I see increasing focus on 'repairing the DNC', and 'keeping this spirit alive' in the coming years to revive a truly progressive movement within the Democratic party. While that initially sounds noble and reasonable, I must respectfully question if there isn't even more effective, more genuinely progressive work to be done elsewhere as well. Consider: self-described Independents are the largest percentage by far- it's a trend that continues to grow daily, and represents the future. Last count I heard was 42% of the population, full double digits higher than Democrats. With respect, why on earth would we waste time trying to repair and reorganize a completely broken independent organization? One that we have to battle every step of the way for? I mean, seriously, what exactly are we fighting over? A now empty label, for nostalgic sake? Look, if these guys pull off this rigged election and successfully crown one of the two most distrusted, hated millionaires in America as president, the word "Democrat" will be worth roughly as much as the word "Republican"- a worldwide label of shame and disgust, that represents nothing of what We The People actually believe in, want, or who we are. It'll be a synonym for "establishment"... not exactly a flag we Bernie supporters would logically rally behind.

While the founding fathers knew it's good to rail against the system, they obviously also knew that sometimes you've got to start fresh too. Many forget that they themselves strongly didn't want political parties at all for this very reason- even George Washington's farewell presidential speech warned that they are inherent magnets for corrupt opportunists, con artists, and always manufacture division instead of nurturing the essential spirit of cooperation that founded our nation. With this broader perspective, I'm going to be taking my civic duty seriously and writing in the indisputably only qualified candidate running, if he's not listed on the presidential ballot for whatever reason. I suggest that everyone serious about real change does likewise. And if that doesn't work, if an organized party entity is simply required now to enforce public awareness, fair oversight and accurate voter representation, then we must simply start our own. A real party of the people, with fair rules based on scientific fact, accountability, and ethical peaceful unity would change and unite this country like never before, in a way the depressingly for-profit oligarch warmongers' aging clubs can no longer hope to. If the corrupt establishment won't allow actual democracy in for fear of risking their shrinking stranglehold, why give in to their paid troll agenda of signing on for 'ongoing Democratic unity'? Look around, we're already united; the well-financed party elite are the ones rejecting progressive unity for sake of their destructive personal neoliberal agendas. That's the real issue, not party labels.

I served proudly as a first round Democratic Delegate. I got up and spoke on behalf of Bernie at my caucus. Fueled by my personal belief in his message and truths, I thought seriously about continuing onward politically, as far as it took to make a real difference. Then I found out some of the details they don't tell you, but are being slowly exposed more and more daily- it's all rigged. The rules are an antiquated sham, the process has holes big enough to drive a truck through, and everything comes down to money, salesmanship, connections, and leveraged party loyalty. It's a glorified pyramid scheme that makes a mockery of actual democracy, grooming people to be good Democratic career politicians who fall in line for those senior few who play the game best. Layers upon layers of petty power games and agendas separate the voice and will of the people from any actual political, governmental, and legislative representation. Perhaps at one time the old 'Big Tent' classical 'Party of the People' did truly intend to empower individuals, but the arcane system has been subverted and corrupted now beyond any recognizable usefulness except by those on top pulling the strings and their financiers. It's a nightmare network of undemocratic laws spread through every favor traded, gerrymandered district, rigged voting machine, manipulated database, and railroaded caucus nationwide. The power of this system is actually in its normalized stranglehold of bureaucratic inexhaustible red tape and never-ending increasing web of lobbied loopholes. Come on, Hillary herself is a millionaire lawyer. When we ethically play their unethical game, pitting our integrity against their unjust (and changing) rules, who do you think wins? Clue: who's been winning?

Never forget that our founding fathers gave us this democratic platform for the very purpose of continual civil nonviolent political revolution. Never forget that they didn't plan or envision it twisting into waging war with or through a certain established intermediary political party, nor via a class-based corporate sponsored lesser-of-two-evils false choice narrated by media propaganda. Before the mainstream acceptance of idolizing money above people, public good and principles, the proud American creed and vision had always been about striving to better ourselves, rising above our past mistakes and immature prejudices, and embracing the emerging best of our natures in unified strength. The concept of America is truly about the power of accepting diversity incarnate. Sadly, our fundamental ideals are simply no longer exemplified by our leaders or policies. Our tax dollars go to wars and bailouts we don't want, jails swell while jobs dwindle, public debt and Wall Street profits skyrocket, the sick and elderly struggle without health care or services, people with multiple jobs struggle just to stay off the streets, and some of our unattended, depressed, anxiety-ridden kids struggling in lifelong uneducated poverty now risk lead-poisoning by drinking city water to combat the continually record high temperatures from unchecked climate change. Show of hands, who thinks we've really got the time to waste pinning all our hopes on running an indefinitely drawn-out "infiltrate, convert, and purge" political campaign against a bitter, money-entrenched desperate party on their 'home' turf, protected by the purposely biased rules they've set up? Surely there comes a time to nod in respect of the admired Democrats of old, and gracefully move on? Some of us remember that both party's title meanings have changed before anyway, as the people within inevitably maligned what it originally represented. That's why true progressives accept that labels are meaningless, and why it's infinitely more important to judge based on action and provable merit, not just spin and habit.

