Oh, I can already hear the tumblrinas pouring hatemail into my ask in droves. Yes. I said it, and it is something that needs to be said, so I’ll say it again.
If you support the #BernieorBust movement, you have no right to say you support the rights of LGBT, women, People of Color (Latin Americans in particular), people who live in poverty, Undocumented Workers, or Muslims
I am a half-latina, half-Lebanese woman living in poverty in the United States of America during a time when Donald Trump is in danger of winning the presidency. Talk about winning the lottery on the worst possible combination to be in the USA in 2016.
Now, for those of you who might not be aware of how a third party could be dangerous during a two party system, please watch this video at exactly 5:00 in (https://youtu.be/s7tWHJfhiyo?t=5m)
Now that you understand the spoiler effect and the danger is poses in a two party system, it’s time to establish why #Bernieorbust is dangerous to people like me.
In simple terms, dividing the Democratic vote is exactly what Donald Trump wants you to do. You don’t believe Trump encourages BernieorBust? The less people vote for Hillary Clinton, the more of a chance Donald Trump has stealing the election. think about it this way: even if Donald Trump only gains 30% of voters, if the Democratic campaign is divided straight down the middle with Hillary gaining 25% and Bernie gaining the other 25%, Trump wins the election.
Bernie or Bust.
Well what do you mean “Or Bust”? This phrasing is exactly what frightens me the most. It implies Bernie for president, or else let Trump win the election. And if Trump wins the election, that puts me and people like me in the direct cross-hairs of a far right wing presidency. Will you be the one who has to wear a Muslim ID badge? Will you have your citizenship questioned? Is it you and people like you that the public will demonize and attack under Trump’s reign? Will you be the ones who suffer if Planned Parenthood is shut down? Will you be the poverty ridden class who will have your wages further butchered? When all that is happening to me, the first thing that goes through my mind will not be “yeah, we sure did prove a point to the DNC!” It will be nothing but bleak despair, pain, and fear. And the worst part is, you’ll be expecting me to be thankful for it. You’ll expect me to be thankful for your movement gambling my own quality of life to “prove a point”. Never mind the complete disregard for what I had to say in the matter
Risking a Trump administration over outrage at Sanders not winning the Democratic nomination is the very definition of privilege. Because in the end, if you’re a white middle class straight cis male, you’ll be fine no matter who wins. And if you can honestly say that you are one of those people who will be marginalized under Trump and still support #Bernieorbust, then you simply have a severe disregard for others. If you genuinely think Hillary is just as terrible a candidate as Trump, you are privileged with that luxury. Because while it may seem like that to you, it certainly does not seem that way to us, the marginalized minority.
A common reasoning I continuously see is people who believe their vote won’t harm the election if they vote in a red or blue state. Well consider this: What if everyone held that mindset? What if all of a sudden your state swings one way because they genuinely believe their vote “won’t have an effect”. It was this exact belief that led to Bush being elected. Twice. Never, ever underestimate the power of your vote. It’s probably the most dangerous thing you can do, especially in a time like this. Underestimation of the power of a democratic vote was exactly what led to #brexit. It was what caused Trump to gain the republican nomination in the first place.
This is not an attack on Bernie supporters, but simple a plea for reason. Please, reconsider voting for Hillary. She is our only hope at avoiding a Trump Presidency. Not Bernie or any other third party. I’m fearing for my life and the lives of the ones I love. I cannot afford to live in a country under Trump. It would destroy everything I worked for and am still working for. It would put my very life in danger.
And if after reading this you still stand with #Bernieorbust, perhaps you’re not as progressive as you claim to be. and to be honestly, I simply cannot respect someone who is willing to gamble my life in favor of their own special interest.
“[I]f you’re happy to let a GOP candidate win the presidency because Sanders isn’t the Democratic candidate, you’re not nearly as progressive as you think you are, and you probably should examine your own social privilege.“ ( http://www.bustle.com/articles/150925-the-bernieorbust-movement-throws-marginalized-people-under-the-bus)
There. I’ve poked the sleeping bear. You may proceed with your hate mail.
Wolfytot 