Bernie Sanders is not "far-left" by any reasonable measure.

[DanTex]

In almost any other advanced nation, he'd be considered an average liberal or center-left politician. Far from being some far-out socialism, everything he proposes has been implemented successfully in many countries around the world. In fact, if his entire platform were to be implemented tomorrow, that would make the US a "normal country" by international standards, maybe a little to the left of the average, but not some kind of communist sore-thumb.

But, wait, you say, this is America! We're exceptional. Yes, right now, we are an exceptionally right-wing nation by international standards. And also by the standards of what American voters want.

What's happened in the US is that (a) government policy is well to the right of what average citizens want and (b) the Democratic party's policies are well to the right of what average Democratic voters want. This is for various reasons, but money in politics is a big one.

If you poll the American public on Bernie's proposals, pretty much all of them enjoy majority support. If you poll Democrats, then his policies are hugely popular. In terms of the primary, not only is he leading the polls, but he also polls better head-to-head against every other candidate. What's more, on the specific question of who's policies do Dem voters agree with most, Bernie has an even bigger lead. On policy, the Democratic electorate is solidly with Bernie (and Warren).

And even though there is a vocal subset of Dems that seem to really dislike Bernie (and also a lot of pundits), this dislike is not shared by Dem voters generally. He consistently polls at or near the top in favorability among Dem voters, not just of the primary field, but of all politicians period.


TLDR: The media keeps pushing the narrative that Bernie is a cranky far-leftist that nobody likes outside of a tiny cult-like following, and that his policies are all unicorn fairy things that could never work and would bankrupt us and turn us into Venezuela. All that is completely wrong. His views are mainstream, he's highly popular, and his policies have a proven track record.

[krissey]

1. Harris ranked more progressive than Sanders. That is the joke about this whole thing.

[msongs]

2. great. can we get most of his proposals without Him (upper case H please) nt

[DanTex]

3. Sure. Vote Warren.

[pnwmom]

8. LOL. Yes, great idea. n/t

[apcalc]

4. You make good points. The media line always for Sanders and Warren

Is “ far left”.

[LonePirate]

5. The corporate media's dislike of Sanders (and Warren) is due to their progressive taxation.

Both want to hike taxes on corporations and the super wealthy. That is an on-starter for corporations and the Top 10%. Hence, the association of Bernie and Warren with the far-left.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Yeah, right.

I suppose the ISA schtick at one of the weekend rallies was a fluke.



He is left-of-far left.

I once considered him (in 2016), but this election is far too critical to take a chance on losing.

[pnwmom]

7. He CALLS HIMSELF a socialist. Why doesn't he call simply call himself an FDR Democrat?

Why does he insist on the Democratic Socialist label? FDR was a very wealthy capitalist -- not a socialist of any sort.

But Bernie himself pushes the narrative that he's far to the left of everyone else (including Elizabeth Warren) which, as you note, is nonsense. But you and he can't blame anyone else for this misconception about him. He promotes it.

From the site of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America:

https://www.dsausa.org/about-us/what-is-democratic-socialism/#govt

We believe that the workers and consumers who are affected by economic institutions should own and control them.

Social ownership could take many forms, such as worker-owned cooperatives or publicly owned enterprises managed by workers and consumer representatives. Democratic socialists favor as much decentralization as possible. While the large concentrations of capital in industries such as energy and steel may necessitate some form of state ownership, many consumer-goods industries might be best run as cooperatives.

[Jersey Devil]

9. He has given himself the label

I agree that his policies are not "far left", but he describes himself as a socialist, so why should anyone expect he will govern as anything other than far left?

[myohmy2]

10. 'far-left' is a joke...

...just look at his policies...

...and what do you see?

...policies and programs that most of the world has adopted and implemented and considers normal and acceptable...

...you're not going to 'Red Scare' today's voter out of Bernie's policies and programs...

...sorry to all the 'Red-Baiting', heavy breathing anti-Commie's out there...

...there will be no collective or commune in your future during a Sanders administration...

...sorry...

[uponit7771]

11. A democratic socialist that praised Russia and communism sounds far left even if he's not. If you're

... explaining you're losing.

[Progressive dog]

12. I don't sgree

and I believe the facts prove that Bernie is to the far left in the USA.
I picked some quotes from Eugene Debs (the man Bernie seems to emulate and the man whose portrtait hung in Bernie's office).

While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.
I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.
The most heroic word in all languages is revolution.

If Bernie is the "Democratic" candidate, I will vote for him even though I don't believe that he can beat Trump.

[brooklynite]

13. "In almost any other advanced nation"...

He's not running "In almost any other advanced nation". He's running here. Where a majority of voters don't support socialism.