America's Views Align Surprisingly Well With Those of "Socialist" Bernie Sanders

[Jefferson23]

May 19, 2015

So what does that make us?

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, a self-described socialist, is an extremely long shot to defeat Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary. Does that mean his views on key political issues are too radical for America's voters? Not necessarily. Here's how his policy positions actually fare in the polls:

socialism

Sanders: Describes himself as a democratic socialist.

His fellow Americans: While only 31 percent of Americans react positively to the word "socialism," just 50 percent view "capitalism" in favorable terms, according to a recent Pew survey. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, nearly half had a positive view of "socialism," while only 47 percent viewed "capitalism" favorably.

income Taxes

Sanders: Famously filibustered the 2010 extension of Bush tax cuts for wealthy Americans.

His fellow Americans: In a February poll, 68 percent of likely voters said wealthy households pay too little in federal taxes.


estate taxes

Sanders: Introduced the Responsible Estate Tax Act last year. If passed, it would raise top estate tax rates and expand the tax to include estates worth more than $3.5 million. (It currently only applies to those worth more than $5.4 million, which covers only 0.2 percent of American estates.)

His fellow Americans: Results vary, but Kevin Drum notes that the estate tax (conservatives call it the "death tax&quot is generally unpopular.


Offshore tax havens

Sanders: Introduced legislation that would crack down on offshore tax havens by requiring American companies to pay the top corporate tax rate on profits held abroad.

His fellow Americans: Eighty-five percent of small business owners favor closing overseas tax loopholes entirely, while 68 percent of Americans believe "we should close tax loopholes for large corporations that ship jobs offshore."

in full: http://www.motherjones.com/authors/josh-harkinson

[randys1]

1. A teapartier would never vote for Hillary for same reason they wont vote for Obama

bigotry, racism, misogyny etc.

Would not matter what positions they took.

But, maybe some would vote for Bernie and maybe that is the reason Bernie doesnt bring up the social issues nearly as much as the economic issues.

Maybe some on the right would be willing to vote for him as long as he just doesnt talk about the social issues much, even if they know Bernie is, and he is, on the left on those issues. I say on the left, I mean on the adult, correct side.

By staying with the populist talk he can get votes Hillary cant get.

[Jefferson23]

3. I agree with you to a point and this is speculative on my part, as I have not read about a strategy

per se. My hope is that whether it be Hillary or Bernie, they both speak directly about
social equality in these red states and not shy away from it. Too many people are
subject to discrimination within their own families and there are family members looking
for a way out of that, to love their kid openly, they need to open up that window by
stating we're that party.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

2. Too bad neither of the two major parites agrees with him on most things.

If the Dems did, they could be selling those ideas, like the Rs sell their RW BS.

[Jefferson23]

4. We get to set the agenda now, so we'll see. n/t