I'm moving to a different part of Brooklyn in two weeks and when I change my voter registration I will, for the first time since 1996, register as a Democrat. I've been a Green since I first registered to vote in the city in 1996. While I've often voted for Democrats on the local, state and national level during the last 19 years, there have been none that I've been particularly enthused about [with the exception of mayor de Blasio - but even there I didn't see a reason to change my registration]. With the announcement that Bernie Sanders will run as a Democrat, it's time for me to put away my issues with the horrific leadership of both the state and national party and return as well. Too much is at stake with the direction of the party and the country for me to passively scowl at the backroom machinations of party politics. I will finally roll up my sleeves and work. Senator Sanders is the man to take back the party from the corporate assholes that have screwed up the world and I will be there to support him in every way I can.
I've already donated to his campaign and signed up on his mailing list. I would very much like to get involved with his organization in Brooklyn. I'm happy to canvas. I even have experience doing fundraising for political parties as one of my first jobs in the city was as a fundraiser for a small progressive party called the New Party back in 1994/95. While I'm terribly busy, it's just too important not to set aside time to do this. Our country cannot stand another four years of neo-liberal economics as we slide into a neo-feudal nightmare. Our world cannot take another four years of complete denial that both our economic system and energy infrastructure must drastically change to avoid environmental catastrophe. And while I'm considerably to the left of Bernie Sanders, his policy positions, honesty and moral exactitude are precisely what this country needs to start down the path to sustainable economic principles and social and environmental justice.
A political revolution must come. Get involved today!