What Bernie Said, Part II

[WilliamPitt]

Part I available here: http://www.truth-out.org/what-bernie-said-part-i65944



Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). (Photo: Wikimedia)

What Bernie Said, Part II
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

Thursday 16 December 2010

As Congressional Republicans and the White House wrangle over the relative merits of exploding the deficit by giving hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires who don't need the money, the real world they appear to know nothing about plods drearily on. A USA Today story from Wednesday reported:

U.S. Postal Service workers who handle letters addressed to Santa at the North Pole say more letters ask for basics - coats, socks and shoes - rather than Barbie dolls, video games and computers. At New York City's main post office, Head Elf Pete Fontana and 22 staff elves will sort 2 million letters in Operation Santa, which connects needy children with "Secret Santas" who answer their wishes.

Fontana, a customer relations coordinator for the Postal Service, has been head elf for 15 years. "The need is greater this year than I've ever seen it," he says. "One little girl didn't want anything for herself. She wanted a winter coat for her mother."

Cesar, 7, wrote for himself and his baby sister. "This year my mom don't have much money to spend on Christmas gifts so I'm writing to you," Cesar told Santa. "It would make us very happy if you and your elves would bring us toys and clothes." One mom sent a turn-off notice from the electric company, Fontana says.

Melanney, 9, asked Santa for a coat and boots. "I have been a very good girl this year," she wrote.

Puts things in perspective, don't you think?

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) certainly does. Last Friday, Mr. Sanders spent more than eight hours laying out a number of hard truths that needed to be heard - about Mr. Obama's seemingly unstoppable tax deal with the Republicans, about what it means for the future of Social Security, about the budget-busting wars we are fighting, about the nature of greed in America, and how the very many are being robbed and deprived by the well-off few.

The full transcript of his remarks runs 124 pages long, so I took some time earlier this week and prepared a collection of his most pertinent statements. There was more, however; much more. Below is a collection of his statements from the second half of his speech. The emphasis added is mine.

The rest: http://www.truth-out.org/what-bernie-said-part-ii66016

[peacebird]

1. food banks report dire straights as well - many times more folks in need than last year

Very sad.

I saw a family of four (mom, dad and two kids about 5 and 7) dumpster diving at MacDonalds a couple weeks ago... Just very sad.

[w8liftinglady]

6. EVERY food bank in DFW is dying....so many suffering

[peacebird]

7. we have been donating $100 a month to the two local foodbanks and the free clinic

for three years since we didn't have a car payment to make. Then the car died last month, so now we have a car payment for the first time in years, but fortunately we are both still employed and are able to keep our donations up! There are so many people hurting - we feel thankful that we can do something...

[w8liftinglady]

9. That is so kind of you both...I admire that SO much

[me b zola]

13. Much love and respect to you

for remembering your neighbors who are in difficult circumstances :hug:

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, WilliamPitt.

[agincourt]

4. kick

[L. Coyote]

5. REC. House is back on topic eight now = see LIVE BLOG thread in GD

[WilliamPitt]

8. Derp.

[moondust]

10. K/R

[bullwinkle428]

11. K&R

[WilliamPitt]

12. Morning kick.

[underpants]

14. Head Elf Pete Fontana

Thanks Pete