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synergie

(1,901 posts)
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:13 PM Apr 2016

Why Is Bernie Sanders Invested On Wall Street?

Railing against Wall Street on the campaign trail but still profiting from its biggest corporations
Garnet News
Marcus Johnson



Bernie Sanders’ entire campaign is based on the central themes of honesty, integrity, and trust. Sanders and his surrogates have carefully crafted his image as the only honest politician in the race, as the only person you should trust to elect as President. The argument is that while Hillary Clinton is corrupt, and beholden to big money interests, Sanders is not—he frequently touts that he doesn’t even have a Super PAC.

Perhaps Sanders biggest campaign issue is Wall Street. In the November debate, he went on record saying he believes Wall Street’s business model is illegitimate, that it is actually “fraud.” Sanders has campaigned on massive Wall Street reform, and a break-up of the big banks.
With such an anti-Wall Street platform, one would think that Sanders didn’t own any stock at all. But not only does Sanders own stock, he actually is invested in several industries that he’s heavily criticized.

Sanders has railed against the “Big Banks,” “Big Pharma,” and “Big Oil” but that hasn’t stopped him from investing in and profiting from any of those industries. I went to OpenSecrets.org to take a look at the assets Bernie Sanders reported in 2014. You can take a look at some of the funds he is invested in below: (image at link)

I looked into the holdings of several of these funds to see what kinds of companies he decided to invest in. It turns out that while Sanders is railing against Wall Street on the campaign trail, he’s actually profiting from his investments in some of the biggest corporations in America.



