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Donkees

(31,085 posts)
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 07:25 AM Apr 2021

Robbins: Country catching up to Bernie Sanders' way of thinking

By JEFF ROBBINS
April 12, 2021

Excerpt:

Today it’s clear that on issue after issue, Sanders’ thunder on the left has carried the day among a majority of Americans, including substantial numbers of Republicans. Conservative attacks on Sanders-style proposals for universal health care, raising taxes on the wealthy, raising the federal minimum wage and other programs as “European socialism,” once tried and true, are increasingly falling flat. So say the polls, in any event.

In announcing his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2019, for example, Sanders proclaimed “We say to the American people that we will rebuild our crumbling infrastructure: our roads, our bridges, our rail systems and subways and our airports,” vowing to create millions of jobs in the process. And he promised to tax the rich to pay for it. “The wealthy and multi-national corporations in this country,” Sanders said, “will start paying their fair share of taxes.”

Americans are with him. Asked last month whether they would support President Biden’s massive public infrastructure plan even after passage of a $1.9 trillion COVID relief act, 77% of Democrats, 57% of independents and 61% of Republicans told Data for Progress pollsters that they would. A Morning Consult poll two weeks ago found that 54% of Americans supported funding those improvements by raising taxes on those earning over $400,000 a year and by raising the corporate tax rate. Unsurprisingly, this included 73% of Democrats. More notably, it included 52% of independents and 32% of Republicans. Fifty-seven percent of voters told the pollsters that they would be more likely to support Biden’s infrastructure plan if it included raising taxes on high earners; only 17% said it would make them less likely to do so. Forty-seven percent of Americans said they would be likelier to support the bill if it was paid for by raising corporate taxes, while only 21% said it would make them less likely to support it.

Raising taxes to invest in public infrastructure is not the only issue on which America’s political sands are shifting. A poll taken last fall by the Kaiser Family Foundation concluded that 53% of Americans supported a national health plan that would insure everyone. This included 58% of independents and 21% of Republicans. A contemporaneous Pew Research Center poll found that 63% of American adults believe that government bears responsibility for providing health care coverage for all, up from 2019. This included 34% of Republicans. And a recent Morning Consult poll found that a majority of Republicans support raising the federal minimum wage.

It has been a very long time since Bernie Sanders could be ignored. If once it could be said that he was ahead of his time, it must now be said that Americans are catching up to him.

Jeff Robbins is a Boston lawyer and former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/04/12/robbins-country-catching-up-to-bernie-sanders-way-of-thinking/

26 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Robbins: Country catching up to Bernie Sanders' way of thinking (Original Post) Donkees Apr 2021 OP
What a pant-load. NurseJackie Apr 2021 #1
Well, you certainly are consistent. notinkansas Apr 2021 #3
"We"? George II Apr 2021 #5
"We keep asking you to give it a rest." LOL! NurseJackie Apr 2021 #6
No "we're" Not... not a good idea to Cha Apr 2021 #12
Who is the "we" you speak of? Happy Hoosier Apr 2021 #18
This message was self-deleted by its author Kahuna Apr 2021 #8
Bernie's M.O.... Kahuna Apr 2021 #9
Correct. NurseJackie Apr 2021 #15
"Sanders' thunder on the left has carried the day ... including substantial numbers of Republicans." betsuni Apr 2021 #2
There are no progressive Republicans...and they don't support Sanders...they just like to use him Demsrule86 Apr 2021 #10
How is this "catching up with Bernie's thinking"? Each and every one of the specifics mentioned.... George II Apr 2021 #4
Amen George. Demsrule86 Apr 2021 #11
I am curious about this also LetMyPeopleVote Apr 2021 #23
Furthermore: George II Apr 2021 #7
OmG! No Wonder.. LOL Cha Apr 2021 #13
Post removed Post removed Apr 2021 #14
Biden is not a progressive liberal Dem. Cuthbert Allgood Apr 2021 #17
Who is a "progressive liberal Dem." ? George II Apr 2021 #24
Ridiculous! Don't be silly... of course Biden is a progressive liberal Democrat. NurseJackie Apr 2021 #25
You are 100% correct, NurseJackie. sheshe2 Apr 2021 #26
I still don't trust Bernie. He wants to be number one in everything. katmondoo Apr 2021 #16
Everyone except for conservatives and many moderates, at least. Roisin Ni Fiachra Apr 2021 #19
So many give Sanders false credit. Happy Hoosier Apr 2021 #20
The replies are cracking me up 🤣 Arazi Apr 2021 #21
America has been in favor of these things regardless of Bernie Johnny2X2X Apr 2021 #22

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
1. What a pant-load.
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 07:40 AM
Apr 2021
Americans are with him.
These are not "Bernie's ideas". Infrastructure is not a "Bernie idea". Raising taxes to pay for the things we need is not a "Bernie idea". Raising the minimum wage is not a "Bernie idea".

If once it could be said that he was ahead of his time, it must now be said that Americans are catching up to him.
Other than his most ardent fans and admirers, nobody of note has ever "once said" that he was "ahead of his time".

Jeff Robbins is a Boston lawyer and former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
That's hard for me to believe.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
6. "We keep asking you to give it a rest." LOL!
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 08:48 AM
Apr 2021
We keep asking you to give it a rest.
LOL! Who is "we"... the Royal-we? Or, do you have a mouse in your pocket? Besides, this thread isn't about me. Why purpose does it serve to try and make it about me?



Cha

(295,926 posts)
12. No "we're" Not... not a good idea to
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 09:15 AM
Apr 2021

try to tell someone else how to post.

