October 13
GUEST: Sarahana Shrestha, first generation immigrant from Nepal, surprise winner of a Democratic primary for NY State Assembly, and committed reformer who does not take corporate money, talks about her strong focus on working families and climate.
Surprise Democratic State Assembly primary winner
Sarahana Shrestha was good enough to give us this 20 minute interview. She is a busy candidate, having just defeated a long time corporate funded Democrat to run for NYS Assembly.
Is Sarahana the future of the Democratic Party? Will the party pass on to newer, more progressive candidates who care about racism, global warming and workers' rights? Can social change still happen within our corrupted political system?
First we will have to see if she wins. Not taking corporate money is a handicap, even though it scores points with progressives. But some of her opinions are not mainstream ones, especially her emphasis on human rights for all. She is a staunch supporter of Black Lives Matter, and insists that our criminal justice system be reformed. This might make her vulnerable, since she will be attacked as an immigrant who is weak on crime. In fact, the right wing Republican Party has long ago given up running on anything that doesn't incite racial hatred. Candidates like Sarahana should beware.
Sarahana's success so far, however, says more about the Democratic Party than it does about the Republican. Her organizing skills, and her idealism show us all what the mainstream Democratic Party has become: a corrupted and ineffectual foil for the right wing fascism we see on the horizon. Dare we hope that the Democratic Party can kick out its old guard, the Clintons, Obama and Pelosi? And what about their warmongering? Can we turn the party into one that doesn't keep pushing us to World War III? I know its a lot to ask from a new candidate for state assembly.