http://garnetnews.com/2016/04/04/bernie-sanders-invested-wall-street/
122 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why Is Bernie Sanders Invested On Wall Street? (Original Post) synergie Apr 2016 OP
really?.... HumanityExperiment Apr 2016 #1
He said that he is Socialist in this clip Yavin4 Apr 2016 #6
Oops. I guess we know exactly where the desperation is coming from and we synergie Apr 2016 #10
There are a number of countries in Europe that are or have been governed by socialist parties. JDPriestly Apr 2016 #22
Seems like all the millionaires and billionaires of "socialistic-leaning" countries like to hide Jitter65 Apr 2016 #104
American ones do too. JDPriestly Apr 2016 #105
Democratic Socialist... HumanityExperiment Apr 2016 #29
At the :23 mark in my clip, he states flatly: "I am a Socialist". Yavin4 Apr 2016 #32
Nice red baiting there nadinbrzezinski Apr 2016 #69
McCarthy called Lordquinton Apr 2016 #34
I'm just playing you what he said. Yavin4 Apr 2016 #36
What's wrong with what he said? Lordquinton Apr 2016 #55
Well Said! Ferd Berfel Apr 2016 #12
I'm still waiting elljay Apr 2016 #14
We're still waiting for Bernei to tell us what his actual plans are, or any BS synergie Apr 2016 #28
Deflect much elljay Apr 2016 #53
What positions? Fuddnik Apr 2016 #65
Why yes, you do deflect quite a lot. synergie Apr 2016 #106
Right from his website on the issues: Amimnoch Apr 2016 #40
yeah, it's troll bait... HumanityExperiment Apr 2016 #48
It's not troll bait Lazy Daisy Apr 2016 #113
Laughable... HumanityExperiment Apr 2016 #116
He says about a dozen times a day that he's anti "Wall Street". Just about every appearance..... George II Apr 2016 #62
LMAO... HumanityExperiment Apr 2016 #68
Desperation? NastyRiffraff Apr 2016 #85
I got my cake bravenak Apr 2016 #2
Wow, total inability to perceive nuance whatchamacallit Apr 2016 #3
Ignoring nuance means you can pretend you don't notice it Ferd Berfel Apr 2016 #15
Uh huh. He might want to learn how to inject some nuance into his rhetoric synergie Apr 2016 #16
Bernie Sanders supporters talking about the inability to perceive nuance is almost as bad geek tragedy Apr 2016 #23
I see OPs like this and one that pops in my mind is the following movie clip... TheBlackAdder Apr 2016 #25
This mythology Apr 2016 #49
And then there were those threads accusing him of being terrible for having so little polly7 Apr 2016 #57
Post removed Post removed Apr 2016 #4
I don't see how this is bad if anything it's the opposite Joob Apr 2016 #5
Ummm, you do know that if he made money off of these corporations, his investment made the Amimnoch Apr 2016 #42
Yes I do what's wrong with capitalism? You should be happy.. Joob Apr 2016 #51
Posting the work of people with shit-tier critical thinking skills doesn't help. Lizzie Poppet Apr 2016 #7
It's like HRC's line about paying for Donald Trump's kid to go to college loyalsister Apr 2016 #73
The writer of that article is either agenda-driven...or a simpleton. Kalidurga Apr 2016 #76
Indeed. "C: both" should be an option. (nm) Lizzie Poppet Apr 2016 #79
Marcus Johnson needs to sit down with Bernie and find out what Bernie iss about. JDPriestly Apr 2016 #8
Lenin drove a Rolls Royce, right? ericson00 Apr 2016 #9
Must be today's talking point from Camp Weathervane. hobbit709 Apr 2016 #11
This shit is absurd Cal Carpenter Apr 2016 #13
Unbelievable, actually. polly7 Apr 2016 #26
a real socialist should invest in chickens and twigs renate Apr 2016 #97
Its called being a fucking hypocrite. nt LexVegas Apr 2016 #17
how dare he have a fucking 401k. yodermon Apr 2016 #21
He needs to release his Schedule A, and his tax returns at least since he's been in the Senate. MADem Apr 2016 #115
That's called a desperate fucking lie. senz Apr 2016 #33
Exactly. It wouldn't be so bad if the core of his campaign wasn't against the very Amimnoch Apr 2016 #44
He's standing up for people who've invested their money ... against fraud, dishonesty, polly7 Apr 2016 #47
Ignorance. Whoosh! Right over your head. panader0 Apr 2016 #59
This message was self-deleted by its author Stand and Fight Apr 2016 #18
same reason we all are ibegurpard Apr 2016 #19
Broad-based mutual funds. They have to resort to attacking his broad-based mutual funds, yodermon Apr 2016 #20
I was this thread would die - it is ignorant Retirement funds invest . . . snowy owl Apr 2016 #24
Why is Hillary Clinton fucking OWNED by Wall Street? senz Apr 2016 #27
He is against FRAUD on Wall Street. He is against DEREGULATION of Wall Street. He isn't against Nanjeanne Apr 2016 #30
So, why did he vote for deregulation? synergie Apr 2016 #37
Oh jeez. Yup you are right. He's a hypocrite. He should keep his money in a mattress. Case closed Nanjeanne Apr 2016 #43
How about investing into funds that aren't invested in the things he's against? Amimnoch Apr 2016 #45
Read Post 38. It's mind numbing to argue this. He's not an investor. He doesn't pick and choose Nanjeanne Apr 2016 #50
No, but he does select which funds his $$ goes into. Amimnoch Apr 2016 #71
They really don't get why this hypocrisy is so funny, do they? synergie Apr 2016 #108
Or he could something less extreme and invest in funds that match his synergie Apr 2016 #60
Right, he should only invest in wind energy companies beedle Apr 2016 #70
Those are the kinds of moronic accusations that Bernie has been making, synergie Apr 2016 #109
Admit it beedle Apr 2016 #111
You mean when Hillary's chief economic adviser helped sneak it into an Omnibus spending bill? think Apr 2016 #54
His 401K contains mutual funds that owns, buys & sells stocks, therefore, Bernie has a vested Kip Humphrey Apr 2016 #31
seriously? what's he supposed to do, lakeguy Apr 2016 #35
Or he could do what student activists have been asking their institutions to do and synergie Apr 2016 #63
This is also technically not true inchhigh Apr 2016 #38
You might want to post this information as an OP Armstead Apr 2016 #52
So you're saying his money is not TECHNICALLY not invested in funds that synergie Apr 2016 #67
Ridiculous straw man jfern Apr 2016 #100
That's not what that word means, learn it first, and then try to apply. synergie Apr 2016 #107
It's exactly what it means jfern Apr 2016 #110
Have you never heard of a 401K before? jillan Apr 2016 #39
David Brock must be scraping the bottom of the barrell for this one revbones Apr 2016 #41
Why do you guys think that David Brock is some omnipotent entitity? synergie Apr 2016 #58
Yes, I'm assuming he has a lot to do with the more stupid talking points. revbones Apr 2016 #84
This is what it's come to? Goblinmonger Apr 2016 #46
Yes flobee1 Apr 2016 #72
Now I KNOW they've got nothing bad on the guy mainer Apr 2016 #56
Because he's not a Commie. Spread it far and wide. mainer Apr 2016 #61
Since Bernie thinks there is so much fraud in treestar Apr 2016 #64
Bernie is a Corporatist!!!! Stallion Apr 2016 #66
He's invested because if you don't want to retire at the poverty line, that's what you have to do. grntuscarora Apr 2016 #74
What nonsense. n/t alarimer Apr 2016 #75
David? David Brock? Is that you? jmg257 Apr 2016 #77
campaign rhetoric contradicted by personal actions? From Sir Good-at-Heart?? Oh my!! Bill USA Apr 2016 #78
Critical thinking skills are sadly enough in short supply. Autumn Apr 2016 #80
Obviously PowerToThePeople Apr 2016 #81
LOL. OMG, BERNIE HAS A 401K!!!!!!!! mhatrw Apr 2016 #82
Who cares? I also have some retirement money in mutual funds and support Bernie jfern Apr 2016 #83
Why invest it there though if they want to steal it? treestar Apr 2016 #88
Because savings accounts are paying next to no interest, grntuscarora Apr 2016 #89
But the point is that treestar Apr 2016 #90
I can't speak for Bernie, grntuscarora Apr 2016 #95
Wouldn't a person who invested in a fraud treestar Apr 2016 #98
Fine, whatever you say. grntuscarora Apr 2016 #99
That seems kind of non responsive treestar Apr 2016 #102
One more time. grntuscarora Apr 2016 #103
We're talking about a tiny fraction of the mutual fund jfern Apr 2016 #91
where is the rest of the mutual fund from? treestar Apr 2016 #92
What are you even talking about? jfern Apr 2016 #93
What are you talking about? treestar Apr 2016 #94
k&r DesertRat Apr 2016 #86
My lord, he has a retirement plan nadinbrzezinski Apr 2016 #87
! frylock Apr 2016 #96
...and? Ferd Berfel Apr 2016 #101
Jeeze.. thank you for this, synergie Cha Apr 2016 #112
Fascinating Hekate Apr 2016 #114
K&R mcar Apr 2016 #117
Good article DesertRat Apr 2016 #118
Good spot light Sheepshank Apr 2016 #119
You're upset that he owns stock? gollygee Apr 2016 #120
I understand it's hard to know the difference between a 401(k) and a Bankster jillan Apr 2016 #121
Dude! TheFarseer Apr 2016 #122
 

HumanityExperiment

(1,442 posts)
1. really?....
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:14 PM
Apr 2016

When has Bernie ever stated he was against capitalism?

gotta love the troll bait by HRC supporters, lots o' desperation on their part...

