African American
In reply to the discussion: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bernie Sanders, and Reparations [View all]jonestonesusa
(880 posts)Revolution is a word with many meanings, and one way that the Sanders campaign is revolutionary is relying on small contributions for a presidential campaign. While this might not seem at first like a big deal, I live in Wisconsin where lobbyists like the Koch Brothers are literally writing legislation that becomes law. It is revolutionary in my view to get rid of that odious influence over policy.
I also think it's revolutionary to advocate, as Sanders does, taxing hedge funds and putting the money into a free college fund. Just like public K12 was revolutionary at one time, greatly increasing literacy and empowerment.
It is Coates opinion that Sanders rhetorical approach is flawed if he doesn't support reparations. I support reparations myself, but it's not a cure all for systemic racism. Just as compensation for Japanese internment or the various concessions on treaty rights, etc. following after genocide against first nations didn't eliminate the problem of racism. It's too deep of a problem for one politician to solve. So, I think that Coates is off base to say that college for all, Medicare for all, and getting the money train managed in politics is not revolutionary. These changes would be massive and certainly would move beyond what Clinton and her corporate supporters are offering.