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dotymed

(5,610 posts)

59. I love Bernie Sanders but why did he vote for the FARM BILL?

Sun Feb 9, 2014, 12:54 PM

Feb 2014

I guess you can tell by my avatar that I think Bernie Sanders, as POTUS, would turn this country around. His progressive, populist ideas have been consistently in the best interests of the common man/woman.
I remember during the ACA "negotiations" after a public argument against (Obama's) "settling" for: a for profit, health insurance mandate instead of a more inclusive, non-profit plan. President Obama held "private" talks with Sanders, eventually convincing him to "get on board" with the ACA.
That was one other time that I "took issue" with a vote by Bernie. I know that 100% agreement is impossible. His excellent record speaks for itself.
I have not heard why Senator Sanders voted for this farm bill. It seems like a vote for TPTB and against the poor.
I hope Senator Sanders tells us why he voted for this anti-"poor people" legislation.
When I say "poor" I am speaking of millions of Americans who, during this time of crippling inequality, cannot afford to feed themselves/family.

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A serious question about Bernie Sanders [View all] Armstead Feb 2014 OP

It's possible that the politics haven't quite caught up to the reality most people face. Smarmie Doofus Feb 2014 #1

"it is hard to make a man understand... awoke_in_2003 Feb 2014 #80

Excellent post! Enthusiast Feb 2014 #83

Great post! YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #91

I agree with your assessment. glinda Feb 2014 #2

I think the thing about speaking straight is important Armstead Feb 2014 #14

I think you already answered it. It's the money. All the money that's spent to pave the Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 2014 #3

I agree, it's the money. nm rhett o rick Feb 2014 #6

Yep. Because those with loads of dough continually buy power and influence, Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 2014 #8

Yes but... Armstead Feb 2014 #16

So give me a guess how much percentage of liberal dollars compared to conservative dollars are spent rhett o rick Feb 2014 #62

Not enough, I' ll grant you, but... Armstead Feb 2014 #65

I will never stop fighting but I think that being pragmatic, we are badly losing the war. rhett o rick Feb 2014 #70

Enh, In all honesty I guess it depends on focusing on the donut or the hole Armstead Feb 2014 #73

Yes we win a skirmish or two but what do you see coming down the road? nm rhett o rick Feb 2014 #78

A lot of them do. And hell, look who the Finance Chair of the DNC is cali Feb 2014 #67

There may be some wealthy liberals and they may give their money to Democrats but rhett o rick Feb 2014 #79

I know the money has a lot to do with it, but it's not everything Armstead Feb 2014 #15

And Obama got a lot of support in some traditionally Republican-friendly parts of the country... YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #99

DC is the bubble. blkmusclmachine Feb 2014 #4

Here ya go: DeSwiss Feb 2014 #5

Abso-effing-lutely. Sooooooooo very true and important! Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 2014 #9

k&r nt bananas Feb 2014 #20

Ding Ding Ding! nt. adirondacker Feb 2014 #49

I and many other DUers are asking the same questions. JDPriestly Feb 2014 #7

"I saved a thousand slaves. I could have saved a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves. jtuck004 Feb 2014 #10

Yes, I agree denial is a factor. It's been a drip,drip,drip over the years Armstead Feb 2014 #17

I'm 59, and agree completely. Except I think we are toast. At least jtuck004 Feb 2014 #26

I'm getting to tyhe point of being like my mother used to say... Armstead Feb 2014 #42

I am also beginning to see what she meant. And that is not good. Enthusiast Feb 2014 #85

Forty years ago, the capitalists had a competing system........ socialist_n_TN Feb 2014 #51

You are exactly correct. Enthusiast Feb 2014 #86

Call me crazy, but social democracy seems like a pretty good alternative... Hippo_Tron Feb 2014 #104

Agree 100%. Enthusiast Feb 2014 #84

I've never read that quote from Harriet Tubman. Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #47

Answer: Money. blackspade Feb 2014 #11

This may sound naive -- But i believe a lot of peope with money agree with Sanders principles Armstead Feb 2014 #19

The limits of economic determinism... Eleanors38 Feb 2014 #31

I agree -- It makes it harder but not impossible Armstead Feb 2014 #35

Your assessment is not off base, but polynomial Feb 2014 #12

Bernie Sanders always gets my vote. democrank Feb 2014 #13

I think I agree. Yes back to basics is important Armstead Feb 2014 #18

Well, ProSense Feb 2014 #21

Yes, we must appease - oops! I mean compromise with - extreme ultra-right wing crackpots! bananas Feb 2014 #24

