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. 

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. 

Elizabeth Warren stand's with Planned Parenthood and not everyone is happy about it.

This is a conversation I had with an "interesting person" following a Google+ post of mine about Planned Parenthood. 

I am 100% pro Planned Parenthood. That does not mean I am pro abortion. No one is pro abortion. No wants to have an abortion. No one looks forward to an unplanned pregnancy because they enjoy abortions. I am pro choice. 

As a woman in America, it is hard to provide for yourself alone. It is damn near impossible to provide for another human being. It is one of the biggest decisions that many women face in their lives. I respect a woman's right to make that choice for herself. Women are capable of deciding what they feel is right. 

And who doesn't love Elizabeth Warren?

Here is the original post from August 4, 2015. 

Notice that this meme does not mention the word abortion once. I still would have posted it even if it had, but it does not

. 

I love this quote by Elizabeth Warren for so many reasons, just like I love Elizabeth Warren for so many reasons. The first few words alone are so exciting to hear, "Let's call out the Republican,". I know I am not alone in my desire to witness the Republican Party finally being exposed for their crimes against us all. I am eternally grateful to all persons who publicly speak the truth on our behalf. Yes, OUR behalf. Elizabeth Warren, like the small handful of other honorable public icons, does not just speak for her supporters alone. She speaks for women, and all other oppressed human beings at the moment, who desperately need someone to fight for them. Even if it means sometimes she ends up fighting for the rights of an ignorant bigot who thinks that because she is a woman she should sit down and shut her mouth.

Looking at this comment now, I could have done better. Though I actually wanted to say a lot worse. I try not let any anger come across when I am debating with ignorance, but sometimes it's simply unavoidable. 

There are so many things wrong with this that is hard to know where to start.

"Irresponsible women". 

I may have been able to bite my tongue and ignore his comment, had it not been for those two words. 

Abortions are not solely occurring due to the irresponsibility of women. 

Rape. Broken condom. Old condom. Birth control failed. It DOES happen. He was going to pull out, but then he just "couldn't". No access to contraception (especially teens). Lack of sex education (teens). Simple inability to afford doctor's visit and birth control prescription to due lack of health care options and poor wages. Then, yes, there's also irresponsibility. Though, BOTH parties engaging in sexual behavior are equally responsible for ensuring safety and for facing the consequences of failing to do so. And trust me, an abortion is a consequence all on its own. 

"The man has no rights to force an abortion".

That's right, sir. He does not. I can't believe I must explain why a man cannot force a woman to have an abortion. Also, I'm not sure why a man not having the right to initiate an abortion would mean that women shouldn't be able to either? Because women shouldn't be able to make any choices without the approval of a male, who by design is clearly better at all decision making. 

Simply put, no person may force any other person to undergo any medical treatment, or any other activity involving their physical body, against his or her will.

 What about the rights of the unborn child?

Well, first of all, just because you believe that life begins at conception does mean that everyone does. Just because you believe that life begins at conception doesn't mean that you have the right to force everyone else to believe the same. 

Just like because someone doesn't believe that life begins at conception doesn't mean they can force anyone else to believe that. Nor can they, at any point, make anyone else have an abortion if it is against their beliefs. 

There it is. It's so simple. We can all believe what we believe. We can all make our own choices according to those beliefs. No one may at any point take away another individual's right to make those choices due to a conflict in beliefs. The end. 

Against abortion? That's fine. Don't get one. 

Bernie Fans: How To Use Twitter (for dummies)

Create an account. You can usually just create an account using your Facebook.

If you create your account using FB it is easier to find people you know.

Otherwise, you have to search for people which is harder on Twitter because most people use handles rather than their actual names.

Once you are on Twitter it is incredibly easy to find Bernie!

Just type @berniesanders in the searchbar.

There is also a Bernie page for every state and many subdivisions therein.

Just type Bernie in the search bar and you will find hundred of people to follow.

Using Twitter:

Hashtags – Hashtags are used as search terms. If you include a hashtag in your tweet it makes it visible to anyone using that hashtag.  You may also search hashtags to find like minded people.

Bernie hashtags : #Bernie2016 and #feelthebern are the most widely used. It is best that you use at least one of these EVERY time you mention Bernie. That is how they track how well he’s doing.

There’s also #SummerofSanders #RunBernieRun #BerniePics #Women4Bernie

Other liberal hashtags - #wethepeople #uniteblue #fightfor15 #equality4all #p2 #voteblue2016 #notreadyforhillary #nomorebushes

You can use existing hashtags or make up your own. Using existing hashtags makes your tweets more visible to the public.

You can say anything you choose but you may only type so many characters. If you choose to include a link of any kind the length of the link will not affect how many characters you can use.

If you search #feelthebern the list will have every tweet ever using that tag. At the top of the screen you will see 2 options – Top Tweets or Live. Top tweets are the highest performing overall and live is sorted by how recent it was tweeted. I recommend using both and alternating.

Once you have the found the content you can start sharing. Click the square under the post to RETWEET.  There are 2 options to retweeting – retweet or quote.

Retweet means you are simply recirculating the tweet without adding anything. You can retweet as much as you want. It isn’t like FB. On FB once you share something it becomes your post. On Twitter once you RT it is still not your content. It still appears under their name, therefore you may RT as much as you want without worrying that you are spamming the public.

Quote tweet means you are now taking that tweet and making it yours. You may add a comment and it will now appear under your name.

Instead of “friending” people like on FB, you “Follow” people on Twitter. This means that once you follow someone you will now see their posts in your home feed. Just because you follow someone doesn’t mean they will follow you. The more tweeting and retweeting you do the more followers you get, plain and simple. Again, it’s not Facebook. You don’t have to be polite. Go nuts on Twitter. Post as much as you want. Post anything you want. People love it.

Let me know if you have more questions!

And follow me on Twitter @lollipopcrumbs

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