This year’s Democratic primary reminds me of the song I sometimes still sing to my small children, “This Is the Song That Never Ends”. It just goes on and on my friends.
(Checks the calendar)- It’s only February? Sigh!
Even though South Carolina hasn’t even voted yet, the topic of who the Democrats will nominate seems to make its way into every conversation I have with a fellow liberal (and many conservatives too). It seems that my fellow liberals have a very good grasp on the field. They should have, they’ve spent enough time following the nomination process.
Even though I try to maintain an anti-primary bubble around myself to prevent information overload, I am still bombarded daily with some new piece of trivia.
Did you know Bloomberg spent this much money on his new ad?
Did you see how well Klobuchar did in New Hampshire?
Did you see what so and so said about so and so?
Many people want to be informed but not overwhelmed when voting. Unfortunately, the amount of information coming at voters is forcing them to try and take virtual sips from a virtual fire hose. Once you factor in “news” that is either nonsensical, lies, or poorly veiled government propaganda, it often makes finding information a nauseating process.
For myself, there are obvious elements of each candidates’ past that makes them more or less exciting. But what I ultimately care about is how the candidates will face the future. I keep coming back to these wise words from the great W.E.B. Dubois
“How shall integrity face oppression?
What shall honesty do in the face of deception?
Decency in the face of insult?
What shall virtue do to meet brute force?”
The next candidate will have to answer these questions immediately upon assuming the nomination. In not only their fight against Donald Trump, but in their fight to mitigate the damage he has done and to heal a broken country.
Unless monumental new evidence surfaces, I know who I will vote for. I will vote for that person, and then I will trust in the collective thoughts of my fellow Democratic brothers and sisters to vote for their candidate. And the most votes/delegates will win. Period.
We should remind ourselves, as Marcus Aurelius reminded himself that, “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”