Note: While I do not support Bernie’s socialist agenda, this is not a rant against him or his policies, but rather an analysis of the opportunity to return politics to American voters and away from the establishment of both parties’ establishments (and their cronies). 

Bernie’s sellout to the Democrat establishment was more than a betrayal of his supporters, it was also a missed opportunity for America.

We all have witnessed the truth that “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This fact has been clearly proven with the two party system American politics has embraced for over a century. In fact the corruption is sown so deep and overwhelming that the two most mistrusted candidates in history are each party’s nominee.

When he built his historic coalition in the 80’s, Ronald Reagan essentially took the core of the Republican Party and added to it from the blue collar base in the Democrat Party by promoting special interest groups forged around religious freedoms, free market economics, defense, abortion, etcetera.

The Democrats responded by recruiting special interests that opposed Reagan’s coalition. This led to a battle of special interests, which eventually made them the preeminent influence within each party. This abandonment of the core by the establishment laid the groundwork for mainstream America to rebel against the powerbrokers in 2016.

The Republican core rallied around a voice with enough money to fight the establishment, overlooking his arrogance and inflaming rhetoric as it paled in comparison to the special interests. It wasn’t logical support; it was raw emotion of a large and forsaken group. Like true tyrants, the party leadership focused on the spokesperson (Trump) of the group, instead of the people behind him, and lost their ability to control the nominee.

For the Democrat core, Bernie came flaming in to save the day. His supporters’ frustration was so great that they too overlooked his flaws (including the obvious fact that Bernie himself was part of the establishment).

Unlike the Republicans, the Democrat leadership managed to steal the election and Bernie returned to the fold with an empty justification that he could work better within the party—ignoring the obvious question of why he hadn’t succeeded before. Spin it how you will, Bernie is the only benefactor of his betrayal, and today the large voice he represented has again been effectively muted by the party leadership (regardless of Hillary’s promises).

Had Bernie’s supporters kept their slogan of “Bernie or Bust,” they could have formed a party that truly represented the core Democrat ideals and voters—leaving the Democrat leadership with their base of special interests (establishment cronies).

This could lead to the rejected Republican leadership feeling emboldened to launch their own establishment candidate, and immediately you have four competitive candidates and a new era of four major parties instead of two.

Four parties would return mainstream Americans to discussing issues instead of contests between special interests. Mainstream America is made-up of a majority that is looking for government to do its job instead of wasting time with the character assassinations of opponents and flaming rhetoric about their conflicting ideas.

Here are just a few benefits of a four party system:

Ø Special Interests would have a significantly reduced impact. First, spreading money among four major parties is more cost prohibitive than two. Second, there are always two extremes to a position, which is promoted by a two party system and backed by special interests. Add two more parties and you start to finally reach a middle ground.

Ø Political gridlock subsides. Partisan brinkmanship is facilitated by the “my way or the highway” approach of two parties—which worsens each year and results in government shutdowns that impact our military, social security recipients, and others without additional finances to rely upon.

Ø Election debates and communications will have more discussions around issues and less around ideologies and character assassinations. Human nature will still inject mudslinging, but with more candidates the mud will be thinned down.

Ø New ideas will have a platform to enter into the discussion. Today, the discussion centers around who can shout the loudest about how their failed ideas are best. Let’s face it; if the ideas had succeeded we wouldn’t be in the mess we are today.

It’s not too late for this change to happen, but it would require that Bernie’s supporters realize that no substantial change comes by giving in or giving up—and that sometimes you have to lose to win. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen as the very establishment they left due to mistrust has deceived them with more empty promises.

Yes, Hillary and the Democrat leaders will probably deliver something they can point to for their disaffected core, but it will be a twisted, wrecked pittance of what they’re expecting.

In reality, I could live with either Hillary or Trump for the next four years…if it meant we ended up with four strong viable parties from this catastrophe of an election. It could still happen if “Bernie or Bust” supporters realize Hillary has duped them and throw their support behind someone else.

Since that’s not likely to happen, I’ll probably write in John Kasich’s name. At least he has shown a willingness to successfully reach across the aisle in an effort to find new ideas and create win/win solutions for Ohio and its citizens. If my vote is going to be limited to an establishment party, then it should at least stand for someone who seeks healing instead of conflict. Yes, my vote will lose, but sometimes you have to lose to win.