Read this article Historically, rich people have fought to stop politicians like Sanders

[bdamomma]

https://www.alternet.org/2020/03/historically-rich-people-have-fought-to-stop-politicians-like-sanders-making-his-rise-all-the-more-unlikely/

snip of article.


The selection bias analogy is quite apt when we think about who is a successful politician and who isn’t. In the United States’ flawed democracy, the rich have untoward power to shape not only elections, but also our beliefs about candidates through mass media.

That means that our political candidates — on both sides, but particularly the right — rarely hold positions in line with the things that the majority of Americans believe in. To wit:
◾Gallup polling has consistently found that only about 21% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. (On the other hand, just about every member of the Republican Party believes this — the party that supposedly represents half the country’s views.)
◾Gallup polling also shows that 54% of Americans agree with the statement “it is the responsibility of the federal government to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage.”
◾In 2019, only 35% of Americans believed immigration to the United States should be decreased.
◾Also, in 2019, the same Gallup poll asked: “Thousands of refugees have left Honduras and other Central American countries to escape the situation there. Would you approve or disapprove of allowing these refugees to come into this country?” 57% approved.
◾A 2019 poll from The Hill-HarrisX found that “58% of registered voters said they would support a proposal that would make public colleges, universities and trade schools tuition-free.” The pollsters note that “the same group also said they would back a plan eliminating all existing student debt.”


I picked these polls intentionally, as these reflect the core platform of presidential frontrunner Bernie Sanders: he is a pro-choice candidate supporting Medicare for All, who pushes back against xenophobic immigration views like Trump’s, and who believes in forgiving student debt and making public colleges free.

That means that Bernie Sanders’ political views are well in line with the mainstream. In that regard, his frontrunner status makes sense.

[OhZone]

1. Rich people like Bernie Sanders?

ha

Yes, I agree with a lot of Berie wants to do, but, imho, you have to have a different kind of politician to actually get there.

Just MHO.

[guillaumeb]

2. In any country where money is equated with speech,

it is to be expected that the very rich will buy political influence and dominate the political dialogue.

Support for MFA dropped sharply when the rich started an advertising/propaganda campaign to attack MFA.

[appalachiablue]

3. The positions are considered center-left in much of Europe as an

Ireland commenter posted yesterday.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread bdamomma.

[LakeArenal]

5. Geez "Rich People"

“Rich people” seems to have become some people’s Republican “Liberal”

Using words that should have no inherent negative connotation, yet are used as perjoratives some how.

I know lots and lots of “rich” people who aren’t even political let alone enemies of the poor.

[beastie boy]

6. The general conclusion at the end of snip is a bit of a stretch

Quite a bit of a stretch, in fact. Most polls cited favor policies that are related but not entirely reflected in Bernie's agenda, and support for these policies is far from overwhelming. For instance, M4A doesn't enjoy support of most Americans, yet the author inexplicably lumps M4A with support for reproductive rights,as if the two are related.
Furthermore, selectively citing five poll results is meaningless in arriving to author s sweeping conclusion. Certainly they are no proof of Bernie s views being in line with those of the mainstream.

[WhereAmerica]

7. One word that destroys Sanders' general election hopes: Socialism

Poll after poll has shown that the vast majority of American voters will not vote for a Socialist.

And, by the time the Trump machine is done, that Socialism will be synonymous with Communism.

It will destroy Bernie's election chances, which are already fragile, lose our majority in the House, and kill any possibility of taking the Senate.

It's not about his policies. It's about his branding.

[bdamomma]

8. Welcome to DU

Socialism is being practiced by Republicans all the time which is Reverse Socialism, they steal from us and give to that 1%.

[Atticus]

9. Historically, rich people have fought to stop Democrats---period. nt

[Stuart G]

10. It really isn't about Sander's ideas, it is more about "Sanders" and how he presents them.

[LizBeth]

11. I backed Howard Dean. I am all for stepping out of the box. But I am not going to do it with just

anyone for the sake of doing it. Sanders as a man, as a politician fails in so many areas. If you all had gotten us a candidate that was truly a good candidate, I could be on board. But being presented with the likes of Sanders in and of itself begins with a fail.

[Fresh_Start]

12. The rich aren't worried about Sanders, they know he is ineffective

and getting less effective every day as he alienates people who should be natural allies.