Salon: "Thomas Piketty says Bernie Sanders can 'change the face of the country'”

[Attorney in Texas]

link; excerpt:

French economist and author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Piketty credits Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders with waking the larger American political establishment up to the problem of rising income inequality and channelling the Democratic electorate’s righteous outrage. Piketty says that Sanders’ campaign proves that a leader like Sanders—if not Sanders himself—“could one day soon win the U.S. presidential elections and change the face of the country.”

“Because he is facing the Clinton machine, as well as the conservatism of mainstream media, Sanders might not win the race,” Piketty observes, but, “in many respects, we are witnessing the end of the politico-ideological cycle opened by the victory of Ronald Reagan at the 1980 elections.”

Both former president Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama have failed to even attempt real tax reform, allowing for inequality to run rampant, according to Piketty. “Sanders’ success today” however, Piketty argues, “shows that much of America is tired of rising inequality and these so-called political changes, and intends to revive both a progressive agenda and the American tradition of egalitarianism”:

Sanders makes clear he wants to restore progressive taxation and a higher minimum wage ($15 an hour). To this he adds free healthcare and higher education in a country where inequality in access to education has reached unprecedented heights, highlighting a gulf standing between the lives of most Americans, and the soothing meritocratic speeches pronounced by the winners of the system.

[Avalux]

1. No he can't all by himself. But WE can change it. n.t

[tex-wyo-dem]

28. We the people need to demand the changes that Bernie has been talking about ...

No matter if he wins or loses.

THAT is the political revolution he has been promoting.

We all must basically become political activists and not stop our involvement once the election is over. It will be a long struggle no matter how you look at it, but with a sustained movement and sustained pressure on our elected representatives, we can accomplish anything!

[ladjf]

37. Good thinking. nt

[nichomachus]

2. And that's what's panicking Hillary, Obama and the rest of the corporatists

They're doing mighty fine with things just the way they are.

[cosmicone]

3. Yes. Bernie Sanders would enable President Cruz to be elected

and it WILL change the face of the country.

[cali]

6. I honestly think he has a better chance of winning the general election

He is a much better campaigner than she is. He runs a far superior campaign. He has, at least, a chance to build a winning coalition. She has none at all. Independents dislike her. Her favorables are lousy. Republicans are motivated to vote against her in a rabid way.

[tiredtoo]

23. i see you are in support of Hillary

Good for you but, no need to denigrate Bernie.

[Katashi_itto]

30. Where Hillary would simply be the continued slow death of the middle class.

With the creep of climate change unabated.

[ladjf]

38. I don't agree that Bernie's nomination would lead to a

Cruz victory. He is an unabashed Dominionist. America doesn't need more religion in their Government. They need far less.

Cruz has calculated otherwise and is "hanging his political hat" on the religious right electing him. They have gotten him this far despite the fact that he has never done anything in politics that might indicate his qualifications to lead America. He should have limited his talents to preaching in churches that feel the need for his kind of life philosophy. He shows signs of being a very dangerous, avaricious moron. I believe America is too smart to fall for his Elmer Gantry routine.

[Lorien]

51. Not a chance. Hillary is the losing candidate

Cruz would never win regardless, but Hillary is the one with the staggeringly high negativity ratings. Bernie wins agains ALL Republicans in the latest polls. Republicans themselves are switching to Bernie regularly!

[Arazi]

4. Thomas Piketty is a giant in the field of global economies

this is a major statement from a giant in the field

Kicked and Recced

[Octafish]

5. Piketty!

Both former president Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama have failed to even attempt real tax reform, allowing for inequality to run rampant, according to Piketty. “Sanders’ success today” however, Piketty argues, “shows that much of America is tired of rising inequality and these so-called political changes, and intends to revive both a progressive agenda and the American tradition of egalitarianism”:

Sanders makes clear he wants to restore progressive taxation and a higher minimum wage ($15 an hour). To this he adds free healthcare and higher education in a country where inequality in access to education has reached unprecedented heights, highlighting a gulf standing between the lives of most Americans, and the soothing meritocratic speeches pronounced by the winners of the system.

Thank you, Attorney in Texas. Count me as one who also is tired of living in austerity, while the rich get richer off wars without end in these, the wealthiest times in human history.

[myrna minx]

18. Piketty truly changed the trajectory of thought.

It's remarkable how his book smashed through the 40 years of Chicago School of Economics dominant thought to give economists something new to review. The timing of his book, Occupy, - it's like a spell has been lifted and it's ok to discuss other schools of thought other than free trade capitalism and cruel and brutal austerity.

It's actually inspiring to watch it happen in real time.

