The Sanders Institute, why I am not impressed.

Originally posted at Naked Capitalism

Re: Sanders Institute
Well I am not impressed.

Granted, the USA Today article hardly contains enough information to make a true opinion. And in the world of activism, the line between politics and education is very blurred.

“The Sanders Institute will help raise awareness of “enormous crises” facing Americans.”

Raise awareness to who? To average Americans? They already know what the issues are. What they don’t know is how to solve these problems or how to get the government or the media to take these issues seriously. Hell, mispresenting the solutions is as much of a problem as the problems themselves.

“The Our Revolution political organization will help recruit, train and fund progressive candidates’ campaigns. And a third political organization may play a more direct role in campaign advertising.”

I am sorry, but this has already been tried and already has a record of failure. It’s practically a DNC scripted response to insure such “revolutions” never manage to acquire any real power, and even overtime are slowly taken over and integrated into the establishment support structure. Move-on and DFA are two such examples.

What I fear is that when all is said and done, the only thing the Sanders Institute will be able to do is print a few pamphlets that candidates can hand out any time they shake hands with the voters, and maybe pass along some campaign funds. As if this is somehow a novel or innovative form of political reform.

Here is what – at a minimum, needs to happen.

One, have the ability to define, author, publish, defend, and maintain a “Progressive agenda.” To do so while adhering to strict academic standards. And to do so beyond the influence of corrupting agents such as the Democratic Party.

Two, have the ability to communicate this platform with the general population and higher academia. The ability to internalize valid feedback and criticism of the platform. This information needs to be processed and submitted for the purpose of further maintaining and refining the platform.

Three, have the ability author “legislative ready” bills for local, state, and federal governments to consider, and have resources made available to promote and defend said legislation at public hearings. This will also include “run ready” platforms which candidates and politicians can adopt.

Four, have the ability to grade, endorse, reject, and constructively criticize both candidates and legislative agendas for compliance or opposition to said platform, and to do so in an objective and systematic manner. And to publish these findings.

And five, have the ability to strategize, recruit, harness, and rapidly mobilize the general public (volunteers) for public activism and demonstrations to best advance the responsibilities of the previous four initiatives.