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
10. Oops. I guess we know exactly where the desperation is coming from and we
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:22 PM
Apr 2016

all know why, even if some cannot accept the reality. <<<--- OMG, there is a birdie!!

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
22. There are a number of countries in Europe that are or have been governed by socialist parties.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:30 PM
Apr 2016

They all have capitalist systems today. In the West a number of them have certain socialist institutions. Some have large national banks. Some have free higher public education. Many provide stipends to parents with young children. They, like we, have free education K-12 and a number of them have free or nearly free pre-school education.

The list of socialist programs, programs that function well and serve not just the interests of the people as a whole but the individuals within their society, is longer in some countries than others but at their foundations, these countries are mixed, CAPITALIST with some beneficial socialist programs.

We rank with a couple of very, very poor countries in our lack of paid family leave for new mothers. We are in terms of social programs very backward.

Bernie is popular among the younger generation precisely because he favors changing our society so that we work together and support each other.

The main reason that we don't have these beneficial socialist programs is racism. Selfish white people did not want to fund healthcare for all or pre-school for all and other such programs because they did not want to pay the costs of these programs for people of color. Sheer racism and selfishness.

 

Jitter65

(3,089 posts)
104. Seems like all the millionaires and billionaires of "socialistic-leaning" countries like to hide
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 07:11 PM
Apr 2016

their wealth in off-shore tax haven accounts.

 

HumanityExperiment

(1,442 posts)
29. Democratic Socialist...
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:36 PM
Apr 2016

Hey at least be intellectually honest in your GOP type strikes...

But at least HRC has this going for her...

&ebc=ANyPxKrAxfeMFmP9bme6-TX43VyNbGHAXzkV5YyrqeMooFRxgcSwPxalEC_lb07Tob8ddI1tunMPCLPGzZpEf4TVbQ6AgXbiwQ
 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
69. Nice red baiting there
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:22 PM
Apr 2016

socialists are not against the stock exchange by the way. I don't blame you, I blame the atrocious American educational system. By the way you know what else is socialist in this country? GASP I KNOW... public roads, police, fire, public schools and universities (not for long if we can prevent it), Social Security, Medicare... portions of the ACA.

As I said, I blame the atrocious educational system

elljay

(1,178 posts)
14. I'm still waiting
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:23 PM
Apr 2016

for the HRC supporters to discuss her positions and why they support them. I can respect someone who has looked at the issues and made a decision based on them. A lot of people support intervention in the Middle East and international trade agreements. A lot of people are moderates. A lot of people are not interested in too much change to the way they live. Why not admit it? It makes it seem as if many HRC supporters are either truly ignorant of her positions or embarrassed that they support them, neither of which is compelling.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
28. We're still waiting for Bernei to tell us what his actual plans are, or any BS
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:36 PM
Apr 2016

supporter to explain how he plans to achieve anything, but all that they seem to come up with is personal abuse, ranting against the confederacy and right wing smears about how evil she is.

I have no heard any critique of her actual policy positions, nor any comparisons to his. Those who have actually done the work, see her with workable plans and policies weighed against nothing of substance.

Why not admit that BS doesn't have any substance, that it's all just rhetoric and with no grasp on how reality works? Even his own finances and choices made are pragmatic and don't mesh well with the things he says. I mean, it's as if BS supporters truly are ignorant of how reality works in general or they truly believe that the Presidency has powers that it does not, and that little birds and magic waves of the hand will somehow address foreign policy realities, and domestic issues, and somehow create a single payer plan that hasn't been thought through, much less fleshed out. Is this the reason that instead of contrasting plans and policies, the BSers have been using right wing smears, character assassinations based on long debunked lies, and fresh new ones made up by the campaign?

Perhaps this lack off a compelling argument for Bernie, and this fondness of personal attacks from right wing sources which all apart with the least bit of research is WHY Bernie can't actually win voters, why he's losing in the pledged delegate race and the Superdelegates, who actually understand his weakness on policy and are familiar with his failure to actually effectively DO anything?

Accusing your opponents of your own flaws is easy, addressing your own deficiencies and the reams of evidence that show how this has been a problem for the BS camp really might make your scolding a bit more credible, what homework have you done, and why has it left so many supposed supporters of Bernie with nothing but right wing smears, and racist and misogynistic attacks? Why can't they argue FOR their candidate, rather than AGAINST his opponent? Do you truly have nothing here other than the name calling, the projection and the inappropriate attacks?

Take a good long look around that glass enclosure you're standing in before you throw stones.

Bernie is hoist on his own petard, here. Some homework on anyone's part would have made that apparent, but for some reason no one has bothered to do that. One wonders why.

elljay

(1,178 posts)
53. Deflect much
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:03 PM
Apr 2016

No critique of her actual policy positions? Really? I actually work for a living, so here is the link I found in 15 seconds http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017334782

There are so many more, such as TPP support, fracking, minimum wage, intervention in ME conflicts, international trade agreements, all of which position differences you will find in oh so many postings on this site explaining why Bernie supporters do not support Hillary. Note - if you get your information from the Hillary group, you will find that pretty much anyone who has tried to post such differences has been immediately banned.

