Bernie Sanders: Here’s what we want

[Uncle Joe]

As we head toward the Democratic National Convention, I often hear the question, “What does Bernie want?” Wrong question. The right question is what the 12 million Americans who voted for a political revolution want.

And the answer is: They want real change in this country, they want it now and they are prepared to take on the political cowardice and powerful special interests which have prevented that change from happening.

(snip)

What do we want? We want an economy that is not based on uncontrollable greed, monopolistic practices and illegal behavior. We want an economy that protects the human needs and dignity of all people — children, the elderly, the sick, working people and the poor. We want an economic and political system that works for all of us, not one in which almost all new wealth and power rests with a handful of billionaire families.

(snip)

What do we want? We want to end the rapid movement that we are currently experiencing toward oligarchic control of our economic and political life. As Lincoln put it at Gettysburg, we want a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That is what we want, and that is what we will continue fighting for.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/06/23/bernie-sanders-heres-what-we-want/

[truebluegreen]

1. Damn straight.

[floriduck]

2. It's actually very straightforward but it's change. And it's easier to do nothing. Thanks UJ.

[lastone]

3. This has always been what we want!

The unicorns and other such crap has always been just to smeer people who want real change...

[scottie10]

4. Yes!

Who, except the oligarchs, could argue with that? Thanks Uncle Joe.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

5. The problem with vague emotional cliches...

...is that Trump supporters, wanting the exact opposite that Democrats do, could claim to want the same thing.

"They want real change in this country, they want it now and they are prepared to take on the political cowardice and powerful special interests which have prevented that change from happening."

Which they'd define as Labor Union special interests, refusal to default on the national debt, and allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country unmolested.

I can't read the article. It's behind a paywall. But if this is Sanders saying this, then I can only conclude he doesn't know what he wants, or is unwilling to directly ask for it.


- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Uncle Joe]

7. I don't have any problem

reading it and I haven't paid squat?

Perhaps if you just google Bernie's name and see the article you might be able to read it from that?

One critical issue that Bernie brings up is climate change, something that Trump believes is caused by the Chinese.

Another major issue is their belief or lack thereof in a livable wage; something Bernie believes in, whereas Trump believes the people are paid too much

The differences between Bernie and Trump are as night and day both on their stands on the issues and their records,...well Trump doesn't really have a political record.

In this article Bernie has put forth broad themes knowing the Democratic Party, (not Trump) will be acting on them whether in drafting the platform in the Convention, running on them in future elections or governing by these ideals.

Any political leader or politician can speak the language of "change" it's up to the people to determine whether it's wheat or chaff.

Bernie's long record, words and actions most definitely make up the Staff of Life, whereas Trump's hate filled speech; bashing the weakest and actions belie his forked tongue status.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

11. The Washington Post has a limit of the number of articles you can read...

...before they demand you subscribe. Which I tripped over.

Never mind. I was able to find a copy in the Salt Lake Tribune, of all places.

The "what does Sanders want" question has always been intended as a "what does he want to fully reconcile with the majority of Democrats who decided they liked Hillary better". Here though, he seems to be more stating positions that all Democrats have been fighting for for a very long time (but not always winning, unfortunately). The emphasis on campaign finance reform, for instance, is a long held Democratic view. Citizens United was specifically targeting Hillary Clinton, so she's certainly not in favor of that court ruling, or Speechnow.org vs FEC.

I'm guessing that Senator Sanders is not making specific demands, which is good. I personally wish he'd focus more in winning down ticket races in Congress, which any Democratic president is going to need to actually get any real agenda passed (otherwise, the whole big catfight is for nothing). But I guess I'll take it.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Uncle Joe]

12. Bernie is promoting grass roots change from the bottom up and his supporters are answering the call.

Bernie Sanders’ Revolution Spreads As 6,700 Supporters Show Interest In Running For Office

The Bernie Sanders political revolution is springing roots all over the country as Sen. Sanders has inspired thousands of his supporters to consider running for office.

In a statement, the Sanders campaign said:

Less than 24 hours after U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders called on his supporters to run for office at the local or state level, nearly 6,700 people have signed up on BernieSanders.com/Win to learn more.

In total, almost 11,000 supporters expressed interest in running for office or volunteering for other Sanders supporters who run.

Sanders called the response “extraordinary.”

(snip)

http://www.politicususa.com/2016/06/17/bernie-sanders-revolutin-spreads-6700-supporters-show-interest-running-office.html

[libdem4life]

17. This is what I have always thought...

"The Democratic primary is over, but the response to his campaign suggests that the Sanders political revolution has just begun."

He was a reluctant candidate...because of the failure to contest the Forgone Conclusion Primary by the traditional Democrats. He did not covet the office, but was willing, if the People so wished. They did. And by how much seems to be debatable.

But to see him actively moving forward with the Revolution sans the Presidency, speaks both to the power of his philosophy, and the Left Wing angst against Neoliberalism, which seems to be closely alligned with The Third Way. I also think the Brexit had an impact. Not for the racism, but for the need for a social safety net while the rich bask in luxury.

He puts out a memo and people respond...now not with their $47 donations...but with the desire to run for office. That's the definition of Coattails. The Social Democratic or Democratic Socialist platform moves forward. The Establishment Democrats will include whatever they can without, naturally, threatening their existence.

There is a lot of time until November. Keep it up, Bernie.

[Uncle Joe]

18. Yes, Bernie has stated repeatedly that fundamental change must come from the bottom up,

his seed planting is consistent with that belief.

[libdem4life]

19. But unlike Occupy, who was leaderless and, from a MSM standpoint

inchoate, he defined a national understanding and relevancy that, however disagreed with, must be understood as a Turning Point. Millions who had just learned who he was and what he represented, listened to and voted for him.

A Tipping Point, perhaps, in how we view money, who has it, who doesn't and why. Money is Power. Those who understand and take advantage of that rule and those who don't or can't make all the difference.

The social issues that "divide" are just for that purpose. To keep us squabbling over the highly emotional things that have no relevance to the unemotional Rule. It all boils down to Money and Power. Some just have a quicker (rigged?) path to the Elite level and don't care to share. That is how I understand Bernie's message. It's time to share.

[Uncle Joe]

21. Well said, libdem4life.

[Chan790]

13. Personally...

I want to make "conservative" to be considered the dirtiest word in the English language and the concepts of conservatism to be considered a hateful ideology on par with Nazism.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

14. Why?

Isn't Nazism good enough?

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Chan790]

15. Evils should be confronted and denounced.

Because conservatism is evil and destructive to people, the environment, society and living things. I want to see the entire right-of-spectrum crushed-out under the heel of progress like a smoldering cigarette-butt.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

20. Well I can understand how you might feel that way, given how the word...

is now largely used to describe racists and bigots in the U.S. But let me explain to you that asking whether we can actually afford something before we spend money on it isn't inherently "evil".

And you're not going to crush out anything under your heel. Indeed, that kind of mind set of attacking people isn't productive to your cause at all.

- C.D Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[passiveporcupine]

6. I wanted a unicorn

but I'll settle for a miniature horse.

No real change will happen in my lifetime, but I sure would like to see it happen for my nephew and my great nephew.

Thanks Uncle Joe.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Here are some ponies for you.

[passiveporcupine]

9. Oh thanks Joe.

I really miss having a horse. That was beautiful.

[Uncle Joe]

10. ...

[midnight]

16. Good points...Let's not vote for the TPP platform….