Silver linings

I need people to take a breath. 

Before we all lose our minds, let’s remember that the actual PLATFORM being proposed by Biden/Harris is the most progressive in history. It includes:

-A public healthcare option

-A plan to reach net-zero emissions 

-A plan to establish a Climate Justice division of the DOJ

-A call to pass Congressman Bobby Scott’s SAFE Justice Act, an evidence-based, comprehensive bill to reform our criminal justice system

-Two years of community college/professional training debt free 

-A promise to remove Trump’s asylum policies and to stop the separation of parents from children within 100 days 

-Double funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative

-Finally pass the goddamn Equal Rights Amendment 

-Enact the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure equal pay for equal work

And there’s a lot more. 

I think we’ve all been so focused on beating Trump and harm reduction that we haven’t even looked at what is possible with a Biden/Harris presidency. Please, go to the website and do some reading. I think you’ll be happy with what is there.

Regarding Senator Harris and her background as a prosecutor, I also suggest some research there. You’ll find bad things, but you’ll also find good things. Did you know all of the San Fran police unions hate Kamala Harris? There are reasons for that. Regarding marijuana convictions, while she did charge around 1900 people and convict around 24% of them, only 45 saw prison time, about 300% less than her predecessor. She now believes in legalizing marijuana. I AM NOT SAYING IT IS PERFECT, but I am saying it is nuanced. 

Pouting because we didn’t immediately overthrow the government didn’t work the first time, and it won’t work now. I know you’re frustrated and tired and angry (I am too), but this is a good start in a very, very long journey to make America not a garbage place to live. 

Please, go read about these people and what they want to do. Embrace what you can, and keep pressuring them to go further and further. Pressure them to appoint progressives to high level positions (Warren for treasury, anyone?) and to expand on the progressive policies already in process. It is possible, and it also takes time. Lots of time. 

Don’t give up.