Oh, and since you proved my point by failing to point out why, precisely, you support Hillary's positions, even that you know what any of them are, you are now my first DU ignore. I have no interest in hearing from people who either do not know why they support a candidate or cannot honestly admit that they support that candidate's positions.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
106. Why yes, you do deflect quite a lot.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 07:25 PM
Apr 2016

Yes, most of the stuff you assert as her positions are not actually positions she holds, so yes, there is Soooooooooooooooooooo much, none of it based on anyone doing their homework, just hysterically asserting things that are contrary to reality.

Again, the anti-Hillary brigade is not arguing policies, just how much they *hate* her and how evil she is and then accusing her of lying, as the Daily Caller/Freeperville/virulently anti-Clinton writers who can't conceal their personal feelings hurl more personal, nonsensical crap, not an honest assessment of her ACTUAL positions, just false assertions and personal attacks.

I get my information from actual sources, not the echo chamber as you BS folks seem to enjoy doing and only from those people who only say nasty things about one candidate and fail to address anything about the other. What you'll find is that your assertions about "banning" is not based in reality or truth. If you look around, even in the Hillary group, a protected group, anything that dares to criticize Bernie in any way whatsoever, even by asking simple questions, that thread is locked. NO ONE is allowed to criticize Bernie, and any group, media person or channel that DARES is abused, as the GD-P and the archive makes abundantly clear.

The people who are banned are the ones on this site who had been happily abusing other DUers and voicing racist, misogynistic and otherwise nasty things in the happy knowledge that the BS crew would allow them to stand.

Again, you missed my point, but you did prove how you are not being honest about actually doing any research on her policy positions, the things you assert are ones where there is little difference between the two candidates. So ignore away if you must, but that's kind of the point you can't debate, you won't research and you feel the need to "ignore" when the hypocrisy of your accusations is pointed out,.

When you have no ability to withstand anything that challenges your false and ignorant notions about things you've made no effort to learn about, you are choosing willful ignorance, and then projecting it.

It's how the BS crew here works, and that's not true of people who actually support Bernie in real life, in my experience, they at least LISTEN and have the capacity to LEARN. You have nothing but misinformation and attacks against me and HRC, and NOTHING to support Bernie. Which speaks volumes as to why he's losing, and why so many roll their eyes at his campaign and his eager if ignorant supporters who seem to be fact averse and fond of emotional hatred rather than actual discussion.

Thank you for making my point, and proving that you choose to project and have clearly not done your research from actual sources. The echo chamber is a dangerous thing, we've learned this from the CONS who troll here, it's sad that some need to emulate that model of advocacy.

 

Amimnoch

(4,558 posts)
40. Right from his website on the issues:
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:48 PM
Apr 2016
https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/

The reality is that for the past 40 years, Wall Street and the billionaire class has rigged the rules to redistribute wealth and income to the wealthiest and most powerful people of this country.


So, why then does he invest in it?

Breaking up huge financial institutions so that they are no longer too big to fail.

Again, seems counterproductive that he invests in these institutions all while condemning them.

Condemns fossil fuels.. and invests in them. Same with Fracking.

Also, it's not troll bait. This is the platform that he stakes everything on, and is the most vocal in his criticism of others. Is it not at all fair to point out that he invests in the very things he condemns?



 

HumanityExperiment

(1,442 posts)
48. yeah, it's troll bait...
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:58 PM
Apr 2016

Again, point out where Bernie is or has made anti-capitalism statements or policy?

I'd love to live in meritocracy but smarter more intelligent folks aren't lifted up in this society like they should be...

Does that make me anti-democratic?

Nope... it just makes me want to work within the 'fabric' that we've created within this society to get closer to a meritocracy

Bernie is trying to work within the capitalism that this society has currently to make it work for us all rather than for the wealthy few

 

HumanityExperiment

(1,442 posts)
116. Laughable...
Tue Apr 5, 2016, 09:29 AM
Apr 2016

'dishonest'? HOW?

Name the other economic system that the US supports that Bernie can use to invest in... I'll wait...

George II

(67,782 posts)
62. He says about a dozen times a day that he's anti "Wall Street". Just about every appearance.....
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:16 PM
Apr 2016

....on the news, every stump speech, every debate.

But, here is his Public Financial Disclosure Report:

http://pfds.opensecrets.org/N00000528_2015_Pres.pdf

DOZENS of investments in Wall Street securities and mutual funds.

 

HumanityExperiment

(1,442 posts)
68. LMAO...
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:20 PM
Apr 2016

yeah.. please run with that meme, it's working SO well for you and HRC isn't it? notice the momentum and surge that's occurring through this primary cycle? Which candidate is all that moving towards, whose stump speeches and debates are resonating?

Remember MI and that primary?...

PLEASE keep trying to push your narrative attempts, your candidate is Bernie's best advocate with all these...

NastyRiffraff

(12,448 posts)
85. Desperation?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 05:37 PM
Apr 2016

THIS is desperation:

"When has Bernie ever stated he was against capitalism? "

Great gods and goddesses.

whatchamacallit

(15,558 posts)
3. Wow, total inability to perceive nuance
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:17 PM
Apr 2016

Sanders isn't trying to eliminate banking or investing, just trying address the fraud and abuse. You knew that... right?

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
16. Uh huh. He might want to learn how to inject some nuance into his rhetoric
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:24 PM
Apr 2016

because his trademark rants about Walls Street don't include much nuance, and his attack strategy isn't about fraud or abuse, but you knew that, right?

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
23. Bernie Sanders supporters talking about the inability to perceive nuance is almost as bad
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:30 PM
Apr 2016

as them complaining about online vitriol.

TheBlackAdder

(28,226 posts)
25. I see OPs like this and one that pops in my mind is the following movie clip...
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:31 PM
Apr 2016

.