"Americans are with" President Biden

Happy Hoosier

(7,081 posts)
18. Who is the "we" you speak of?
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 10:46 AM
Apr 2021

Plenty of us here are not particularly impressed by that particular Senator from Vermont.

Response to NurseJackie (Reply #1)

Kahuna

(27,310 posts)
9. Bernie's M.O....
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 09:09 AM
Apr 2021

Last edited Tue Apr 13, 2021, 11:57 AM - Edit history (1)

Bernie just takes long held Democratic positions and grandstands by attaching unrealistic goals. Once his unrealistic goals are shot down, we're back to what the traditional Democratic positions were in the first place.

betsuni

(25,134 posts)
2. "Sanders' thunder on the left has carried the day ... including substantial numbers of Republicans."
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 07:51 AM
Apr 2021

It's a myth that Republicans are secretly progressives. They aren't. Duh. Universal health care, raising taxes on the wealthy, raising minimum wage and other programs are classic usual Democratic policies and not new or radical.

Demsrule86

(68,352 posts)
10. There are no progressive Republicans...and they don't support Sanders...they just like to use him
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 09:13 AM
Apr 2021

to cause division in the Democratic Party. There is no way that single payer can get through at this moment and that has been consistent. The House was won by moderates and we better consider this in 2022 if we don't want to lose the house. And Sanders can't help us with saving the House and the Senate...these are moderate to red states and districts. Every new Senator elected thus far is from a moderate state.

George II

(67,782 posts)
4. How is this "catching up with Bernie's thinking"? Each and every one of the specifics mentioned....
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 08:44 AM
Apr 2021

....for example:

" President Biden’s massive public infrastructure plan"
"raising taxes on those earning over $400,000 a year and by raising the corporate tax rate."
"Americans supported a national health plan"
etc.....

....are BIDEN'S proposals. He DID introduce the infrastructure plan, he's asked Congress to increase taxes on those earning over $400,000, he's planning on improving and EXPANDING the already in place (for 11 years now) ACA.

This guy cites a number of polls, but ignores the two most important polls:

51% of Democrats chose Biden as their nominee, with double the support of his nearest rival
51% of Americans chose Biden as their President

As a body of work, Biden is unequivocally the person they want in the White House.

It's time for everyone to recognize this and give our President their wholehearted support and stop nibbling around the edge, trying to find fault or taking credit for HIS proposals.

LetMyPeopleVote

(144,005 posts)
23. I am curious about this also
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 03:25 PM
Apr 2021

Joe has not adopted any of the platform advocated by sanders in the primaries or last cycle MFA is a not going to happen. The Democratic Party selected Joe as the nominee and Joe is pushing his agenda/platform

Response to Donkees (Original post)

Cuthbert Allgood

(4,867 posts)
17. Biden is not a progressive liberal Dem.
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 10:41 AM
Apr 2021

He campaigned on as much and distanced himself from the far left and Sanders.

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
25. Ridiculous! Don't be silly... of course Biden is a progressive liberal Democrat.
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 03:57 PM
Apr 2021
Biden is not a progressive liberal Dem.
Ridiculous! Don't be silly... of course Biden is a progressive liberal Democrat.

He campaigned on as much and distanced himself from the far left and Sanders.
He did no such thing. What good purpose does it serve to promote this false narrative? Basically, you're accusing Biden of being duplicitous and that's just wrong.

Fact of the matter is this: He's always been honest and forthcoming about who he is, what he believes in, what his vision for our nation is, what he expects of others, and what his political agenda will be.

You want to know who really "distanced" Biden from Sanders? The voters. That's who. They saw the differences and they liked what they saw in Biden better than any of the rest. More than half of the Democratic primary voters chose Biden and the nearest challenger really wasn't all that near. Then, the majority of voters in the General election separated Biden from Trump.

Biden has always been Biden. He's always been straight with us. He's never tried to pretend to be something he's not. He's never been shy about speaking for what he believes. He's always been respectful of everyone, even when they were not respectful of him... and I think you know what I'm talking about.

sheshe2

(83,354 posts)
26. You are 100% correct, NurseJackie.
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 04:20 PM
Apr 2021
You want to know who really "distanced" Biden from Sanders? The voters. That's who.


It was the voters! Thank you!

Roisin Ni Fiachra

(2,574 posts)
19. Everyone except for conservatives and many moderates, at least.
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 10:51 AM
Apr 2021

The farther to the right someone is, the less likely they are to accept new, constructive, progressive ideas that are necessary to productively move the country forward with respect to social and economic policy.

Happy Hoosier

(7,081 posts)
20. So many give Sanders false credit.
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 10:54 AM
Apr 2021

Sanders didn't invent any of "his" ideas. They are largely a remix of democratic-socialist ideas from many people over many years.

PLENTY of people in this party support ideas that Sanders has endorsed or co-opted over the years, but many of us have also championed an approach that supported advancing such policies when political viable.

Simply put, we should not stake out pie-in-the-sky proposals. We should articulate goals, and develop an implementable strategy to achieve those goals rather than the patented Bernie Sanders "And then the people will rise up" fairy tale.

Johnny2X2X

(18,745 posts)
22. America has been in favor of these things regardless of Bernie
Tue Apr 13, 2021, 11:00 AM
Apr 2021

I like Bernie, he's been consistent, but the country didn't "catch up" to him.

And Joe Biden as ahead of Bernie on some issues for a long time that Bernie supporters now try to pretend Bernie brought Joe to.

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