This Ain't 1972 [View all]

[demwing]

Last edited Wed Jun 17, 2015, 07:19 PM - Edit history (2)

I just read a post here on DU where a kindly soul warned us all that Bernie Sanders was our modern George McGovern, having absolutely zero chances of winning an election.

Though I'm sure that the warning was given out of the goodness of his/her heart I started counting all the ways that this election was like that election.

What a task! I had to stop when I got to Zero!

I just don't see how 2016 compares to 1972...we've lived through a generation of profound changes since that year. As Bill Nye the Science Guy used to say: "Consider the following..."

• In 1972, a black man had no chance of running for the Presidency, let alone winning it twice.
  
  
• In 1972, a woman had no chance of getting the Democratic party nomination, let alone being the front runner.
  
  
• In 1972, being in favor of gay marriage was a career killer.
  
  
• In 1972, banks were regulated and couldn't destroy the economy.
  
  
• In 1972, we had not already lived through 20-30 years of trickle down economics.
  
  
• In 1972, there was no Citizens United to act as a lightning rod.
  
  
• In 1972, there wasn't a clown car full of insane Republicans running against us (and each other).
  
  
• In 1972, there was no Internet to organize the troops.
  
  
• In 1972, these thing's didn't all come together to create a perfect storm for populist reform.
  
  
• Most importantly, in 1972 we didn't have Bernie Sanders to kick some corporate ass!

So hey all you worry warriors? While we appreciate your sincere concerns, we really don't share them.
This ain't 1972. Bernie Sanders isn't repeating history. He's making history.