Of course, the nuance of this post will be ignored, reinforcing its point.




.
 

mythology

(9,527 posts)
49. This
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:58 PM
Apr 2016

Sanders isn't saying that anything involving banks or investment is bad, but that some of the specific actions Wall Street and big banks have done is bad.

But as for why he invests in it, that's the only realistic plan for a full retirement or inheritance we have. Social Security is designed as a minimum. And the Congressional plan is supposed to be pretty good. Not investing in it would be foolish. Sort of like how people like Warren Buffet say they should pay higher rates, yet don't send the government more than the law requires.

polly7

(20,582 posts)
57. And then there were those threads accusing him of being terrible for having so little
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:07 PM
Apr 2016

money .... he wasn't smart enough to save or invest it wisely.

Response to synergie (Original post)

Joob

(1,065 posts)
5. I don't see how this is bad if anything it's the opposite
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:18 PM
Apr 2016

He invested into corporations
Corporations invested into Hillary

Umm...?
He made money off of corporations
Corporations gave Hillary money??

You know what? I'm going to screenshot that article, this is hilarious.

He played the corporations and made money lol

 

Amimnoch

(4,558 posts)
42. Ummm, you do know that if he made money off of these corporations, his investment made the
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:51 PM
Apr 2016

corporation proportionately more money?

"he played the corporations and made mone LOL" That's funny.

Joob

(1,065 posts)
51. Yes I do what's wrong with capitalism? You should be happy..
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:00 PM
Apr 2016

you're candidate Hillary will get more money from the corporations so she stays in that little pocket.

 

Lizzie Poppet

(10,164 posts)
7. Posting the work of people with shit-tier critical thinking skills doesn't help.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:19 PM
Apr 2016

Bernie's opposition to Wall Street isn't its existence, FFS. It's Wall Street's excesses, to the poisonous greed that's created radical wealth inequality, to it's destruction of our industrial base, etc. He doesn't want to eliminate Wall Street, but to neuter its political power and reform its excesses.

The writer of that article is either agenda-driven...or a simpleton.

loyalsister

(13,390 posts)
73. It's like HRC's line about paying for Donald Trump's kid to go to college
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 04:09 PM
Apr 2016

They rolled that one out apparently thinking that people who are angry about their lack of opportunity just hate rich people, when the truth is they don't care who has access to gov't funded college education as long as their kids have better opportunities.

Kalidurga

(14,177 posts)
76. The writer of that article is either agenda-driven...or a simpleton.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 04:41 PM
Apr 2016

I have often found that these aren't either or propositions.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
8. Marcus Johnson needs to sit down with Bernie and find out what Bernie iss about.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:20 PM
Apr 2016

How can someone write such an article. It says a lot more about the author than about Bernie.

Bernie invests in funds. He doesn't play the stock market.

Bernie wants to break UP the banks -- into smaller banks -- not break the banks.

A Democratic Socialist is essentially a capitalist who wants to use some of the gains from capitalism to do what the Bible says we should do -- help each other and especially the poor and those who are less fortunate than ourselves. A Democratic Socialist is one who does exactly what the managers of the funds that Bernie invests in does -- try to balance investments and the use of resources including money for the best profit for all investors.

And in the case of government, the investors are ALL OF US, all voters, all citizens, all residents and even the world.

The author needs to sit down and talk to Bernie.

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)
11. Must be today's talking point from Camp Weathervane.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:22 PM
Apr 2016

About 1 OP per hour with the same BS talking point.

Cal Carpenter

(4,959 posts)
13. This shit is absurd
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:23 PM
Apr 2016

Is he supposed to bury his savings in his backyard? His criticisms of Wall Street have to do with systemic economic problems.

Socialism is not a lifestyle choice.

People who are lucky enough to have investments for security/retirement are not hypocrites if they wish the system didn't work that way. Especially if they are dedicating their life's work to making it all more equitable.

smdh

polly7

(20,582 posts)
26. Unbelievable, actually.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:32 PM
Apr 2016

Someone told me the other day he was slopping at the public trough earning money as a politician.

Very strange, the things they're coming up with.

renate

(13,776 posts)
97. a real socialist should invest in chickens and twigs
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:46 PM
Apr 2016

And pay his bills with little bits of string.

You're right. This is just absurd. I try to be polite here on DU (and elsewhere), but I genuinely wonder whether some people understand the difference between sensibly investing one's money in order to have some financial security in old age and being a lobbyist for banking regulations that favor the 0.01%.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
115. He needs to release his Schedule A, and his tax returns at least since he's been in the Senate.
Tue Apr 5, 2016, 01:54 AM
Apr 2016

One lousy summary that tells us he paid less tax as a percentage of his income than a poverty wage worker filing a Form EZ does NOT acquit him well at all.

And what's up with that 56K worth of deductions? He's got more deductions than most Americans have PAY....!

 

senz

(11,945 posts)
33. That's called a desperate fucking lie.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:42 PM
Apr 2016

Guess what? I don't have to read this ignorance.

Adios!

 

Amimnoch

(4,558 posts)
44. Exactly. It wouldn't be so bad if the core of his campaign wasn't against the very
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:53 PM
Apr 2016

institutions he invests into.

polly7

(20,582 posts)
47. He's standing up for people who've invested their money ... against fraud, dishonesty,
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:58 PM
Apr 2016

recklessness and the illegal dealings of those they've invested it with and whose actions "nearly destroyed the U.S. and global economy.

