Your friendly, local National Delegate here to remind you that despite what some headlines say, since Sanders did not withdraw, there was more than one candidate and so procedurally there had to be a move to nominate and second all remaining candidates. It’s kind of the whole point of the convention. That and the platform and rules.
Which leads me to a big reason Sanders did not withdraw. It allowed progressives to influence the platform and rules. Maybe not as much as some would have liked, but definitely more than if they had not had a seat at the table.
Which also brings me to the definition of progressive: happening or developing gradually or in stages. It was designed to be slow, building consensus is a slow process, but we ARE making progress.
And finally, I did nothing special and gave no sizable donations to become a National Delegate. If you’re interested, I’m happy to talk more about it. But the short version: I showed up. It’s literally that simple.
Question from a friend:
A question I’ve always wondered—what impact does that official platform really have? How much can we rely on progressive elements in the platform if the candidates that are elected don’t actually support them personally? Not trying to be divisive; just honestly trying to understand how the process works.
My response: I don’t find the question divisive at all, it’s actually an excellent point. The platform is non-binding, it is more like a vision or mission statement. It’s what a party aspires to and what it holds important. So while it doesn’t necessarily direct policy, it is intended to guide it.
What voters can do is strive to hold electeds accountable to the platform, either by contacting their elected officials or by voting for folks who will work more actively to embody it.