Our movement's primary message is unity, equality, justice, and accountability. That basic premise, thus far publicly rejected by both establishment wings of the same oligarch bird, secures us well over half of America's voters. Likely more, depending on how Philadelphia goes down and how much the media can keep blacking out anything too damaging. In any case, if Bernie isn't the nominee, then put bluntly we simply have no progressive party in this country at a time when we most need one. If that happens, we must face the reality that what the public wants and deserves simply will not be given by those currently in power. This isn't unexpected; does anyone really believe they will ever voluntarily admit their wrongdoing, accept accountability, or willingly surrender their control of the party? Why should they- after all, employing dogged tactics of deceit, distraction and denial defiantly in the face of a contradictory reality has won them the positions and power they wield today. They will not suddenly be honest or see reason; they are back-room investors and bad political actors, not public servants. But understand, that by using focus groups and manipulation instead of ethical pursuit of the greater good, they don't fear being hated or even challenged- what they fear most is irrelevancy. They fear us realizing that all we have to do is stand up, united, say enough is enough, and leave their little game en masse. They fear their sponsors cutting off their money supply because they have too few numbers, no more sway over anyone. Call me an Independent, call me a Berniecrat, whatever- I will bring my passion and enthusiasm to a party that welcomes me, my input, and transparently represents the people's voice, not just sponsors' or neoliberal elitist cabals hiding under purchased meaningless liberal classifications. Our amazing grass roots campaign has proven that the people are ready, even downright enthusiastic to invest their time, energy and resources into causes they believe in, campaigns that speak for them, and a real chance at a better life for all. Corporate America's rampant pervasive, intrusive, superficial consumerism through legalized runaway authoritarian capitalism has left the aftermath of a largely poverty-haunted populace starved for truth, meaning, justice, stability, and oft-advertised yet increasingly unable to be found opportunity within the shameful ruin of our sadly hollow "democratic" land of the "free", home of the "brave".

We've seen where the status quo goes. We're living it. As a people, as a nation, as a world influence, we're suffering for it. Isn't it time- moreover, isn't it our duty- as rational Americans, as parents and grandparents, and responsible human beings to embrace progress as more than just empty lip service or vague futuristic talking points? As the largest modern-day organized populace of patriots for justice and civil rights revolutionaries, isn't it just possible that the next step in our Political Revolution and our country's accomplishments could be coming up with something new, something infinitely better than continually fighting just to tweak the old platform? By all means, combating corruption wherever it lies is admirable, but at some point sticking to a single game plan of stubbornly fighting to revive a sinking Dem ship (whose crew has proven they will pay and do nearly anything to keep ownership, even if it means stopping us from saving it) is just working against our own best interests. We've been focused on the conman's established shell game so long we've lost wider perspective. Forget the establishment-instilled fear of change, forget the rose-colored glasses of corporate mainstream media. Go research the Pirate Party in Iceland. Research the Nuit Debout movement in Paris. The world is changing. Research American history, and see how much of what we're going through today is an obvious, tired rerun only made possible by obfuscatory over-hyped tabloid-esque 'news' and our systemically encouraged short-sighted apathetic ignorance. More money is poured into brainwashing than education because the oh-so-dangerous fact is, more than any other population on earth, our laws grant us the power to change our country peacefully simply through unrelenting majority organization. That's how everything from Social Security to Women's Rights got done. Now it's time for that same fight to establish true democracy. The world is waiting, watching, with us in spirit, and hoping we Americans still have enough of that spark of revolutionary humanitarian justice to reassert ourselves once again as a united nation to be admired, emulated, and respected. Whatever path we have open to get there, we must explore it, including a long overdue mainstream principled progressive party. Because we only truly fail if we don't try- and for the increasing majority of us, failure is no longer an option.