Bernie Sanders: America's No1 socialist makes his move into the mainstream

[1776Forever]

Bernie Sanders: America's No 1 socialist makes his move into the mainstream
Paul Harris guardian.co.uk,
Friday 21 October 2011 15.19 EDT

http://gu.com/p/32z4n/tw via @guardian

Bernie Sanders sits in his Senate office and reflects on another unexpected twist in his already unusual political life. As the only self-proclaimed socialist to sit in the US Congress, Sanders is long used to surviving in the political wilderness. But Sanders is now having to get used to a different environment altogether: the mainstream.

His constant slamming of Wall Street, his critiques of big business and the excesses of money in politics, as well as his call for a defense of American jobs, have become hot issues in US politics. The senator from Vermont is now a regular on American TV screens and rapidly becoming a fixture of US politics and a hero to many on the left....

But, he explains, he is not interested in the White House. "I would likely end up causing a right-wing extremist to be president of the United States. That is not something I would be happy to do," he said.

Then he added for emphasis: "It would likely be a futile and losing campaign. That would not be too smart."

Sanders is many unusual things: loud, outspoken and a successful socialist in America. But one thing he is not is naïve.

...........

Too bad he won't consider running - It is our loss:( But it is true that President Obama has enough support to get a 2nd term and I support him but it would be great to see Sen. Sanders in a role in his Administration.

[MindandSoul]

1. I like the guy, but he is right. Very smart too!

[MindandSoul]

2. I like the guy, but he is right. Very smart too!

[polichick]

3. He's probably right. It's sad, though - we need a lot more socialists in Congress.

[flamingdem]

4. Bernie "occupied" the Senate

He was out ahead of the new OWS movement that's for sure

[coalition_unwilling]

5. Would that be a Kaiser or a Hoagie (roll, that is? :) - N/T

[1776Forever]

7. Thanks - I never was very good at spelling:) n/t

[banned from Kos]

6. Glad to see Sanders realizes he would be a disaster on a national ticket

He is too valuable as a Senator to risk any move. 52 is a precarious number (I concede Conrad's seat).

[Douglas Carpenter]

8. excellent article about someone whose ideas are the ideas whose has come

[ThomWV]

9. To call Bernie a Socialist is a greatly misleading.

Socialist is just another buzz-word, just as bad as Communist to the FOX-News crowd and others who are equally un-or mis-informed. Bernie caucuses with the Democrats and if he were properly described it would be as a Populist Democrat rather than the more denigrating term used in this article and most others.

[banned from Kos]

10. He calls himself a Socialist.

Agree though - the word has been demonized by the wingnuts.

[1776Forever]

11. I was doing research on Sweden's brand of Socialism and found out

that it does work for the people and not the Corporations so much, although the Swede's have leaned toward the right more lately they still offer:

http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Work/The-Swedish-system/Residence-based-benefits/

Health care

Health care is accessible to everyone living in Sweden and because of tax subsidies, costs are limited. In fact, appointments for children up to the age of 18 are free in most counties, as are all natal appointments and check-ups.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dental care

From checkups to braces, dental care in Sweden is free of charge for children until the year they turn 20. As adults, patients can take advantage of the voucher system for reasonably priced, quality care that is always high-cost protected.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Benefits for families with children

Children are a high priority in the Swedish social welfare system. Paid parental leave and state-funded child allowances are examples of this.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guarantee pension

Swedish citizens and residents are guaranteed a tax-funded minimum pension upon retirement. If you work in Sweden, you're entitled to income pension, which you earn during your working life.

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Elderly care

Sweden invests more of its gross domestic product (GDP) in its elderly citizens than most countries in the world, making it a good place to grow old.

.........

AND up to 4 weeks Vacation -

Now that isn't too bad is it? Of course we here in the United States wouldn't probably ever agree on giving our tax money to help ourselves would we? That would be too greedy...:sarcasm:

[reggie the dog]

17. they only get 4 weeks vacation?? In Denmark it is 6 with a 32 hour work week

The Socialists are the main party on the left here in France and we get all that you listed above and more and get AT LEAST 5 WEEKS paid holiday, many French people (thanks to a 35 hour work week and working say 40 hours a week and accumulating another week of vacation every 7 weeks (7x5=35)) end up having between 10 and 11 weeks off on the year, 5 weeks of which is paid for doing nothing, the rest they earned the money by working extra hours but most french prefer to take the other 5 or 6 weeks off of work and not get overtime pay. yep, french choose to "use" their overtime pay by instead not coming into work for another month each year. i love this country



Now if you are talking about maternity and paternity leave they each get a year off I think with full or 80% pay..... light years ahead of France on that one they are, but they are pushing the EU for dramatically more paternity and maternity leave......

[socialist_n_TN]

12. At some point though, if enough of the population

declares for socialism OR at least doesn't have a negative view of socialism, a socialist candidate WILL make the run. I agree with Bernie that right now is not the time, but that doesn't mean it will NEVER be the time.

Of course they won't be Marxist. More along the lines of Democratic Socialist. The latest polling on attitudes have shown a growing group of the population that has a positive view of socialism. The last Pew poll I believe put it at around 37%. More importantly, IMO, was that only 52% had a POSITIVE view of capitalism. And that's AFTER a couple of centuries of capitalist propaganda and BEFORE the OWS movement. The BEST recruiter for socialism are the capitalists. :)

[OwnedByFerrets]

13. Love me some Senator Sanders

[piratefish08]

14. Go Bernie! My Senator! damn it feels good to say that - MY DAMN SENATOR!

we moved to Vermont 3 weeks ago!

[dmosh42]

15. You can be proud of Bernie-unlike the two morons from NC!

[rhett o rick]

16. We need Sen Sanders in the Senate. Obama has a lot of progressives to choose from, but he wont. nm