We Are All Bernie

Bernie Sanders rocked the world with the concept of simply telling the truth. It is time for us to all start getting real about our current state. Trump and Hillary are both terrifying. But all is not lost. The tides are turning and we can restore the power to the people. We are the media for this revolution now. Bernie is not just a man. He is an idea. We are all Bernie.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii - Inside and Out

The Bernie Sanders campaign in Hawaii kicked off in June of 2015 with just a few dozen hopeful people gathered at the Pearlridge Zippy’s. Most of us knew nothing about local politics or campaigning, but we were inspired by Bernie’s message of fairness and equality, and determined to learn.

So learn we did. We were lucky to have experienced members to guide us. With every meeting, and every new volunteer, our movement grew and became stronger. We became stronger. Countless hours were spent organizing, sign waving, and phone-banking, getting Bernie’s message out to voters. After nearly a year, our efforts paid off when more than 33,000 people showed up to cast their votes on March 26th. Bernie won by a landslide, garnering 70% of those votes. We had pulled off a huge feat in a state with one of the lowest voter turnouts in the country!

But Bernie asked us not only to work for him, but also to learn about and get involved in our own local Democratic Party.  Most of us stayed after the Presidential Preference Poll so we could participate in precinct elections. By the end of that day, many of us proudly walked out of those meetings as delegates, precinct presidents, and district chairs, eager to take on our new responsibilities.

We were strong. We were organized. We were ready for the Republicans. But we were not ready for the opposition that would lie ahead from inside our own party. Within days of the PPP the challenges started. Election results were questioned or changed. Paperwork was submitted late or in some cases not at all. County and state delegates had problems getting convention credentials. Signatures were invalidated and refused.

We naively took officer positions and joined caucuses thinking that we were going to be able to dig in on the issues and start making the changes we so desperately need. In some cases, our ideas and energy were welcomed, and we have found a new home in the Democratic Party. But we are not welcomed everywhere. Some Caucus doors feel shut to us. Some volunteers talk openly at Party Headquarters about the strategies they use to block participation by new members. Some hardline Clinton supporters monitor our posts on social media, hoping to find evidence of “disloyalty.” A rule change has been proposed to ban new members from voting in future caucuses unless they join at least two weeks in advance. The excuse is to improve “logistics,” but the discussions have made it clear the aim is reducing turnout from “newcomers.”

We know that change is hard. But at the end of the day, the Party needs new ideas, new energy and new members. We need each other. The issues we face are growing daily, and the Party has not kept up.

This weekend, the Democratic Party of Hawaii will hold its biennial State Convention. Nearly 1000 delegates from across the state will gather at the Sheraton Waikiki to vote on rule changes, resolutions, and the election of party representatives. The party has just witnessed a massive influx of enthusiasm and energy from Bernie Sanders supporters who are ready to change the world from the bottom up. We believe in his vision for social and economic justice for all. This convention will serve as a test for the party. Will the Party regulars make room at the table for the new Bernie members? Or will they slam the door in their face? Can we build a Party of inclusion that fights for change? Can we recognize our differences, while still working together on those goals we do share? Will we be a party of inclusion or exclusion? The answer will be decided this weekend. The future of the party, and of the state, is being decided.

No One Chooses To Have Nothing

This is obscene. Everyday I see people posting things about how we can't afford to raise wages, or give handouts to hungry children, or have single payer healthcare. They throw around words like "Socialist" as if somehow that makes me dumb or small. Yet, everyday these same people watch television shows and read magazines that show elaborate photo ops of just how well those at the top are living. I don't care who they think is lazy. Where is our humanity when so many believe that it's okay for one tiny group to have yachts, jets, summer, fall, and winter homes while simultaneously believing that millions upon millions of people are simply choosing to have nothing? No one chooses to have nothing. I understand that life isn't fair and there is no possible way we will ever share everything equally. No one is asking for that. We are simply suggesting that maybe we could address the basic needs of the masses before making it possible for the elite to have a yacht. Every yacht and private jet around this Earth is an insult to each and every human being who is fighting tooth and nail to survive. 

Seedless Watermelon

Don't Underestimate Millennial Voters This Presidential Election

I saw this post a couple of days ago. A lot of the commenters, fellow Bernie supporters, were rude and dismissive of this girl's statement. While I can see how some generations may be offended by some of the word choices, that's just an issue of generation gap. This is simply how young adults talk to each other. It doesn't offend us at all. I completely agree with her statement. The world we inherited when we reach adulthood was not the world we had been told about. Many of us work multiple jobs, have no health insurance, live in shitty apartments, drive shitty cars that break down constantly, we never see our families, we NEVER go on vacations, we shop at Plato's Closet, our phones get shut off periodically, and we never have enough even for the things we need. The struggle we face is new and unique to our generation. We know that the struggle has been continuing and you all had your own unique and similar struggles. We thank you for every protest held to fight those battles. However, do not undermine what is happening now by saying things like ,"Whatever, I've been fighting for your rights since before you were born." While we appreciate that, maybe a better approach would be to not take it personally (unless you are specifically one of the "adults" saying that youth only like Bernie because it's the hipster thing to do, then, yes, take it personally). Instead, maybe try, "We acknowledge the very real struggle that the young adults in America are facing. We acknowledge that we have not seen this range of income inequality in our lifetime. We acknowledge you are adults and your passion is real and we stand with you." Or something nice like that. 

Let's not fight each other. We're in this together. 

Let Bernie Save You From Voting Against Your Own Interests This Election

Mom, how did you feel about the GOP debate?