"Millions of Americans lost their jobs, their homes and their life savings.” Sanders continued, “While Wall Street received the largest taxpayer bailout in the history of the world with no strings attached, the American middle class continues to disappear, poverty is increasing and the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider.”


http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/10-powerful-reasons-why-bernie-scares-wall-street



Where does he blame any individual for putting their money and trust in a bank? Where should they put it??

Response to synergie (Original post)

ibegurpard

(16,685 posts)
19. same reason we all are
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:25 PM
Apr 2016

And that many people lost their retirement investments in 08.
The financial industry scammed the public into scrapping pensions for 401K and mutual funds in the 80s and 90s. Oh yeah... they're STILL trying to get us to throw Social Security into the pot as well and I sure as shit don't trust Hillary Clinton to safeguard it.

yodermon

(6,143 posts)
20. Broad-based mutual funds. They have to resort to attacking his broad-based mutual funds,
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:26 PM
Apr 2016

likely his 401k or other retirement account.
Wow. We're apparently entering "kitchen sink" mode and this is the best they can do.
Can we go back to talking about Castro again? Soviet honeymoons?
Don't forget Jane. I'm sure the tax returns are chock full of her nefarious activities. <--there you just read it on the internet!! pass it on.

 

senz

(11,945 posts)
27. Why is Hillary Clinton fucking OWNED by Wall Street?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:35 PM
Apr 2016

Millions and millions of Americans have some part of their retirement savings (401Ks, mutual funds) invested in companies listed on Wall Street.

That is galaxies apart from glued-at-the-hip fealty to Wall Street.

Hill fans: sorry you're feeling so insecure lately, but try to get some perspective.

Nanjeanne

(5,002 posts)
30. He is against FRAUD on Wall Street. He is against DEREGULATION of Wall Street. He isn't against
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:37 PM
Apr 2016

investing in a retirement fund.

He's like to make Wall Street investments safer for everyone - especially those who are dependent on their 401Ks.

Are people really that dense?

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
37. So, why did he vote for deregulation?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:45 PM
Apr 2016

And he's against the industries he invests in, in fact he rails against them. Perhaps you missed the forest for the trees here, and yes people do seem to be quite dense about the actual point here.

But I guess when the facts kinda point out the hypocrisy of his rhetoric and his attacks, denseness protects one from the cognitive dissonance of someone railing against the very industries his own funds are invested in.

 

Amimnoch

(4,558 posts)
45. How about investing into funds that aren't invested in the things he's against?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:54 PM
Apr 2016

There are other choices out there.

Nanjeanne

(5,002 posts)
50. Read Post 38. It's mind numbing to argue this. He's not an investor. He doesn't pick and choose
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:00 PM
Apr 2016

stocks.

 

Amimnoch

(4,558 posts)
71. No, but he does select which funds his $$ goes into.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:28 PM
Apr 2016

Hell, some of the funds he's already invested in doesn't have any of those ties (Valic Social awareness fund to name one that has no ties).

On a personal level, I agree this is no big deal. Just about anyone who has a retirement plan likely has similar investments (I know I do). However, not everyone has made their platform condemning said businesses.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
108. They really don't get why this hypocrisy is so funny, do they?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 07:28 PM
Apr 2016

The desperate spin and cognitive dissonance is amusing.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
60. Or he could something less extreme and invest in funds that match his
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:14 PM
Apr 2016

much vaunted integrity. But hey, let's not hold him accountable for any hypocrisy or anything. His college students might be able to educate him on why they're asking their institutions to divest from industries that BS is busy railing against, but also investing in.

I mean, extremism is way better than actually doing things, right?

 

beedle

(1,235 posts)
70. Right, he should only invest in wind energy companies
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:25 PM
Apr 2016

so you can then accuse him of being in the bag for "big wind".

Admit it, if he had any investments other than very generic mutual funds you'd be finding a way to claim that his choices showed he was in some kind of conflict of interest.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
109. Those are the kinds of moronic accusations that Bernie has been making,
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 07:32 PM
Apr 2016

it's not coming from me or the HRC camp, or anyone sane.

Admit it, you just don't understand how or why he's been hoist on his own petard here, and but you know it's pretty bad, so you're desperately trying to spin this into something less ridiculously hypocritical, aren't you?

You still don't get why his rants and his rhetoric make what he does personally rather part of the conversation HE introduced, do you?

Conflict of interest in situations like these is a moronic argument to make, it's why it's blowing back on him hard, and why you're all so upset about it. Neither you nor Bernie has a leg to stand on here.

 

beedle

(1,235 posts)
111. Admit it
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 08:21 PM
Apr 2016

you don't have a clue what a mutual fund is.

You might as well be claiming he's in bed with the credit card companies because he uses credit cards.

He's in bed with the oil industry because he drives a car

He's in bed with big banks because he has a checking account

Meanwhile Clinton is taking more than 200K for a fucking secret speech.

If you can't see the different they there is only one person making a 'moronic argument'.

 

think

(11,641 posts)
54. You mean when Hillary's chief economic adviser helped sneak it into an Omnibus spending bill?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:07 PM
Apr 2016
The Most Disingenuous Attack on Bernie Yet

Wednesday, 20 January 2016 00:00
By The Daily Take Team, The Thom Hartmann Program | Op-Ed


If you watched Sunday's Democratic debate, you learned something interesting about Bernie Sanders: he voted for the Commodities Futures Modernization Act, something Hillary Clinton was all too eager to point out when the two of them got to talking about Wall Street reform.

Sounds pretty bad, right? The guy who goes on and on about how bad Wall Street is actually voted for the bill that crashed economy. So much for all that "political revolution" stuff.

