It’s clear that the rise of Bernie Sanders is scaring a lot of people, including some prominent figures inside the Democratic Party itself. If even half of what they’re saying about Sanders were accurate, then they might have a point. But what is actually true? And what is false?
1 – Bernie’s a socialist
Actually, not true. Despite what some would have you believe, the reality is that Bernie is a “democratic socialist,” along the same lines as practically all of the friendliest (and happiest) democracies in the world today—our closest allies—including Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark… (you get the idea).
This is an important distinction. The fact is that Senator Sanders would be considered a moderate in any one of those countries, which ought to make you wonder about just how far America has drifted from its ethos “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
Bernie believes in democracy. He is not for state control or dictatorships or anything resembling that which can be found in Russia or China or, as some have incorrectly stated, in Venezuela. Anyone suggesting otherwise should (and probably does) know better. And now you do, too.
2 – Bernie’s plans are unrealistic
Not true. This nation has the ability to budget for just about anything it chooses, as evidenced by decades of warfare that has cost U.S. taxpayers well over $5 trillion just in the past 20 years (annually, we spend more than the next 7 countries combined); and corporate giveaways—that is, socialism for the executive class—amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars every year.
By contrast, Bernie’s signature “Medicare for All” proposal would likely save U.S. families, on average, nearly $6,000 compared to the total they’re paying today, including premiums, co-pays and deductibles. Americans pay more than double what Canadians pay for healthcare, and 10x more for prescription drugs. So, it isn’t unrealistic to expect better. Are other countries “unrealistic” to be spending a whole lot less than we are? YES, taxes go up. But overall per/family spending goes down even more. Here is how it would work.
It’s all a matter of our priorities as a people. Fact is, America needs many more “unrealistic” plans like Bernie is calling for if it hopes to live up to the promise of being the greatest nation on Earth. Great nations prioritize providing healthcare to all of their citizens, treating climate change and the protection of our environment like it’s a matter of life and death, investing in the education and wellbeing of its children, and implementing economic policies that are fair and that benefit all stakeholders (and not just the wealthy).
Back in the day, many considered Franklin D. Roosevelt’s plans to be unrealistic, too. Thankfully though, in America today we can take for granted so many of the social safety nets and federal programs that were put in place under FDR—including Social Security, the FDIC, unemployment insurance, and much of our country’s infrastructure (which by the way, after so many years of underfunding and neglect, needs to be made a priority once again).
Honestly, the only thing that is unrealistic is carrying on “business as usual” and thinking that somehow everything is going to turn out okay without serious investment in our future. And unfortunately, thanks to decades of misguided social policy, we’ll have to make up for a lot of lost time, besides.
3 – Bernie wants to give away a lot of “free stuff”
Are we talking about free public college here (that is, like the rest of the developed world provides to its young adults)? A couple of realities: First, in just the past generation, the cost to attend college in America has increased 8x faster than average wages. And second, student loan debt now makes up the largest slice of U.S. non-housing debt. Is this how we expect to realistically prepare our country for the future? Other countries are going to eat our lunch!
This is so crazy, because America can afford to provide free public college to qualified students. And education is a far better investment than continuing to spend more on our military than the next SEVEN largest nations combined. But again, it’s all a matter of our priorities as a people.
Could the “free stuff” they’re talking about be in regard to increasing the Federal Minimum Wage to a living wage of $15/hr.? Did you know that the average wage in the U.S. has increased over the years at just a fraction of the cost of living? If average wages had simply kept pace with inflation since the 1970’s, the Federal Minimum Wage today would be well over $20/hr. So, in the proper context, where is the “giveaway” here? Actually, this adjustment is long overdue!
While we’re on the topic of the Minimum Wage, we really ought to shine a light on income disparity. Since the 1950’s, typical salaries for CEO’s has ballooned from a multiplier of 20x over what their average employees were paid to well over 350x today! Do you honestly think CEO’s in 2020 are working 17 times harder (do the math) than they used to in previous generations? Don’t bet on it.