[ladjf]

7. If Bernie were to win the election, the success of his movement would be noticed

around the World. The movement actually may have roots abroad just as it has in America. I don't want to sound melodramatic, but,
this revolution to overthrow the Oligarchy might be the beginning of the greatest political movement in human history. The population could possible learn how to solve the problem of financial inequity permanently.

That imbalance is the root cause of most of big problems facing mankind. If it goes unchecked, ALL humans will sink to a subsistence level eventually returning to a stone age type of existence.

[redruddyred]

25. haha, a lot of us are below a subsistence lvl tho nt

[ladjf]

33. You are 100% correct. But, you speak English fluently and are able to

type and communicate using the computer tool. By now, at least hundreds of readers have seen your poignant remark. You do have some valuable resources that you are using. You may be barely getting by with regards to immediate needs, but your brain is functioning far beyond a "subsistence" level. If a strong, constructive political movement starts in America, I'm guessing that you will step up and lend whatever you can to the good cause.

Right now, Americans are busy trying to decide if any of our politicians are smart enough , good enough and honest enough to lead us toward much better lives than we now have. The Earth's potentials for prosperity are there if we can just avoid squandering them while we are trying to figure out better ways to distribute the bounty equably.

My apologies if I have over thought your post. It seemed to me that you were honestly speaking for many other people as well.

[redruddyred]

55. so kind of you to say

but i fear i'm much more useless than your generous estimation: was supposed to travel south today to lend a hand in the bervolution and at the last minute balked at the 24 hr bus ride. have spent the last week indulging in 30 hour sleep marathons and am afraid it's in fact fatigue rather than simply inertia as i had hoped...

[ladjf]

56. I have no medical training but I'm willing to say that the 30 hr sleep marathons

might be symptoms of some sort of medical problem. If you are that fatigued, you certainly wouldn't be up for any 24 hr. bus ride.

Do you have a medical Dr.?

[redruddyred]

57. yes an underlying medical problem

but i'm guessing in this case it's the cold, lack of vitamin d and the ugly lying about --> want to lie about more loop. i seem to do okay once i get going, but it's never a sure thing.

anyhow, i opted to sleep instead

[flor-de-jasmim]

26. It's already being noticed, and appreciated.

[Paka]

8. K&R

[Gregorian]

9. Lots of good news.

I don't see any big time economists expressing doubts about what Bernie's economic vision is. I find that really comforting, after expecting criticism.

[Larkspur]

10. But Paul Krugman says it ain't so...

Piketty is not viewing the economy from Clinton-colored glasses.

[ladjf]

34. Prof. Krugman is an intelligent, learned man. But, his comments

lately reveal him to be less profound that we had previously thought. (But, maybe we are wrong. Who knows?)

[Loki]

11. It will be Elizabeth Warren.

She has the most potential and we need more women like her. I look forward to 16 years of women leading this country. And a note to Bernie supporters, no we aren't panicking, not even close.

[maxsolomon]

13. what will be?

the Democratic Nominee for President? Clinton's VP pick?

How does this apply to Piketty's comments?

[Loki]

16. I don't recall asking you a question

Did I miss your permission test?

[navarth]

21. seems like he missed

your permission test.

[maxsolomon]

49. I'm trying to understand your comment in relation to the OP

that you responded to.

That's it. But go ahead, take offense.

[tiredtoo]

24. Based on what i am seeing on social media

Hillary supporters are indeed panicking.

[ladjf]

35. She's one of the smartest people in politics. It remains to be seen whether or not she shares her

talents with us. Her brilliance and political skills are obvious. Personally, I haven't made up my mind with regards to her compassion for her fellow Americans.

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. I agree Bernie's rise is good news even if he doesn't win

I don't want to rain on Bernie's parade, but there is a very real chance that he will not win the primaries. Between the growing amount of smears from the Clinton Machine along with the MSM, plus cheap tricks from Debbie and the DNC, plus the tilting of the scales by the bought and paid for Super Delegates it will be a tough slough.

But...I for one am stoked about what I thought was dead in America...an invigorated liberal voting base. If Hillary wins (and i have no doubt that it will be a Democratic President) she will now have a deep understanding just how much she underestimated just how liberal and passionate the Democratic base is for real progressive change. And if she is hell bent, after becoming President, in simply following Obama's footsteps status quo of masking her hawkish corporate pandering with throwing out a few gifts of socially liberal policies, she will be in for a rough ride. Many voting for a Sanders like revolution with Obama, and who have been stewing ever since we were ostracized almost immediately and then one capitulation at a time lost our spirit, will NOT let this happen again. She will ignore the "liberal retards" at her peril.