But here's the thing: Hillary Clinton isn't telling a true story about Bernie Sanders and his vote for the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, or CFMA.

As Robert Scheer has pointed out over at Truthdig, then-Congressman Sanders voted for the CFMA, not because he wanted to, but because he had to.

The CFMA had been shoved into an omnibus spending bill at the last minute as part of a deal between Republicans and President Bill Clinton, and because this was a time when, you know, Congress actually did its job, Sanders bit the bullet and voted for the whole package - CFMA included - to keep the government open.

~Snip~

So what's Gary Gensler - the guy who promoted the CFMA - up to today? Oh, you know, nothing big. He's just the chief financial officer of the Hillary Clinton campaign.

Yep, that's right, the CFO of the Hillary Clinton Campaign!...

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34497-the-most-disingenuous-attack-on-bernie-yet

Kip Humphrey

(4,753 posts)
31. His 401K contains mutual funds that owns, buys & sells stocks, therefore, Bernie has a vested
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:38 PM
Apr 2016

owner-interest in speaking out against Wall Street criminal or unethical acts. Therefore, Bernie has standing and his case against Wall Street may proceed.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
63. Or he could do what student activists have been asking their institutions to do and
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:16 PM
Apr 2016

divest from funds that invest in industries that he claims to find so reprehensible. Or is he excuse from having to EVER do anything that might match his supposed principles?

Either he is the "jesus like" perfectly principled idealists, or he's a politician saying things while making money by supporting the very things he rails against. Which is it?

inchhigh

(384 posts)
38. This is also technically not true
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:45 PM
Apr 2016

His investments are through TIAA Cref (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association) a non profit investment company in Charlotte, NC and VALIC (Variable Annuity Life Incsurance Company) headquartered in Amerillo, TX. They are both specialists in non-profit Retirement planning and neither is from Wall Street.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
67. So you're saying his money is not TECHNICALLY not invested in funds that
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:20 PM
Apr 2016

include the industries he rails against and insists are evil on their own?

So these retirement planning investment companies don't invest in Wall Street, and that's not 'technically' true?

I'm sorry, but you're factually and technically incorrect. That's the problem with purity politics, those claiming to be so pure, rarely are, and they cannot live up to their own rhetoric. These are silly attacks he's making and they backfire on him when he fails to do anything more than superficial analysis of what he's saying in his desperation to attack his opponent.

He's technically hoist on his own petard. He should have stuck to actual issues, rather than engaging in poo flinging, he's getting hit by it himself.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
107. That's not what that word means, learn it first, and then try to apply.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 07:26 PM
Apr 2016

Might spare you a bit of egg on your face.

 

revbones

(3,660 posts)
41. David Brock must be scraping the bottom of the barrell for this one
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:50 PM
Apr 2016

Sanders is not anti-invesment. Just against banks robbing consumers and companies such as Goldman Sachs robbing all of us.

 

synergie

(1,901 posts)
58. Why do you guys think that David Brock is some omnipotent entitity?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:10 PM
Apr 2016

Plenty of people who are doing what the media has not and are vetting Bernie have found stuff that contradicts his rhetoric and his hype. His voting record also doesn't quite reflect that. But by all means, continue to pretend that David Brock and HRC are somehow to blame for everything that reflects poorly on Bernie, I guess it beats looking at him clearly and asking him to provide a clear vision and plan for accomplishing his agenda.

 

revbones

(3,660 posts)
84. Yes, I'm assuming he has a lot to do with the more stupid talking points.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 05:30 PM
Apr 2016

His previous m-o was saying things like "a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty" as part of his slime. He runs a pro-Hillary super-PAC that owns propaganda outlet Blue Nation Review, and he often uses that or Media Matters now to push stupid attacks like this one.

 

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)
46. This is what it's come to?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 02:57 PM
Apr 2016

This is the best you have? Someone who has never said they want capitalism to go away is bad because they invest money.

If this is one of the talking points that came out today, then Sanders has the nomination locked in the bag because this smells of desperation.

flobee1

(870 posts)
72. Yes
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 04:02 PM
Apr 2016

OMG! Bernie is workig within the capitalist system as it exists today. Shame on him for not keeping his retirement funds in the mason jar under the sink!
That sounds almost as bad as screaming COMMUNIST!

If that is all the Clintonites have left, Berniie has this in the bag

mainer

(12,031 posts)
56. Now I KNOW they've got nothing bad on the guy
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:07 PM
Apr 2016

If the best they can do is scream "Bernie's saving for his retirement!"

mainer

(12,031 posts)
61. Because he's not a Commie. Spread it far and wide.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:16 PM
Apr 2016

What, that's not the point you were trying to disseminate?

treestar

(82,383 posts)
64. Since Bernie thinks there is so much fraud in
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 03:17 PM
Apr 2016

Wall Street it is amazing he would risk his savings there. Must be he realizes most of it is not fraudulent.

grntuscarora

(1,249 posts)
74. He's invested because if you don't want to retire at the poverty line, that's what you have to do.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 04:22 PM
Apr 2016

That's the way the system works.

I don't blame him for doing what's necessary to secure an adequate, though not flashy retirement, and I admire him for criticizing the system that demands such games to survive old age. I'm lucky enough to have a small retirement account too, and I am doing the same thing. But that doesn't stop me from being angered at a capitalist system that screws over so many people and cheerfully destroys the environment.

Also, I looked at Bernie's holdings. Looks to me as though he's of the "socially responsible investors" type. But I'm sure you won't let that stop you from bashing him.

