All of this Sanders dread is astounding to me

He's running on FDR style reforms of actually giving people some value for the taxes they pay.

He's an actual populist (as opposed to Trump's fake populism) and his policies represent a kindness and compassion for working people that hasn't been on the ballot for decades.

He is against corporate bribes ruining our governance.

He polls better in head to head comparisons with Trump than any other candidate

He is bringing young people and independents to the polls.

He's not even my preferred candidate, but what the hell is wrong with everyone here on DU?

God, I am so tired of the confusion/discussion/obfuscation/ignorance about "socialism".

Look, there are currently two flavors of the word:

Socialism == the workers control the means of production, the industrial proletariat overthrows the industrial bourgeoisie, up against the wall capitalist pigs, etc. etc.

This form of "socialism" is what everyone fear mongers on - it's the Cold War, it's left wing South American juntas, it's blah blah blah. It's why people think other people will be scared of "socialism", and why Chris Matthews thinks he's about to be executed.

And then there is

Socialism == paying to have civilization. Pulling resources together so that no one's life is a complete and utter miserable horror story just because they aren't heirs to fortunes. Paying for common goods like roads, courts, the military. Keeping people in poverty from dying of starvation or preventable medical crises. Making the rich pay their fair share for the wonderful society they live in.

This second form of "socialism" is also "society" or "civilization", or "building a world that's better to live in". It's the basis for a lot of government decision making in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, where people are happy and healthy. It's why when I hear "socialism", I get ready to hear about things I like.

The word has been ruined by its first sense. So, can we find a better term for the second sense? "Democratic socialism" is so-so as a label. The democratic part is great - people all need to help decide how we can pull our resources for a better life - but again, 'socialism' is pretty ruined. "Social Democracy" may be slightly better.

But what about "civilization"? or a "fair society" (echos of the "Fair Deal" )?

How about saying for example, that Democrats are running on a platform of "civilization"? If we can't get billionaires to help pay for things, civilization will go away.

I don't know. this nonsense is killing me. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.

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If we win the election by one vote I expect our leaders to fight like hell

We keep saying "we need to overwhelm them with numbers so large they can't cheat", and I agree, we need big turnouts to make sure we win.

But I expect our party leaders to NOT concede if it is close and the GOP is cheating. Who am I kidding? Of course they'll be cheating. So I expect us to FIGHT if it is close and not give those cheating, disenfranchising, gerrymandering motherfuckers one win that they haven't gotten legitimately.

Make them pay for their dishonesty and cheating. Don't reward them.

Disenfranchisement is the political death that citizens die before literal death

When you remove political power from voters, you remove any reason for any person in power to give a shit what they think, what they want, what would make their life better, what would save them from an untimely death.

It chills me to see the GOP actively disenfranchising voters, especially minority voters, because it is the prelude to the neglect, impoverishment, and death that will inevitably follow. And the fact that they have gotten away with it for so long with seemingly no repercussions or punishment is truly frightening.

What are we to make of the (to my eye) tepid response of Democratic politicians to this phenomenon? They don't really talk about it, or talk quietly, or say we have to fight it but don't really highlight it. If they, as progressives often claim, are also corrupted by money in politics, then they won't mind the political death of even their own voters, because that is what their donors prefer.

If however they recognize that disenfranchisement removes the last obstacle to political death and then real death for millions of their own constituents and voters, then they should get people riled the fuck up about this and fight it tooth and nail.

Which candidate would stop to help you? Chris Matthews projects

Chris bashes Sanders based on his mental fantasies.

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