Watson: Bernie Sanders asks us to rebalance capitalism

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

Sanders, a 24-year veteran of Congress, asked, “Are we going to have an oligarchy or a democracy?” That is a stunning question, but it accurately captures where we are today.

In a related discussion, Sanders stated that our economic system is in crisis. He explained that the current statuses of income inequality, stagnant wages, joblessness, and corporate and market behavior reflect a capitalism that is out of balance and predatory. As almost all wealth increasingly flows to the top 1 percent of the population, our capitalism less and less serves the rest of us.

Sanders was blunt and accurate — not hyperbolic — when he called out the “greed and recklessness” that has become too prevalent in the operation of our capitalism.

(snip)

And here is where it is important to understand what Sanders means when he calls himself a democratic socialist. It is all about degrees. Injecting more socialism into our capitalism simply means looking for ways to reduce the absurd and destructive wealth gulfs between rich and poor. It means injecting higher degrees of fairness and cooperation into our economy. Rightly, we will still have multi-millionaires; incomes and salaries will still differ greatly. And caring more about everyone is entirely consistent with the core credos and narratives of this country.

In a democracy that practices capitalism, it is often “socialistic” practices that we use to regulate and temper the operation of the “free” market. An unbridled capitalism would eventually allow the economically powerful to exploit the weak. In the US, because we seek (and value) good outcomes for all people, with our laws we attempt to facilitate the potential and welfare of all citizens.

(snip)

If we are smart, we’ll listen carefully to Sanders’ explanations of the way things are, and we’ll act on that knowledge. He emphasizes that in a democracy, it is the voting citizenry who must safeguard the common good.

http://www.salemnews.com/opinion/watson-bernie-sanders-asks-us-to-rebalance-capitalism/article_83821f64-c28a-5e2f-8ee2-85ab60d7a13b.html

[randys1]

1. If Bernie wins WH and gets the Senate but not the house...what exactly do people think will get

done?

I am for that happening, btW,. i just wonder if people understand what would happen.

[marym625]

3. he was able to get millions for healthcare clinics

Working with a republican house. Why assume he can't continue?

[randys1]

4. For veterans, right? I mean anything is possible, I guess.

Cons have to pretend to care about veterans, even though they love to send them to war do die, so this would make sense.

But I just dont believe he will be allowed to do any of the things we need him to do.

I am still for electing him because I believe it creates a starting point for the new normal.

[marym625]

10. That too but I meant for Anericans that can't afford healthcare

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128063801

[randys1]

13. That was great but also PRE Teaparty congress. When the teaparty came in

they made a rule there will be no cooperating, at all, EVER with Dems.

This will apply whether Hillary or Bernie is in, of course.

I just hope people wont abandon Bernie after 2 years if he cant bring the House with him.

[marym625]

17. no, not pre teabaggers

He's the most effective Senator there is. He knows how to get things done

Additionally, while I know we won't get the House next year, he's bringing the entire country left. People are sick to death of the inequities.

I JUST hung up from a call with a friend from Arizona who is a tax expert with one of the big four and a republican. Guess who he is voting for in the primary. That's right! Bernie Sanders! Could have knocked me over with a feather.

[randys1]

18. But you said 2010, they were brought in 2011...

I could have my info wrong on the legislation you are pointing out, but the teaparty came in when WE didnt show up to vote 2 yrs into his presidency

[marym625]

19. yeah, you're right

My bad. Feels like it was longer ago. Feels like forever ago

[randys1]

23. Most of us wonder if Obama threw public option under the bus before giving it a chance

or if he did that as the only way to get ACA to pass.

We dont know for sure, but if he did it and he didnt want to, but had to, then expect Bernie to make the same compromises if elected, if he is even offered any at all.

This isnt an argument of why Hillary is better, unless it can be demonstrated to me that she has a better chance of beating the cons then that is when I will support her, but this is about what to expect and not expect.

And not to give up if Bernie is limited in what he can do.

I truly believe when he started this campaign he had no idea he could actually win but that he wanted to use his power, influence and popularity to force Hillary more to the center on the Wall Street issue.

[marym625]

25. I believe he knew he will win

Progressive Democrats for America did a year long study on how he would fare. The support is there. Just had to be tapped.

I don't think for a moment that everything he wants will be done quickly or easily. But he knows how to work with elected officials to get things done and people are fed up with the status quo

I'll keep my opinions to myself on the rest

[Uncle Joe]

20. Why didn't more Democrats show up in 2010? A strong argument can be made that President Obama

was perceived as not moving far enough to the left to inspire Democratic Voters.

At the very least taking a strong regional public option off the table without even trying to fight for it was a major disillusion for Democrats and at the same time opposing the Affordable Care Act for being too government intrusive was highly motivating for the Republicans.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/16/barack-obama/obama-statements-single-payer-have-changed-bit/

protest against taking public option off the table

Just from a political point of view sometimes going halfway is worse than not going at all.

[Uncle Joe]

5. If Bernie wins against the entrenched wealthy and powerful interests that dominate our society

with his clear and concise message, the writing will be on the wall for any surviving members of Congress.

The almighty dollar won't be enough to protect them anymore, the Congress will be forced to move left or there will be further attrition in 2018.

Bernie and his supporters in Congress will have a crystal clear mandate from the people.

Furthermore Bernie will have long and strong coat tails, which will insure a much more progressive new Congress, Hillary won't create that kind of dynamic.

[randys1]

7. You are partially correct when dealing with old school cons, but teaparty doesnt care about mandates

and they dont have to worry about reelection when they have gerrymandered districts and koch money.

AGain, I am all for him becoming president, but I hope when he is unable to do most of what he wants in the first few years, he wont be rejected the way many did Obama.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Tea Party for Bernie

I'm a Tea Party Republican considering Bernie Sanders and I do not believe I'm alone.

