There is a diary asking what Bernie means by political revolution. It’s an ironic diary written on MLK Day, but RFK summarized what it means for those of us who believe that you can accomplish big things within the political process:
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
We can accomplish nothing without real political change. That is true no less for Hillary Clinton than for Bernie Sanders. Clinton cannot accomplish any of her climate change agenda without a complete change in the House and Senate. Clinton will get none of her agenda through a House that looks like anything like the current one. She has no magic wand. The GOP HATES her — they will no more to support her than the did for Obama.
Sanders calls for a political revolution. It is grandiose sounding perhaps. But there is no alternative. Call it what you will — but it will take an enormous movement to retake the House and the Senate.
It is obvious to some that this seems too hard. They seem quick to say it can’t happen. Some, some far more prominent here than I am, seem anxious to ridicule the idea.
But there is no other alternative. You have to fight for what you want.
Because here is the simple truth that faces us: Hillary Clinton will need a political revolution to enact her agenda just like Bernie will need to enact his.