Meanwhile, tax rates on the incomes of top executives has been reduced from 90%, considered fair and acceptable in the 1950’s, to an effective tax rate today of 0% in many documented cases, which likely would include our current president if he could ever be compelled to release his taxes for all to see.
When somebody asks, “How we can pay for” this or that government program, have you noticed? It’s almost never in regard to military spending, or corporate subsidies, or welfare for the rich. There always seems to be an infinite amount of money that the government can lavish on those programs. No, it’s only when we’re talking about helping the needy, rebuilding our infrastructure, or educating our children that we’re told that this is socialism and there’s no way to do any of that without drastically raising taxes. Do you accept that?
Bernie doesn’t believe in giving away free stuff. He believes we need to base our federal spending not on the values and priorities of powerful corporations and the wealthiest 1%, but rather on the values and priorities of average Americans—the 99%. This isn’t radical or new. These is exactly the notion our nation was founded upon.
4 – Bernie isn’t a “team player”
Chances are, we’re talking now about claims that Bernie spoiled Hillary’s bid for the presidency in 2016, that he fought too hard, split the party in two, didn’t reconcile quickly enough, didn’t campaign for her hard enough, and so on…
All of the above assertions can either be verified or contradicted with a little research online, but I’ll leave that to you and your political orientation to sort out. Mostly seems to me to be a bunch of partisan squabbling. Decide for yourself.
That said, the Democratic National Committee in 2016 absolutely rigged the nomination in favor of Hillary Clinton. I don’t want to get into listing all the specific shenanigans and Super Delegate involvement. You can “Google” or otherwise look it up yourself.
Further, I believe there’s overwhelming evidence to show that Bernie campaigned harder for Hillary (39 rallies in 14 states over 4 months leading up to the election in 2016!) many times more than Hillary ever campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008. So in my opinion, the “not a team player” label is not only bogus, it actually applies vastly more to Hillary than to Bernie, if to Bernie at all.
Still, regardless of what anyone may believe, there IS ONE undisputed “fact” in all of this, and that is if Democrats can’t put the election of 2016 behind us already, we won’t be able to come together to win the next one. Whatever animus still exists between these two camps of fellow Democrats has to be put to bed once and for all for the good of everyone involved. Please! And tell all your friends.
5 – Bernie isn’t even a Democrat
Technically, YES, Bernie is an “Independent.” But so is the largest slice of eligible voters in this country! So what’s the real problem? Besides, on a day-to-day basis, Bernie does in fact caucus and does vote most of the time side-by-side with the Democrats.
Bernie may be more of a Democrat than today’s Democrats! He champions the kinds of issues that FDR did, back in the day when the Democratic Party was more progressive and aligned with the struggles of the poor and disadvantaged. Look at his website! Every plank of his platform is about empowering people. If that isn’t what Democrats are (and should be!) all about, then what is?
6 – Bernie can’t beat Trump
In today’s environment of hyper-partisanship, extreme polarization and the implosion of all political norms and precedent, the fact is that nobody knows who is most likely to be able to dethrone President Trump in November of 2020.
Could a moderate, establishment-centrist Democratic candidate actually inspire the tsunami of voter turnout that would be required to decisively defeat the MAGA mobs? Would some portion of Democratic voters abandon Bernie on the battlefield if he, instead, is leading the charge? No one knows.
BUT… Poll after poll after poll after poll shows that Bernie beats Trump, whenever it’s tried. Of course, we can’t put too much stock in a single poll here or some other poll there, but when practically every poll out there is saying the same thing—Bernie beats Trump!—then maybe it’s about time we paid more attention to what the people are saying, rather than the pundits?
Another question mark is how the economy will be viewed and factored in by not only registered voters, but by those who actually get out and vote on November 3rd. I say that because, while the general notion that is trumpeted every day in the corporate media is that the economy is doing great, the reality on the ground is that this is not even a good economy for the vast majority of people today.