No, ProSense Feb 2014 #27

A few token democrats to show how much they care abelenkpe Feb 2014 #56

Sanders isn't alone Armstead Feb 2014 #28

I meant ProSense Feb 2014 #29

Yes, things are starting to move in the right direction.... YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #92

Same reason Phil Donohue was kicked off NBC. nt bananas Feb 2014 #22

Most Dem leaders are bought and most Dem followers are, well, followers. Baaaaa polichick Feb 2014 #23

But are they "baaaaaa" or just feeling fatalistic and defeated? Armstead Feb 2014 #38

imo some people in Obama's coalition are still clinging to hope... polichick Feb 2014 #63

True but my point was that the enthusiasm was there and... Armstead Feb 2014 #64

Well, once burned and all that - or in a lot of cases, many times burned... polichick Feb 2014 #69

I see a lot of "somethings" real -- but you're correct in that it's fragile Armstead Feb 2014 #72

I mean they'd rally for a movement that's real... polichick Feb 2014 #75

I agree with you 100 percent on that...(or 90 percent to leave a margin for error) Armstead Feb 2014 #76

Yeah. I've about had it with populist cons by corporate Dems. Enthusiast Feb 2014 #87

"Why" is an oft-repeated theme, here.... Eleanors38 Feb 2014 #25

Yes, I've seen it happen over the last 40 years Armstead Feb 2014 #30

Anyone know if TV viewing rates are significantly different in Vermont compared with the US overall? muriel_volestrangler Feb 2014 #32

I think the smaller population does make politics more personal Armstead Feb 2014 #33

The Party is controlled by corporate money. They get to vet our candidates. That simple. nt Romulox Feb 2014 #34

Not so simple -- We LET them vet our candidates Armstead Feb 2014 #37

Oh nonsense. "We" don't have millions to spend. Hillary 2016! nt Romulox Feb 2014 #40

Hillary 2008! Armstead Feb 2014 #44

They get to vet them because almost nobody participates in MineralMan Feb 2014 #41

And the millions of dollars spent by corporate donors? Merely incidental to the process, I guess. Romulox Feb 2014 #50

A lot of people don't have the free time or resources to do that YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #94

Everyone decides his or her own priorities, of course. nt MineralMan Feb 2014 #106

Maybe because fredamae Feb 2014 #36

That's part of what I'm talking about Armstead Feb 2014 #39

Serious, in depth fredamae Feb 2014 #43

I think the rank-and-file Democrats Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #45

I agree with that Armstead Feb 2014 #46

Yeah, but I can't change it. Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #48

How about Dr. Who? he's British and kind of zany Armstead Feb 2014 #52

To be honest, Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #53

"Das Party"....very funny. lol! glinda Feb 2014 #58

I thought so too. Enthusiast Feb 2014 #88

I agree with this post. YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #97

First we must understand that Democrats are not the Democratic Party. The party is a Egalitarian Thug Feb 2014 #54

Actually, Pat Leahy is worth even less than Bernie- and Leahy has been in the Senate cali Feb 2014 #71

No - it's becausw MOST people aren't as liberal as he is. brooklynite Feb 2014 #55

And why not? Armstead Feb 2014 #57

On the issues Bernie is dead center. Enthusiast Feb 2014 #89

Gallup Poll might suggest you re-think what you are saying. truedelphi Feb 2014 #90

Most people are more liberal on specific issues YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #93

According to Fox news and the like, liberal means.... Armstead Feb 2014 #103

I love Bernie Sanders but why did he vote for the FARM BILL? dotymed Feb 2014 #59

From his website Armstead Feb 2014 #60

I thought that must be some dotymed Feb 2014 #105

Don't worry about sounding like a fanboy. Most of us are huge fans of his! nt tblue37 Feb 2014 #61

You touch on something important- Bernie relates to the "rednecks" cali Feb 2014 #66

I agree the working class aspect is important, and often overlooked Armstead Feb 2014 #68

"A re-emphasis on economic progressive populism would do wonders in this day and age" YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #95

He's elected by a state treestar Feb 2014 #74

You're not adressing the point Armstead Feb 2014 #77

Why do we give up before we even try? YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #98

dunno. but Bern is awesome. nt dionysus Feb 2014 #81

On the issues I think Bernie is dead center with the American people. Enthusiast Feb 2014 #82

Glad to see this thread still rolling. Great job Armstead! nt adirondacker Feb 2014 #96

Have you seen Bernie's "South Forward" website? YoungDemCA Feb 2014 #100

I'll check it out Armstead Feb 2014 #102

The generation in charge of the party came of age between 1968 and 1984 Recursion Feb 2014 #101