a letter to the B.B.C. regarding the American Elections

Dear British Broadcasting Corporation,

                  
Although I'm a long-time reader and admirer of your news source, the
first thing is probably why you're the recipient of this letter in the
first place, as it is an American election- but there is 'a special
relationship' and anyway it's kind of a trivial question, but one I know
will be raised on this side of the Atlantic, 'foreigners' being
dangerous, barbarous creatures and all.

                
Anyway, a lot has happened and is happening, and I'd like to address
some of it: starting with the Democratic Primary, the contested
convention, and the recent CNN interview with two central figures of
Team Clinton: the Secretary herself and an adviser whose name I can't
recall this moment- as frankly I'm a little upset.

                
A lot has happened this election cycle both publicly and behind the
scenes.  I'm one of many Democrats and youth who wanted a change in our
nation(and a return to the populist traditions of The Democratic Party,)
and decided to side with Senator Sanders in this primary contest.  Now,
though I am a youth leader of some small influence, I'm really not such
a great politician at present- so please forgive any roughness, and
consider these sincere points I'd like to make.

                
When Clinton and her followers go on C.N.N. and speak the way they just
did...  we simply don't understand, and if she wins the nomination that
way- that's something she'll have to deal with.  And to just laugh off
'the super-delegate question' puts at peril not only Democracy but the
people's belief in Democracy- that our government considers our small
interests somewhere at parity with wealthy special interests.  Wherever
you stand, these are serious questions- and when an authority figure
just laughs them off and says essentially: "I'm going to be in
power..."  that's unneeded and it's offensive.

                 
If they're really so entirely confident that those super-delegates
wouldn't change their mind due to Sanders' remarkable string of recent
victories- that those delegates might not want to go along with the
changing will of the people, then they wouldn't be attacking as brutely
as they are, for example claiming at this late stage that Sanders, a
long-time leading Democratic figure in reality if not in strict title,
is somehow 'ineligible' for this race.

                  
Let's talk about why that would come up in this way- that people might
think that credible.  It's because of Sanders' socialistic ideas- as
someone who's been part of the long discussions between Sanders and his
supporters I can assure you that he has capitalist ideas too, frequently
speaking of "marketing funnels" and the like.  But even assuming that
Sanders is actually a socialist- there are many checks and balances, and
the viability of America's economy being 'socialized' like Cuba was... 
never serious. it's never been in the cards.  I made that analysis as I
thought others would- and I supported Sanders for other reasons:
because America despite her greatness needs reform and Clinton's message
seemed very conservative back then- as if she were trying to
out-Republican the Republicans and that seemed undesirable and like a
losing strategy.

                  
Now things have gone on. I could easily rationalize hating Clinton
forever and just disengage from politics if she took the nomination, but
that's not what I want to do.  I want us to have a civil, sporting
convention, and to be the Democratic Party we should be- in power and
helping people- some of whom don't get much of a chance in life really.

                                                                              friendly regards,

                                                                                                     Sean Lawlor Nelson