I've long considered myself an Independent but was drawn to the Republican Party with the rise of the anti-establishment Tea Party movement and specifically Ron Paul's 2 presidential runs. 2 weeks ago, I decided to go see Bernie in Iowa with my lifelong Democrat father because I thought it would be a great way to spend some quality time with each other, since we're usually butting heads on political issues. What I did not expect from this event was just how much a self-described democratic socialist could identify with somebody like me who detests the word socialism.

After sitting with crossed arms initially, finding myself being unsurprisingly skeptical of Bernie's economic populist calls for things like raising the minimum wage, I soon found myself opening up when he moved onto a multitude of other issues. By the end of his hour and a half long speech, I found myself standing up and clapping more often than sulking. I was completely blown away by somebody who I was thought I was fairly familiar with and he's had me rethinking supporting Rand Paul for the last 2 weeks.

After further deliberation, I've come to the conclusion that the idea of Bernie Sanders getting support from a significant portion of the "very conservative" wing of the GOP is not such a far fetched idea and here's why I think his appeal will stretch further than even most supporters think.

(snip)

https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3djn72/im_a_tea_party_republican_considering_bernie/

The author lists his reasons for supporting Bernie on the link after the snip.

Here is more

https://www.facebook.com/Tea-Party-Patriots-for-Bernie-Sanders-in-2016-517219105099552/

Bernie has stated from the beginning that he can't do it alone and that the people will have to create a movement, we're in the process of doing just that.

[randys1]

9. I just said somewhere else that this is what scares me. Teaparty and me, we have nothing in common.

On paper I know it looks like we do, but we dont.

I dont like this at all

[Uncle Joe]

12. Would you agree with this?

1) He is as pro-American as they come.
This might seem like a random, weird argument but it was the first step in getting me to open up to the idea of voting for a "socialist". The way that Bernie speaks is different from the stereotypical left-winger. He has a strongly nationalistic undertone to his populism and is unapologetic about it. He has the ability to take any moral majority argument and flip it right on its head. When he spoke about what the U.S. went through in to win WWII in essentially 2 1/2 years, he had me almost tearing up.

3) A $1 trillion investment in America is an easier sell than another $1 trillion war.
Even though I disagree with many of his economic positions, most Americans would be more open to spending money on new roads than new wars. If he can talk more about the long-term savings of his plans versus what the GOP would spend our money on, he can sway voters.

You many not agree with his take on Rand Paul but if you believe that Bernie can't be bought, then you're agreement with the author.

Many members of the Tea Party are sick of the less than 1% dominating our society, I imagine you would agree with them on that.

[randys1]

14. The teaparty in Congress has made it known there is to NEVER be cooperation with the Dems or

ANYTHING that involves government, taxes, etc.

There may be teaparty supporters on the street who think differently, but their leaders are controlled by Koch and this is how they think.

Teaparty was formed to oppose the skin of the president, I will never trust them

[Uncle Joe]

16. Here is more that you might have agreement with them on.

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-11/green-tea-party-fights-more-environmentally-friendly-gop

While the race for the Republican presidential nomination is quickly picking up speed, another contest is underway that could also be decisive for the party’s future — and maybe Earth’s future as well.

It pits two factions of the party's conservative base against each other: a pro-solar energy offshoot of the Tea Party called the Green Tea Coalition versus Americans For Prosperity, a huge conversative advocacy group backed by the Koch brothers.

Debbie Dooley is the founder of the Georgia-based Green Tea Coalition and a national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots. An early Tea Party organizer, she rose to national prominence in 2013 when she led an effort, backed by the Tea Party Patriots, to require Georgia's state utility company to purchase more electricity from solar providers.

(snip)

No doubt there are many differences between what you and I believe and that of Tea Party members but if some of them are convinced to vote or support Bernie as has also been the case for some evangelical Christians after Bernie's Liberty University Speech on more pressing common ground issues the Republicans in Congress will be weakened as a result.

[Doctor_J]

11. And Hillary is different from this...how?

He has a far better chance at coattails than she does

[randys1]

15. NOt different which is why I support Bernie, but if he isnt the nominee, I of course support her

[jwirr]

21. Of course we understand - we have watched what happened

to President Obama. What many of us are hoping will make the difference is the continued involvement of the people. For the most part the only time I have actually seen the people involved in what President Obama was doing was when the Unions and many of us joined together to try to stop the TPP. Yes we worked against him but this shows how we can get other things we want. And I do not remember him asking for help for other things he wanted to do.

IF we kick R butt and get a really good hold of the Senate as well as turning some seats in the House, the Rs will be on the run - afraid they are going to lose their seats and control of the House. They will then be more willing to listen to the people and voter will have more power.

[marym625]

2. K&R!

[azmom]

6. K&R

[WillyT]

22. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[Enthusiast]

24. Kicked and recommended!

Way to go, Uncle Joe!

[sabrina 1]

26. I'm definitely listening carefully to Sanders AND to the rest of the field of course. And there is

simply no comparison. He, as the polls showed after the debate, is simply so far ahead of them, that to NOT vote for him would be the biggest mistake ever.

I won't make a mistake like that.

[Uncle Joe]

28. I feel the same way, sabrina.

Bernie is a natural leader.

[Dont call me Shirley]

27. K & R!

[liberal_at_heart]

29. 60 or 70 years ago we still practiced capitalism, but unions made sure that

people could afford to buy a house, send their kids to college, and retire. We must get back to that point. We must get our unions back. We need a living wage, tuition free college, pensions, unions, and single payer health care.

[Uncle Joe]

30. I agree, liberal_at_heart.