Forget Sanders and Clinton for a moment. This is a symbolic schism that has been long brewing

[Admiral Loinpresser]

111. Refreshing!

Every once in a while I debate someone on DU, without feeling a sense of hostility, but rather a Socratic give and take. Thank you for that.

I generally agree with Armstead's response above to your questions, but let me respond further to your questions 1 and 2.

1. I think most people on Wall Street are more dumb than evil, because they tend to vote against their own economic and ecological interests. This gilded age style of politics is unsustainable, as evidenced by the major reforms of Teddy Roosevelt. If these slack jawed troglodytes are lucky Bernie will be elected, if not, they may end up on the business end of a pitchfork. Wealthy people are deluded into believing their wealth can insulate them from human extinction. They don't think of it in terms of extinction or the collapse of civilization, but that is what we are facing ecologically.

I do not accept the premise of a "pro business" dichotomy. The real dichotomy is between small business and big business. In the current quasi-monopolistic environment of mega mergers, all the T Rex behemoths are gobbling up little raptors, or at least stunting their growth. Bernie's platform is very much pro small business, a la universal health care (financially liberating small businesses) and breaking up the mega corporations to promote good old fashioned competition.

2. I think this is precisely why we need Bernie in the GE. He, like Obama, has the ability to energize the Millenials and the previously uninvolved. But more so, Republicans in great numbers, e.g. veterans, libertarian populists who hate the banks, young Republicans and those old school Repubs who really care about ethics in government. Perhaps you haven't seen the many articles about Bernie and Republicans. If you google "Republicans supporting Bernie Sanders" or "veterans and Bernie," you can see what I'm talking about.

This is why Establishment pundits have been universally wrong about Bernie from the git go. They have underestimated the power of his personality, straight talk and the anger of Americans of all stripe who know their country has been stolen by a handful of oligarchs.