Wages and salaries of non-executives have been flat for years. Far too many of the jobs this economy has created are temporary, most feature sub-par compensation, and many are not full-time jobs to start with and so don’t even offer benefits to speak of. Add to this rising education, healthcare and housing costs, and it’s no surprise that the majority of Americans have zero savings and no cushion in a pinch. I don’t have to provide links and sources to back any of this up–it’s all out there and able to be researched in detail.
On a side note, it sure seems the people reporting (or more typically, “re-parroting”) economic news have good-paying jobs, though. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so out of touch with the economic reality of the average worker. And they’d understand the ascendance of Bernie Sanders!
7 – And even IF Bernie wins, he’ll be an ineffective president
That isn’t likely because first, Bernie’s campaign isn’t about Bernie. It never was. It’s always been about “us”. So when critics accuse him of a “my way or the highway” attitude, that’s just untrue. Second, when the people are represented in Washington by a president who actually has their interests at heart (and not the 1%), they will finally have a powerful platform from which to be heard. And boy, will they be heard! Third, as promised, the president will call on the people to come to Congress and bring their voices with them so that every senator and representative will hear the will of the people. Loud and clear. And as promised, the people won’t let up until real changes come.
8 – Bernie is too old (and he recently had a heart attack, besides!)
Twenty-first century medicine has the amazing ability to place a stent inside a blocked artery and ultimately to extend human lifespans. But in America’s for-profit healthcare system today, not everyone will be as fortunate as Senator Sanders, who was able to afford and receive top-notch medical care in a timely manner.
The good news is that at the center of Bernie’s platform is a plan that will assure that all Americans can receive the healthcare they need, when they need it. It’s called “Medicare for All” and it’s similar to what every other major nation on Earth provides for its people. This is what Americans deserve, too. Every citizen.
Healthcare should be considered a human right. No one should be forced to have to choose between getting the care they need or a vital prescription filled and putting food on the table, gas in their car, or paying rent. This is America. We can do much better.
Regarding Bernie’s personal health, his doctor released his medical summary, as promised, on December 30. It shows Senator Sanders to be in excellent shape for the active 79-year-old that he is. Now, he may not challenge you to a pushup contest, but then again, any of his staff will tell you that it isn’t easy keeping up with Bernie’s pace most days, not even for those who are half his age!
Since his recovery, Bernie’s energy level has been off the charts, he continues to maintain a very busy schedule, he’s mentally sharper than ever, obviously in great spirits, and as millions have seen with their own eyes, he’s brought his “A” game to every campaign stop and debate performance over these past months. Bernie is certainly ready for the presidency and will not let up until the revolution comes to Washington!
9 – Bernie keeps saying the same things over and over again (like a broken record!)
Well, perhaps that’s a commentary on the times because there’s so much information circling around online and in the media, 24/7 nonstop, at light speed. OR, maybe it’s because Bernie has consistently been advocating for the right policies for America for over forty years!
Thanks to this Information Age, you can go back and watch Bernie’s speeches and appearances from the 1980’s, the 1990’s, the 2000’s, and in the past ten years—and you’ll see for yourself that his message hasn’t changed, unlike typical politicians. Bernie was against going to war in Iraq, and Yemen, and Afghanistan. And as it turns out, (surprise!) he was right.
When you’re right, you’re right. That’s why Senator Sanders has not changed or tempered or abandoned his calls for a more fair and equitable system, for a democracy that can’t be sold out to the billionaire class and corporate interests, or for healthcare as a human right. These are values and policies that America needs, wants and is right to demand.
And Bernie’s consistency and persistence over the decades is actually starting to gain traction. He has almost single-handedly moved the Democrats (and the country) in the direction of seriously considering a universal single-payer healthcare model. About time, right? That, in itself, is a significant accomplishment, but good intentions aren’t enough.
Change is always difficult and big changes will require far more than what Bernie as a person could ever deliver. That’s why he’s been saying over and over (yes, like a broken record!) that what is required is a movement, a rising to the moment, a revolution. In other words, “Not me. Us!
