Can we bring Bernie or Bust/Never Hillary supporters and Hillary supporters (and maybe some Never Trump Republicans) together to defeat Trump and support Our Revolution? Can we in the process send a message to the Democratic and Republican establishment that we will hold them accountable by significantly strengthening 3rd parties?
To accomplish this will require people who do not agree with each other, except for not looking forward to a Trump presidency, to collaborate and collectively agree to a strategic voting scheme.
If we can do this, we will be accomplishing something truly revolutionary.
Some advantages for each group
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We will encourage discouraged progressives, young people, etc. to vote leading to better results up and down the ballot.
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We will give people a common purpose in voting, creating more enthusiasm and turnout in a year with unpopular candidates.
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We will create an unprecedented upsurge in 3rd party success in strategically chosen states, putting the establishment in both major parties on notice.
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We will put Hillary in the White House, while holding her strongly accountable, pulling her further to the left, and showing her she is skating on very thin ice.
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We will block a Trump presidency.
This may not be the absolute favorite outcome for many Bernie or Bust people, nor for some Hillary supporters, (nor for Never Trump Republicans,) but it will satisfy some of each group’s major interests.
Hillary supporters will get Hillary in the White House.
Never Trump Republicans can block Trump and vote their conscience (or have someone else do that for them in another state.)
Bernie or Bust folks can vote their conscience, support Jill Stein, (or have someone do this for them in another state) and have a boost on their down ballot success in exchange for tolerating and supporting a Hillary presidency.
The Plan:
We make a solemn pact to vote in certain ways regardless of our personal views depending on where we live.
Swing states: If we live is a swing state or even a mildly red or blue state, we agree to vote for Hillary Clinton, even if we hate her. Bernie or Bust people agree to do this, knowing they will through the pact be supporting Jill Stein of the Green Party, their progressive down ballot candidates, and their progressive (revolutionary) agenda.
Deep red states: In exchange, those who live in deep red states agree to vote third party, even if they would love to vote for Hillary. They will do so in exchange for Hillary votes in the states where those actually count.
The result, if enough people participate will be that in deep red states, while Trump will win (which he would anyway) third parties, esp, Green and Libertarian will surge hugely, maybe even giving them major party status. This will send a powerful message and maybe even change the 2 party system.
Deep blue states: In deep blue states, Hillary and (milder) Bernie supporters can vote for Hillary; Bernie or Bust and Never Trump Republicans can vote their conscience, unless polls are iffy about Hillary winning, but this should not be the case. In these states, 3rd parties will get a milder boost.
Everywhere; down ballot: Additionally, down ballot, all Hillary supporters agree that no matter where they live they will vote for the most progressive option on the ballot. This is to give Bernie or Bust people something more in return for supporting/getting a president they loathe and to guarantee that Hillary can and will implement the most progressive agenda possible. (Never Trump Republicans can vote their conscience down the ballot.)
Conclusion:
The establishment has been successful for so long because voters are all loose cannons, bickering among and mistrusting each other and voting separately. However, if voters band together like this across state lines and party affinities to strategically vote in a collaborative way, we will be well on our way to system’s change.
We may need a website/organization that can facilitate this pact, so people can feel more confident that it will work. Having Bernie Sanders or other high profile people in Bernie’s new organization like www.ourrevolution.com involved would also be incredibly helpful. This part is beyond me, but I hope the message finds enough resonance that someone capable will take this on and run with it.
This is not altogether my original idea, but I think I have simplified things a bit in my plan and made it more pallatable to the Bernie or Bust people with whom I tend to sympathize. This plan is simple. We don’t need to do 1-1 trades, but only agree to strategically vote according to the plan depending on where we live regardless of our personal preference. Our personal preference will be covered by others in other states if we live in a place where we cannot safely vote our conscience.
The first time I heard something similar was via Jill Stein but this required 1-1 voting pacts with neighbors/friends who are on the opposite spectrum politically. This would be awesome, but I find it hard to see this happening large scale.
The second time I saw a similar plan was here. Mine is nearly the same. I just streamlined/simplified and expanded to include a down ballot agreement.
Anyway, I hope people will be open to considering this so we can stop bickering amongst each other over the presidential election and collaborate to create a revolution without risking 4 years of Trump.