Thanks for sharing another Point 3 of the 10 Point Plan. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-abramson/the-democrats-10-point-plan-lose-election_b_9605608.html

Bill USA

(6,436 posts)
78. campaign rhetoric contradicted by personal actions? From Sir Good-at-Heart?? Oh my!!
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 04:48 PM
Apr 2016


If he say's their business model is fraud, can he also say: "Complicity"??

Autumn

(45,120 posts)
80. Critical thinking skills are sadly enough in short supply.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 04:59 PM
Apr 2016

401Ks and IRAs are invested in the stock market so people won't live under bridges when they get old.

 

PowerToThePeople

(9,610 posts)
81. Obviously
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 05:09 PM
Apr 2016

He is a hypocrite.

Obviously you have no problem with climate change and air polution because you breath poluted air every day.

Moronic OP.

When you live in a pile of shit, you are going to get dirty. It does not mean you enjoy it or roll around and make merry in it.

jfern

(5,204 posts)
83. Who cares? I also have some retirement money in mutual funds and support Bernie
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 05:20 PM
Apr 2016

The two aren't exclusive.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
88. Why invest it there though if they want to steal it?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:15 PM
Apr 2016

Why has Bernie made such an unwise move? Investing in a fraud scheme when that's what he thinks it is?

grntuscarora

(1,249 posts)
89. Because savings accounts are paying next to no interest,
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:20 PM
Apr 2016

and those wanting to change the fucked up system would like to be able to eat and have a dry roof over our heads in our retirement, like you.

Jeebuz, where do you folks get your pathetic talking points?

treestar

(82,383 posts)
90. But the point is that
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:25 PM
Apr 2016

if Wall Street is as he thinks it is, he should put in savings as that would be safer. At least there it won't be used for fraud or stolen. Why invest in what you think is a fraud? Wouldn't you be afraid of losing that money? That's the point. If it is as he says it is, he will have no money for food, dry roof when Wall Street steals it all from him. How hard is that to understand? That's a question, you can't dodge it by calling it a "talking point."

Face it, Bernie does not really believe Wall Street is going to steal his money or he would put it somewhere else. Gold, some more honest exchange if there is one, land, whatever, why put it where you think it is going to be stolen?

grntuscarora

(1,249 posts)
95. I can't speak for Bernie,
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:44 PM
Apr 2016

but I certainly relate to him in trying to navigate an unfair system in an attempt to live an independent old age. Gold and land are investments rife with unfairness and abuses, as I'm sure you well know--abuses every bit as serious as Wall St. stock investments.

It's the system! I don't criticize ordinary workers for trying to make their way through it so they don't wind up a burden to their children in their old age. But I hate the system, i believe it's corrupt, and I want it changed. If the change results in my puny IRA going south, then so be it. I believe Bernie will try and change it and Hillary won't.

Re-reading my post I realize I'm defending Bernie because I am able to relate to him. Something I am unable to do with HRC.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
98. Wouldn't a person who invested in a fraud
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:51 PM
Apr 2016

and lost everything end up being a burden on their children?

Obviously, people still think that investing in stocks will make them money. They don't believe it is a corrupt fraud, and neither does Bernie.

grntuscarora

(1,249 posts)
99. Fine, whatever you say.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:54 PM
Apr 2016

Lord, you people are so determined to win, you are not listening to the very honest concerns and critiques of Bernie supporters.

And as we drift off one by one, good luck in November.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
102. That seems kind of non responsive
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 07:00 PM
Apr 2016

I mean of course people want their person to win - the one they support.

It's obvious to that most people don't buy the extreme rhetoric about Wall Street, including Bernie.

If Hillary and her campaign can be criticized, why can't Bernie's? Bernie is exaggerating a bit on the subject.

grntuscarora

(1,249 posts)
103. One more time.
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 07:08 PM
Apr 2016

You are saying a person or candidate can't be involved in a system if they are sincere about wanting to change it. I say yes they can. When you say Bernie can't, you are saying I can't either. Yeah, that gets a little personal. HRC is heavily invested, much more so than Bernie, and I don't fault her on that. But there is certainly a difference in degree of Wall Street involvement, wouldn't you agree?

Seriously, what's left of the lower middle class is desperately trying to hang on and you're saying the candidate we most closely identify with is a hypocrite? You'll have trouble winning over votes with that.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
92. where is the rest of the mutual fund from?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:36 PM
Apr 2016

a foreign exchange? Why invest even a tiny bit if its in something fraudulent?

jfern

(5,204 posts)
93. What are you even talking about?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:38 PM
Apr 2016

Mutual funds tend to invest in wide variety of sources. Think of the S&P 500, that could be a mutual fund.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
94. What are you talking about?
Mon Apr 4, 2016, 06:41 PM
Apr 2016

You said he only had a tiny bit in Wall Street. It's all Wall Street.

gollygee

(22,336 posts)
120. You're upset that he owns stock?
Mon Apr 11, 2016, 10:37 PM
Apr 2016

He isn't a super rich person. He has to invest for his retirement just like the rest of us. I also own stock, and I am critical of Wall Street. But my husband and I want a retirement.

TheFarseer

(9,326 posts)
122. Dude!
Mon Apr 11, 2016, 10:54 PM
Apr 2016

It's nearly impossible to NOT own stock in modern America. If you have a 401K or IRA, you own stock. There is no where else to put your money. They have rigged the game that way. If your only investments are a savings account, you're a fool. And if Bernie doesn't have any investable money with a salary of $200,000 or whatever, he's a fool. Besides, if you think Bernie is against companies and investors making money period, you are very much missing the point.

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