now sounds like a Bernie Sanders mini-me?

Issues like: Medicare for All, $15 minimum wage, paid family leave, the climate crisis, equal rights for all, reforming the criminal justice system – that no one was talking about 3 years ago – suddenly appear to be the Democratic party platform! [if you believe the candidates on the debate stage, anyway….I personally find it hard to believe any candidate that takes corporate money will actually represent US when they get into office, but – hey, that’s just me, right??]

Here’s the thing: being a true leader is not just about having great ideas. Being a true leader is about having the courage of your convictions to express them openly and build support for them WHEN THEY’RE NOT POPULAR.

There are generally 2 ways get things done in politics:

1) Wheel and deal behind closed doors - or -

2) Rally people – as in, “We the People” – to push for change. Let so-called “representatives” in government know they need to stand up for the public interest, or get replaced by someone who will.

There’s a word for most of the candidates I saw on that stage – FOLLOWERS.

The only leader I saw on that stage was BERNIE SANDERS.

If you agree, please remember Democracy is not a spectator sport….ORGANIZE FOR BERNIE!

Sonya Bykofsky,

Activist, Humanist, Berner!

Please join us at these events!

Tonight: Socializing with Socialists
July 2nd, 7:00pm, Thistle and Mirth, 44 West St, Pittsfield, Massachusetts 01201 -- Meet up with our allies at Berkshires Dem Socialists for their monthly social...

RSVP here:
====> https://www.facebook.com/events/274409710131418/

4th of July Pre-parade walk!!
Thursday, July 4th, 8:00 AM

Meet at the corner of Charles and Wahconah Streets at 8am. We will walk the 4th of July Pittsfield Parade route to distribute literature, raise visibility, and have the conversations that matter in an election that is as important as this one. Kid Friendly!

RSVP on the Bernie Sanders event site:
====> https://act.berniesanders.com/event/community-canvass_attend/10899
and/or on Facebook:
====> https://www.facebook.com/events/351145032232726/

Organizing/Socializing for Berkshires4Bernie
Sunday July 7th, 4-6pm, J Allen’s Clubhouse Grille, 41 North St, Pittsfield, MA 01201 -- Join us to strategize events and activities to build Bernie support in the Berkshires! Come share your ideas, learn the BERN app, and meet other Berkshires For Bernie folk!

RSVP here:
====> https://www.facebook.com/events/718070175316951/

As Bernie has said, it will take "guts" to create real change.

The signers of the Declaration knew it might literally cost them everything. And although the language norms were quite different then, here is the signers' stirring pledge at the closing paragraph of the Declaration:

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States... And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

We mutually pledge to each other... Not Me. Us.

...our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor..... Guts.

-Harley

Berkshires4Bernie is an affiliate of MA4Bernie2020! Please help expand our reach ==> Join MA4Bernie2020 Facebook group and/or visit their web page.

About MA4Bernie2020

MA4Bernie2020 (www.MA4Bernie2020.com) is an independent, all-volunteer network of groups across Massachusetts working to amplify the national Bernie Sanders for President campaign, with the goal of winning the majority of the 2020 National Convention delegates in the Bay State’s March 3, 2020 Presidential Primary.

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