Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said on Thursday his philosophy of democratic socialism was aimed at creating a more fair economy that was not tilted to benefit the rich, portraying it as a logical heir to popular government programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
In a long-promised speech meant to ease the concerns of some voters about the "socialist" label, Sanders cited former President Franklin Roosevelt's Depression-era policies to put Americans back to work and provide a broad social safety net as the model for his democratic socialist agenda.
"Our government belongs to all of us, not just a handful of billionaires," Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, said in a speech at Georgetown University. "We need to develop a political movement which, once again, is prepared to take on and defeat a ruling class whose greed is destroying our nation."
Sanders went on to say:
"The next time you hear me attacked as a socialist, remember this: I don’t believe government should own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal," he said.
I actually agree with just about everything that Bernie says here, however realistically I still don't think it will make any difference in the long run.
We live in a world of soundbites, and the line "He's a socialist" is more easily digested by the majority of the American people than "We need to develop a political movement which, once again, is prepared to take on and defeat a ruling class whose greed is destroying our nation."
That may seem unfair, but that does not make it untrue.
Hillary Clinton, with all of her baggage and factoring in her gender, still seems like a less risky choice for the American people than electing an admitted socialist in a world where that word is the political equivalent of being called "pedophile."
And this is even before we discuss the fact that Bernie would be the first Jew elected as Commander-in-Chief.
You're behind on the news. The Clinton Foundation is being investigated and the findings are felony fodder. Today's WaPost has a big article on the $3BILLIONDOLLARS the Clintons have raised from wealthy benefactors over the past 40 years.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have to be Bernie, but our candidate cannot be another Clinton. The world needs real leadership.
Totally agree, Mark. We're all screwed if Clinton is the nominee.
DeleteThis former Repub is going to do everything possible to help elect the Socialist Jew Bernie, because he is the only only one who gets it, and the only one I trust as being honest and able.
DeleteI'm with Bernie.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orYcAiFqknU
If I use my brain to vote, I vote Clinton. If I go with my conscience, I vote Bernie.
ReplyDelete"He's a socialist" is more easily digested by the majority of the American people than "We need to develop a political movement which, once again, is prepared to take on and defeat a ruling class whose greed is destroying our nation."
ReplyDeleteThere, in one sentence, is what is wrong with America and why half of it votes regressively --
Short attention spans and a chauvinistic education.
Chauvinistic -- an exaggerated patriotism and a belligerent belief in national superiority and glory.
And that's why an empty phrase like "Make America Great Again" is winning the GOP nomination.
DeleteSeriously, what does "Make America Great Again" supposed to mean exactly? I don't want an empty platitude, I want a concrete goal with an action plan.
I'd like to see photos that show Bernie Sanders as a reasonable man and not the grumpy old man in the photo with this story. Most pictures of him show him as an angry, old man and that is not good for a political candidate. I hope he realizes it.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
I'd like to see photos that show Bernie Sanders as a reasonable man and not the grumpy old man in the photo with this story. Most pictures of him show him as an angry, old man and that is not good for a political candidate. I hope he realizes it.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
People simply don't understand the type of equilibrium that Bernie is trying to bring. We can have Hillary, where nothing will change, or we can have Bernie who will work to balance the monetary power in this country and leave it less tilted towards the 1%. It's hard to get behind a 1%'r like Hillary, but so many don't understand that Bernie isn't a "commie" he's just a man who understands the economic disadvantage that the majority of the country is operating under and would like to even that playing field.
ReplyDeleteReally, it's not the fault of the general populace that they don't understand the difference between Democratic Socialism and Communism; our education system has created a couple of generations of very poorly prepared adults who are subject to misinformation. He can't fix that, no one can for at least a few generations more, but he can seek to educate those who are willing to listen.
This isn't a popularity contest or a beauty contest, it's a race to put the most qualified person in office that can help to repair what is broken in this country. If people are too stupid to understand or too afraid to listen then things will continue to decline and we'll officially become the oligarchy that we are in the nascent stages of becoming.
People can make fun of Bernie's grumpy persona and messy hair and then others can make fun of Hillary's dumpy body and swollen cankles and fashion less pantsuits, but really, that's not the issue, the issue is who can make this country better for the most people, but unfortunately the discourse tends toward the physical rather than the intellectual.
I have mine, my friends and family, we're set, we're OK we'll never be poor but we still support Bernie because we'd like to see more people have less economic worry and enjoy their best lives. That's what Bernie offers, a chance for everyone, not just the ruthless and those born into it.
I agree with you about almost everything, Gryphen; everything, except Bernie Sanders. This post, like others, validates negative associations with Democratic Socialism ("pedophilia" really?!). Why perpetuate unfair stereotypes and biases of "Socialism," and more importantly Bernie's brand of democratic socialism? Don't you want to encourage an opening of minds? You of all people know how unfounded and undeserved biases are against groups such as atheists, so please please please stop with the knee jerk "Ahh! Socialism!" responses.
ReplyDeleteI'm a married, professional, millennial with kids, and I am part of Bernie's Revolution. You don't have to believe in us, but please stop delegitimizing us by implying that we can never make it happen.