Once again, the DNC have shown nothing but arrogance and contempt for progressives — and the voting public, in general — in yet another flashy display of their own brazen stupidity.

Once again, people are frustrated, a few more declare #DemExit, and walk away from the sham doubling as a dumpster fire known as the Democratic Party.

Once again, some argue that we must continue working from within the Democratic walls, as building a new party is fraught with myriad obstacles.

Once again, others respond that those still intent on “reform” in the wake of the latest news are “foolish,” “crazy,” or even “sheepdogs.”

And once again, we distract ourselves over petty squabble about which side is correct, and which side is “wasting time.”

The reality is, both movements are necessary to get a progressive agenda into power. Both are vastly superior to simply “throwing in the towel” should one become frustrated with one side or the other, and both #DemEnter and #DemExit need to work together in order to defeat the cheating establishment duopoly, rather than bickering with one another about whose side is right and more pragmatic.

Exiters can help Enterers by, for instance, staging independent or third party candidates as hedges against potential rigging in Democratic primaries where a progressive is running. If a Dem progressive is cheated (or otherwise finds the alternative unpalatable), they may hand the baton off to the independent who is also running.

And if the progressive Dem gets to run in the general? Then the independent/third can endorse them and bow out. I get that’s not an easy ask, whatwith all the work it takes to get such a candidate on the ballot. But it may be necessary to ensure a progressive can get into office. Your mileage may vary.

Enterers, for their part, should be willing to embrace taking the gamble of backing an independent in instances where Democrats cheat or tilt the scales. They should not let the Republican boogeyman scare them. We know they are worse, and Democrats have for far too long depended upon that fear to avoid a challenge from the left. Don’t take the establishment bait — especially since an establishment candidate is quite likely to lose to a Republican anyway.

That’s just one way of many where DemEnter and DemExit can collaborate. Whichever approach you may be partial to, we should respect the other side’s efforts, and work with them where it makes sense to us.

Both sides want the same things — money out of politics, Medicare-for-All, tuition-free college, new green tech and a turning away from fossil fuels, an end to militarized policing, the drug wars and foreign interventionism…the list goes on and on, and most Americans agree with us. The chief difference is how we believe we can best take power to enact that agenda.

It can be argued that “reform” from within is futile, and has been tried unsuccessfully before. It can be counterargued that the road to Hell is paved with third parties. But what has not been truly seen in recent history is a galvanized, united progressive movement — acting as two prongs of one pitchfork, working inside AND outside the broken framework of an old, decrepit establishment party.

The strongest People’s Coalition imaginable is a united left, embodying the interests and wishes of the ordinary working class — of all colors and genders. Whether you believe the Democrats can be reformed or replaced from within, or whether you believe a new party is what’s needed — both complement each other and shake the broken political system to its foundations. Working together in support of both sides ensures the best odds for success.

“We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”