[Vote2016]

14. I hope Sanders wins, but if not, his campaign blazes a trail for Warren 2020

[LiberalLovinLug]

15. I doubt Hillary would be challenged in '20

This doesn't happen usually does it? I think if we get Hillary, we get her for 8 years. That's why she must be made aware, of her responsibility to represent ALL Democrats through her time in the WH. But we won't have to worry about all that if Sanders wins.

[Vote2016]

22. Hillary will not be president; it's possible she might spoil Sanders' chances in the primary but the

she'd lose the general election because she neither inspires Democrats nor is trusted by independents, nor by moderate ticket splitters, nor by Democrats under 45, etc.

Hillary is running to establish her place in the history books and if she's the Sanders spoiler, in 50 years, she will be the answer to the history question "who was the first woman nominated at the top of a major party's ticket (hint, she went on to lose to the Rubio-Kasich ticket)?"

If she beats Sanders, Clinton will break a glass ceiling but not the ceiling she is aiming for; it will be Elizabeth Warren who will break that barrier.

[ladjf]

39. If Sec. Clinton wins the 2016 election, I predict that she

will again be challenged by the movement to overthrow the American Oligarchy and will lose the election. We either put a stop to this obscene thievery by the rich or America will be reduced to a low level third World sideshow of misery.

But, let me add. I don't think the Sec. will fail from the lack of intelligence or energy but rather from a less the profound understanding of human nature and the anti-human Government activities that have been going on most of the time the mid-19th Century. We have had some great moments upwards during that time. But for the last forty years the anti-human philosophies of thinking have been gaining more and more power in Government. This behavior cannot continue to be allowed to deprive almost everyone while a few enjoy watching their assets grow to ridiculous amounts.

Slavery is practiced in America today. The only difference between 1861 and now is the style and legal status. Just because no one legally owns anyone else doesn't mean that people are functioning as slaves. In name, we have freedom. But in reality, a huge number of Americans are living a slave like existence. Gravity will eventually prevail. We have less than 1% on one end of the see-saw and 99.99% on the other end. The see-saw will respond according to the laws of nature.

[redruddyred]

27. listening to hil's BS in the recent dem debates

have placed me firmly in the #HillNo camp. what a fucken corporate shill. she must think we're retards indeed if she wants us to believe that goldman sachs gave her all that money out of the goodness of their hearts.

i sound like a broken record on this but it's really pissing off independents (read: not moderates, rather people who hate both parties) who are ready to vote trump just to stick it to the clintons. it's my guess that a lot of these folk recognize him for the ass he is, and are promoting this candidate just to stick it to their fucking awful politicians. some redneck assholes in NH but they're not stupid either.

[ladjf]

36. What an outstanding post! A wonderful summary the the current and

future ramifications of the movement to end the Oligarchy in America.

If Bernie doesn't get elected, a successor will pick up the torch to urge and guide us on.

Personally, I don't think Sec. Clinton is compassionate enough to be the best leader for us at this time. She's lived a hard life and the scars show through. She's a tough, energetic and dedicated soul. But, I fear that she has acquired a level of avarice that precludes her from being a benevolent leader.

[myrna minx]

17. I am forever grateful for Piketty's book - it has refreshed economic philosophy that has been

so dominated by Chicago School of Economics for over 40 years. His contribution smashed the barrier and opens new frontiers of new philosophical thought.

Milton Friedman and Leo Strauss have been the standard - to our own peril - but now we have an opportunity to explore new thought and review tried and true Keynesian philosophy and find a way that works. Even DISCUSSING this was taboo, even two years ago, because the lazy economic "gurus" thought they had a lock on trickle down. Not anymore.

This is an exciting time - but change can be very frightening. The Empire will strike back - but they can't stop rhizomes in the soil or philosophical synapses from firing from person to person.

It's a new time.

On edit - I didn't expect Sanders to gain such momentum - I was just delighted that this philosophy was going to be presented to the country as an alternative to the free market, free- trade, and brutal austerity of the Republican and neo-liberals. The fact that he has gained traction and inspired so many is even better. He's done WAY better than I ever hoped for.

[Jefferson23]

20. Well said. n/t

[Glamrock]

29. I did

I've listened to him for years on Thom Hartman. I new he'd be successful once people started to hear him.

[myrna minx]

32. I've loved his Brunch with Bernie segments on Thom Hartmann for years as well, but I never imagined

that he would bring such a big brush fire of enthusiasm for this election. I thought it would take a bit longer to catch on. Again I was happy just to have his philosophy presented to the country at large without all of the red -bait sneering proceeding him. Finally an actual Democratic Socialist will get to define himself rather than the RW demanding entitlement to define everything.

The barriers are falling faster than I expected or ever hoped for, honestly.

I don't expect purity. I don't expect instant anything (in fact - this is the USA - the left is accustomed to losing and are having to compromise all of the time...ha!)

