The Atlantic: The Sixty Trillion Dollar Man

[TomCADem]

At the end of the day, Bernie will say whatever he needs to say to win even if there is no way that a significant portion of his proposals will ever be enacted. Elizabeth Warren actually acknowledged costs and proposed how to pay for her plan and Bernie Sanders (ironically) attacked her for raising taxes. Yet, Bernie refuses to provide any explanation of how his plan fits together.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/the-sixty-trillion-dollar-man/ar-BB10qrP6?ocid=spartanntp

The price of Bernie Sanders' agenda could be his biggest general-election weakness. But his rivals haven't yet made him explain how he'd cover the full cost.

Bernie Sanders faced more pointed attacks last night over his potential vulnerabilities than he ever has at a debate. But the blustery and disorderly session once again failed to fully explore what could be the Vermont senator’s greatest general-election weakness: the massive size and scope of his spending and tax proposals, which, depending on the estimate, would cost $50 trillion to $60 trillion over the next 10 years. That would roughly double the size of the federal government, an unprecedented increase outside of wartime.

More so than in any previous session, Sanders at times seemed rattled and tentative as his rivals subjected him to a crossfire of criticism—over his record on gun control; my colleague Edward-Isaac Dovere’s report that he seriously considered a primary challenge to Barack Obama in 2012; his praise for aspects of Fidel Castro’s record in Cuba; and his success, or lack thereof, at getting things done in Washington. The evening showed “the first sign of uneasiness” for Sanders on a debate stage in this election cycle, says Lily Adams, the former communications director for Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. “For the first time, we saw moments where he was not 100 percent sure of what his rebuttal was going to be.”

But Sanders benefited from the chaotic nature of the debate, which prevented his rivals from sustaining any individual line of attack against him for very long. And when he wasn’t on the defensive, he confidently delivered his populist promise to deliver an economy that works better for working families.

[George II]

1. Everyone should keep in mind that the United States budget this year is under $5 trillion!

If implemented that would more than DOUBLE the entire US budget.

[TomCADem]

2. Bernie's Proposals. They Defy...

[George II]

3. He should hire Andrew Yang as a senior campaign adviser.

[Hoyt]

4. Sanders posted his plan to raise funds this week. Doubt it's enough. Warren's proposals are even

more expensive.

Don't see where she has much room to criticize Sanders.

[David__77]

5. Great! He's a bit on the austere side.

....

[TomCADem]

6. If You Like Austerity and You Appreciate Math

Then Bernie should NOT be your candidate. Even he repeatedly admits he has no idea how much his ideas cost.

[David__77]

7. I don't favor austerity economics, no.

...