Bernie is the epitome of American Exceptionalism!

[floppyboo]

Let me explain why this Canadian loves the idea of a Sanders presidency.

When I was younger, in the mid-60's, with my beatnik jazz loving parents (Quebec and Norway) I saw all the freedom loving populism - the grass roots almost anarchistic joy south of the 49th. I watched Laugh-In and the Smothers Brothers and thought 'Black is Beautiful' was more a truth than a battle cry. Yes, I was young and didn't get it all.

When I was 20, I sat in a university dorm common room watching the Regan/Carter debates. We young canadians cried for you then.
It was like the exceptional 'people power' Dr. Pepper vs. Pepsi dream was turning into a nightmare. Then we got Mulroney, Britain got Thatcher. OY VEY!

Now, along comes Bernie! And he's going to restore the Power of and to the People!

I've got 4 20 somethings of my own now. Their biggest concern is the environment.

Watching with dismay the outcome of the Madrid summit, I'm so hoping American Exceptionalism - that individualism that could really make a people powered revolution possible, happens again in my lifetime and for my new grandson.

Keep fighting!

[brooklynite]

1. Tell you what; get an avowed Socialist elected as Canadian PM and then get back to us...

[vsrazdem]

3. Well apparently Pete thought so at one time.

https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/education/profile-in-courage-essay-contest/past-winning-essays/2000-winning-essay-by-peter-buttigieg

[appalachiablue]

5. But watch out for those 'Radicals'!! Thanks for posting.

Peter Buttigieg, Winning Essay, 2000, JFK Library

(Excerpts). Sanders’ courage is evident in the first word he uses to describe himself: “Socialist”. In a country where Communism is still the dirtiest of ideological dirty words, in a climate where even liberalism is considered radical, and Socialism is immediately and perhaps willfully confused with Communism, a politician dares to call himself a socialist? He does indeed. Here is someone who has “looked into his own soul” and expressed an ideology, the endorsement of which, in today’s political atmosphere, is analogous to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Even though he has lived through a time in which an admitted socialist could not act in a film, let alone hold a Congressional seat, Sanders is not afraid to be candid about his political persuasion.

After numerous political defeats in his traditionally Republican state, Sanders won the office of mayor of Burlington by ten votes. A successful and popular mayor, he went on to win Vermont’s one Congressional seat in 1990. Since then, he has taken many courageous and politically risky stands on issues facing the nation. He has come under fire from various conservative religious groups because of his support for same-sex marriages. His stance on gun control led to NRA-organized media campaigns against him. Sanders has also shown creativity in organizing drug-shopping trips to Canada for senior citizens to call attention to inflated drug prices in the United States.

While impressive, Sanders’ candor does not itself represent political courage. The nation is teeming with outspoken radicals in one form or another. Most are sooner called crazy than courageous. It is the second half of Sanders’ political role that puts the first half into perspective: he is a powerful force for conciliation and bi-partisanship on Capitol Hill. In Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy wrote that “we should not be too hasty in condemning all compromise as bad morals. For politics and legislation are not matters for inflexible principles or unattainable ideals.” It may seem strange that someone so steadfast in his principles has a reputation as a peacemaker between divided forces in Washington, but this is what makes Sanders truly remarkable. He represents President Kennedy’s ideal of “compromises of issues, not of principles.”

[brooklynite]

6. And the significance of a High School essay would be...?

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for sharing floppyboo.

[RobertDevereaux]

4. This long-ago-resident and lover of Montreal (1969-71) thanks you, floppyboo!

[Joe941]

7. Well said. Bernie is a man for our time.

[tirebiter]

9. Just so we have a common understanding here

The actual phrase "American exceptionalism" was originally coined by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1929 as a critique of a revisionist faction of American communists who argued that the American political climate was unique, making it an 'exception' to certain elements of Marxist theory.


https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › American_exceptionalism
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In 1929, Communist leader Jay Lovestone informed Stalin in Moscow that the American proletariat wasn't interested in revolution. Stalin responded by demanding that he end this "heresy of American exceptionalism." And just like that, this expression was born.


https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/03/how-joseph-stalin-invented-american-exceptionalism/254534/
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Bernie calls for class struggle revolution per Marx. It's what makes him Bern.
Obama acknowledged our exceptionalism, trending toward Alexis de Tocqueville, without going the Nationalist route like Gingrich

"During his travels in 1831, French writer Alexis de Tocqueville observed that America was an exceptional nation with a special role to play in human history,"

[floppyboo]

10. Thanks for the history! I was definitely using the de Tocqueville definition.

Last edited Mon Dec 16, 2019, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Stalin was a bastardization of Marxism, so thank god he doesn't count!

edit: And just for historical accuracy, neither Engels (German -English transplant) or Marx (German) thought the Russian people were ready for a revolution, so Stalin grousing about the American communist party is really quite laughable.

They thought it would happen in France or Germany.

Germany did have a revolution. And I hope you avoid the same one. Silver lining though: The infrastructure bank and socialist structures created in the wake of WWII made Germany the most powerful country in the EU, all while offering free university and universal health care.

You don't really have to re-live history if you've seen the movie.

[floppyboo]

11. and just fyi - my favorite 'communist' revolution was june 11-14, 1381

Tyler and Ball against boy King Richard.

[Gothmog]

12. I am curious

What bills has sanders got adopted? What are sanders' legislative accomplishments?