I'm just blown away by the progress made with changing hearts and minds about Democratic Socialism in just a few years. I think the seed was planted with the 2008 Obama campaign - he asked us to have hope and asked everyone to dream big - and here we are.

Clearly there's a hunger for it. This is an exciting time.

[redruddyred]

31. i support his campaign because i support his free public education program

the stump speeches that is

[ladjf]

40. Many say that we can't afford free college education. Yet, sixty years ago,

free or almost free college tuition was the practice all over America. When I attended my state University the tuition was $110 per
semester. Today it is $3,600. What happened? Were the states just richer then?

The real question isn't "how can we afford to provide free tuition" but rather, "How can we afford to not educate our young people"?

[redruddyred]

43. my dad's always telling me what a spoiled piece of shit i am

because he intermittently deigned to pay for my education. he paid $100 a semester to go to Rice in the 70s. yeah, there's been inflation, but nothing like the ridiculous inflation of the price of tertiary education.

ps: where is this $3600 tuition because not even texas is that affordable anymore.

[ladjf]

44. redruddyred, it's most unfortunate that your father denigrated you

as he did. I imagine that he thought he was doing something constructive.

The $3,600 per semester is the current tuition for instate students at the University of Mississippi.

[redruddyred]

45. i think he was trying to make a political argument

i've got the last laugh: now he has to figure out where to cast his vote amongst an increasingly crappy field of republicans.

[ladjf]

46. You aren't alone in political break away from you parents. It appears that a huge number of young

Americans are understanding that the basic principles if Republicanism are anti-humanistic and seem to be centered on egotism and greed. I doubt that your father will ever break from the Republican philosophy. But, don't give up on him. He may yet see the light.

[redruddyred]

47. not just anti-humanistic

economically unsound and at times unbearably stupid.
i don't believe in the idealism/pragmatism divide.
for example, bernie's single payer plan is both the best in terms of access and least expensive for the patient, and despite overwhelming support by the public Can Never Be Passed. i also believe that prohibiting unis from charging tution should significantly tamp down on runaway costs. these places can build an olympic sized pool which is hardly used but can't hire lecturers who speak clear english, wtf is that? unfortunately demand for education and health care is what i believe is called "inelastic", which is to say people don't have much choice about whether or not they purchase the product so usual free market rules re: competition don't apply.

[ladjf]

48. I'll admit. I was sort of going easy on the Republican philosophy description. I can see no good

in anything they promote.

Note: In case you are interested, go on the INTERNET and read up on the beginning of the Republican Party, 1855 , I believe.
Then follow what they believed in then. Check out what the Republican Party strategies were and see if you notice that they already had developed ideas and strategies that are still present today.

At that time, they found their dream, no way to loose, wedge issue, which was the abolition of slavery which, of course, should have been in the very first Constitution. Why did it take 90 years to decide that? My take on the Republicans in the early 1860's is that
they moved forward rapidly on the freeing of the slaves, not because of humanitarian issues but rather for the acquisition of political power and wealth. (Just my opinion).

You might look into the Republican Convention of 1860. Check how the rigged the tickets is such a way as to prohibit delegates who were not in favor of Lincoln from being able to enter the Convention Center.

[redruddyred]

54. unpopular opinion: i never understood why lincoln found it necessary to invade the south

seems a bit imperialistic to me.

regardless the region has turned into a massive drain on the rest of the country, maybe shoulda let it go.

i don't have such a rose-colored view of their intentions either, although undoubtedly there were some genuinely self-righteous abolitionists up new england way.

[Jefferson23]

19. Yea, that's why some on our side are against him. n/t

[ladjf]

41. Fortunately, we don't have to agree on everything. nt

[Jefferson23]

42. True, and I am grateful Bernie is in the race. We keeping working hard, we

may get there..I am thrilled so far and remain hopeful for Bernie.

[FailureToCommunicate]

50. I imagine these author would also favor Bernie's outlook: "The Spirit Level" by

Richard Wilkinson and Kate Picket. It likewise deals with income inequality, but looks at the many more dire consequences of concentrated wealth than does Piketty's book.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/09/society-unequal-the-spirit-level

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://balnacra.blogspot.com/&h=237&w=550&tbnid=vbbh1ve6kNg6AM:&docid=1sN564I-dFlYTM&ei=VYXGVrCCE8r1UpPSvNAP&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0ahUKEwjwgISA64LLAhXKuhQKHRMpD_oQMwgcKAAwAA

[hifiguy]

52. Piketty is the smartest person

In any room he is in. His book is brilliant and must reading.

[kgnu_fan]

53. I am tired of old status quo and it is time to renew democracy