Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)
Tue Nov 17, 2015, 12:45 PM Nov 2015

So Bernie is putting off his speech on socialism.

What we have now are these:
Free college
Single payer health care
$15 minimum wage
Wealth redistribution
Breaking up of big banks
Full employment
Tax increases
I don't know the rest but suffice to say Bernie hasn't laid out plans to make any of that happen that can be analyzed by economists to let us know what we would be getting into.

If I said we need to be pragmatic about this I know I would be attacked since it happens every time.

To me that is the main reason Bernie will not win the nomination. The 25% to 30% will accept him at his word. The other 60% are pragmatic.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
So Bernie is putting off his speech on socialism. (Original Post) upaloopa Nov 2015 OP
Yep MaggieD Nov 2015 #1
At least with Hillary we know we won't get single payer and Glass Steagall think Nov 2015 #2
umm no pony for you either. riversedge Nov 2015 #3
Denigrating single payer. How quaint.... think Nov 2015 #6
I will be hionest and say I'm disappointed Berbie doesnlt get more specific and versitile Armstead Nov 2015 #4
Ok with me. HERE's pragmatic, elleng Nov 2015 #5
I am sure there are many great ideas here daybranch Nov 2015 #8
You have Bernie's positions, and since Bernie believes in Democracy it is up to the people which daybranch Nov 2015 #7
Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2015 #9
Again? Alfresco Nov 2015 #10
 

think

(11,641 posts)
2. At least with Hillary we know we won't get single payer and Glass Steagall
Tue Nov 17, 2015, 12:48 PM
Nov 2015

So there would be no expectations to be dashed...

 

Armstead

(47,803 posts)
4. I will be hionest and say I'm disappointed Berbie doesnlt get more specific and versitile
Tue Nov 17, 2015, 12:54 PM
Nov 2015

I know he's capable of it, but he has chosen to stay tightly "on message."

But the thought of another restoration of the Clinton Monarchy makes me very depressed. If she manages to actually win, it will be four to eight years of basic inaction, polarization, gridlock, scandles (real or manufactured), bland arrogance and more of that crappy "What's good for Wall St and Corporate America is automatically good for you" centrist/conservative happy talk.

elleng

(136,592 posts)
5. Ok with me. HERE's pragmatic,
Tue Nov 17, 2015, 12:58 PM
Nov 2015

daybranch

(1,309 posts)
8. I am sure there are many great ideas here
Tue Nov 17, 2015, 01:38 PM
Nov 2015

and when we get rid of control of our government by billionaires, Bernie probably can implement many of them. But the operative phrase is when we get rid of control oif our government by billionaires, and only Bernie seems to be actively avoiding taking their money and calling them out. So O Malley, while he probably writes good plans will not be able to implement anything of significance until we get rid of billionaire control.
But again thanks for the plans. O Malley is a bright man and Bernie will certainly consider the plans when he is President.

daybranch

(1,309 posts)
7. You have Bernie's positions, and since Bernie believes in Democracy it is up to the people which
Tue Nov 17, 2015, 01:30 PM
Nov 2015

they want to afford. But here goes-Bernie has told you that the cost of Free College will be paid for by a speculation tax on Wall Street transactions. Secondly if we do a medicare for all, at the peoples choice like all of Bernie's positions, the funds made available (approximately 15 percent of the total paid for health care) is certainly sufficient to install Medicare for all. He also plans to reduce medicare and health care cost by negotiating with pharmaceutical companies which in itself will lower medicare costs by several percent more just as it has reduced cost of pharmaceuticals for the current Veteran's Administration. Our society already pays more under the current system than we would under a single payer Medicare for all where the government works for us not the medical insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The $15 minimum wage is paid by employers unless the employer is the government. The Obama administration already expects to fund this increase for federal employees and federal contractor employees. I am absolutely sure that wealth distribution by its very nature does not imply any costs to the Federal government except rewriting tax codes to eliminate loopholes and raise rates. So no real cost there.Cost of breaking up big banks, I see no cost here either. Full employment is through funding infrastructure repairs and improvements, goals which even republicans know increase employment. Economists agree that more education increases skills and increased skills increase employment. So adding this with support for infrastructure and the increased demand for goods and services made possible by the increase to a living wage of $15 should do the trick of full employment. Tax increases do not cost money to the federal government so I will not address it .
As for those who take Bernie at his word, he has always kept his word.
Pragmatic can be a name for giving in too easily too you know. Bernie has the same values I have and his message resonates because he and the people agree.

Response to upaloopa (Original post)

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»So Bernie is putting off ...