What Bernie Skeptics Need to Know Before Super Tuesday

[Newest Reality]

First, I am not posting this to endorse a candidate. I still remain undecided. You can debate about that as you please.

Secondly, I posted it in Primaries because it centers on a candidate.

Finally, I am more interested in getting some facts straight about the whole deal with "socialism" and the fear mongering that leads people to not see clearly about that issue. We need to see 20-20 for 2020.

I totally agree that oligarchy, (with a running candidate of theocracy which we now have in office) is what threatens our democracy the most and that has, and will continue to have, the most devastating effect on our country and its people generally speaking. In my mind, getting this across is absolutely essential if we are to mitigate our downfall. It is very important now as we dangle by a thread.

I do not look to Robert Reich and his organization to support my personal biases. I just prefer starting with the information he offers and suspending my judgement and going from there as I explore and corroborate information.

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich debunks six common myths about Bernie Sanders' electability, and makes the case for why the senator from Vermont is Democrats' best shot at taking back the White House.Inequality Media with Robert Reich is a digital media organization aimed at debunking right-wing lies, educating the public about inequality and imbalance of power, and breaking down solutions to the economic and structural issues plaguing our country. We provide a platform for you to learn, share your ideas, and, hopefully, mobilize your communities to make change for the common good.

[Frances]

1. I agree with Warren that

She and Bernie have similar views on most issues but that she has worked harder and more successfully to make changes
I decided after Saturday’s primary to support Biden because I think Biden gives us a better chance to gain seats in the Senate. Without the Senate, We get nothing

[NurseJackie]

3. Hey, Frances...

[BComplex]

6. I think Warren will give us better down-ticket support.

She hasn't had all the bad publicity from Ukraine that Biden has, and will continue to have, throughout the campaign.

[brooklynite]

2. How many elections has Robert Reich won?

[lapfog_1]

4. BTW, if you want to look for one of the prime culprits in the loss

of manufacturing jobs in the US...

look no further than Robert Reich.

He was a big proponent of the concept of outsourcing our "dirty" manufacturing jobs to China (thus making them a major trading partner and much less likely to go to war with us) and retooling our workforce for cleaner "information technology" jobs. What he failed to understand was that these sorts of "call center" and "software" jobs were even EASIER to export to India and China than the manufacturing jobs. Oops.

So I really don't pay attention to his "wisdom" these days.

[Newest Reality]

9. Does that then,

Does that then, in effect, shoot the messenger and diminish any credulity in the message?

I don't think of it as his "wisdom" and one can always corroborate and fact check what he provides.

Or, did I misunderstand? Are you in full disagreement with that information?

[lapfog_1]

10. It means that I question his ability to correctly analyze situations.

I remember SCREAMING at my TV in the 1990s when the Clinton White House rolled out this grand plan to move manufacturing jobs to China and we were all going to move past the industrial revolution and become the new power in information age.

It was flawed then... it has shown over and over just how badly it is flawed now.

Michael Moore is correct that the resentment in the upper midwest manufacturing union workers (that elected Trump) was due to them being forgotten about with this "transformation of the US economy plan".

[Newest Reality]

11. I can understand that.

You make a good point about your reaction back then.

So, what, in this specific video do you find to be incorrect?

I would be interested in hearing your refutations of the points being made because I am more focused on the current state of things and getting a more concise understanding of what we are doing and why.

I mean, I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I would hope that everything I say and do after that is not then suspect or totally erroneous. We could probably apply that to Michael Moore, too, depending on one's proclivities.

[TwilightZone]

5. "leads people to not see clearly about that issue"

It's pretty simple, really. Sanders isn't really a socialist and what Sanders calls socialism is actually regulated capitalism.

He tagged himself with an inaccurate label decades ago to try to appear unique to the electorate and he's basically stuck with it now. He now has to try to convince people that regulated capitalism is "socialism" when it's much more like the policies proffered by someone like Warren (who openly and correctly calls it regulated capitalism) than anything approaching the classic definition of socialism. He then claims that countries like Denmark are socialist, when they're not.

Compounding the problem, he's had five years to convince people of this slight misdirection and has clearly been unsuccessful since posts like yours continue to ask about the confusion. If he's not using the right term and can't explain it how it applies, how can we expect the average voter to understand it?

[renate]

7. I love Robert Reich

But I just cannot see older folks in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Florida (especially considering his remarks about Cuba) turning out in the droves we need to vote for Bernie.

Joe is not and has never been close to being my top pick, but most people are comfortable with him and he seems like a nice guy who's willing (and knows how) to compromise. Bernie looks and sounds old, is kinda grumpy, and many of his staff and spokespeople are extremely off-putting. The ones I'm speaking of (not all of his supporters, but enough) have good intentions but they are so convinced that they are right and everyone else isn't pure enough that they won't even try to unite us. Idealism is absolutely wonderful but we don't have that luxury this year.

[dumptrump1]

8. great video!

Kicked and recced!