Bernie Sanders Platform. Dangerous...Failed...Rehashed...and NOT "Revolutionary"

I don't know what it is about the Left nowadays and the so-called "Revolution" of Bernie Sanders. I see so much support for him coming from "Liberals"/"Progressives" and can't wrap my head around how many I see that don't seem to have a grasp of history, policy, or economic and political theory. For those CONVINCED that Bernie Sanders is the 'answer'...think about the following and ask yourselves if your support is warranted and if you thought about these issues while supporting him:

1) An "Outsider"

Yet he has been in politics since 1968 when he officially ran for Senate and Governor as early as the mid 1970s. Roughly FORTY YEARS he has been in politics. Given the fact that he was involved in student government in his college days, one could argue it has been LONGER...He is 74. That means he has been a politician for over HALF of his life.

Outsider? Hardly anyone in Congress or the entire political class in our nation can boast that record. That's not an outsider, that's a dedicated lifelong political INSIDER.

2) Wall Street

Bernie wants to tax and regulate Wall Street more. It's a buzzword of his an everyone MEMES it. He wants to tax the '1%" and Bankers at higher rates, make them 'pay their fair share'...and tax across the board at rates which will no doubt DECREASE wealth for practically everyone.

12% average according to the very Non-Partisan "TAX FOUNDATION"

Read those numbers. Look at the effect on PAYROLL. The very thing Middle Class EMPLOYERS struggle with.

As far as Wall Street goes he wants to use a "Wall Street Tax" and redistribute the wealth across the board in numerous programs.
READ HIS POLICY ON HIS OWN WEBSITE

Sure, he has 'good ideas'...they sound great on paper. But notice how vague they are. And notice the SCOPE. How in the world, will a Democrat President..fighting a majority Republican Congress and nationwide Republican MAJORITY Governorship...pass all that LAW?

He can't, because the President doesn't have the power in the first place. These are bills voted on by CONGRESS. They are weighed in by COMMITTEES on Appropriations, Budgeting, Finance, etc. The President has ZERO power to allocate this money, outside of Executive Order, and even then he can't only skim the surface of power.

And he KNOWS this. Add the fact he would essentially be a "Lame Duck" this gets near impossible.
Is he going to set up a personal account in which he will redistribute all his money earned from taxes through to his various recipients?

And remember, we are TWENTY TRILLION in Debt. If Government could spend this $$$ wisely, would they? Hmmm

3) Illegal Immigration

You can read Bernie's own website about his stance on it. He is PRO-AMNESTY. In fact the other night on the debate he stated he would double down on Obama's Immigration policy, EXPAND the use of Executive Orders...and grant amnesty to ALL Illegal Immigrants. Let's break this down for a sec...

Sanders who pats himself on the back as the revolutionary fighter for justice and the middle class and the POOR, wants to grant citizenship to an immediate voting and working class, of foreign nationals, OVERNIGHT. Really? Inject upwards of 20 Million people into the workforce, when the workforce is flooded with low skilled labor now. People that largely have no grasp of language and culture. Have lower education...and he's the FIGHTER for the poor?

And what about Minorities..specifically BLACK Americans? Illegal Immigration affects them the most DIRECTLY of all demographics.
Tens of millions injected overnight to compete? And what new welfare TIDAL WAVE will come from those that cannot find work?
How is this policy at all an 'answer'? Who can say this is a good idea? Or rational? Or mathematically logical at ANY point?

Because Bernie is SELLING politics. He has to know it CAN'T work. And you are falling for it.

4) Wages/Corporations

Bernie and his followers meme this as the big selling point of Bernie's "revolution". Okay wage disparity. Yeah it's a rough when CEOs make hundreds times what an employee does. And there are many companies that are paying ZERO tax, or close to nothing. But again, a PRESIDENT does not have the power to change this. This requires LEGISLATION.

Hello? Lame Duck again....anyone home?

And if he could tax JUST them...remember that 20 Trillion Dollars we are in debt for? How did that accrue with people getting POORER? Where did the money go? And he proposes $15 an hour. Well on top of the tax plan of his, especially PAYROLL costs, cost of business going up altogether, how will any employer be able to fit a near DOUBLING of the national wage into his/her books?

Again, HOW does this get done?

5) Social Justice

One of Bernie's first acts was in Social Justice. He was involved in the Civil Rights movements of the 1960's locally. He is a man that was one of the top heads for the "Jesse Jackson for President" campaign locally too. He's recently met with Al Sharpton, who is a proven riot inciter, tax evader, and is heavily invested in race 'relations', which is actually a career long HUSTLE.

He also says that he wants to invest in Black communities more. How? Again, without local legislation HOW?

6) Education

One of Bernie's largest voting blocs is college aged 'young people', Both because the IDEA of Socialism appeals to them (now more than ever) and he speaks of FREE COLLEGE for all. So we have FREE college, FREE healthcare, HIGHER taxation across the board, some magical taxation of "The Rich" to pay for it, an flooded workforce of tens of MILLIONS of new citizens...(Which will also want higher education) ?

See where this is going? Where does all this money come from? It's starting to sound like a fantasy at this point....isn't it?

7) Single Payer?

So....after years and years of Obamacare legislation being argued, voted on, implemented, retooled, revamped, shaved here and there, addendums, we're supposed REVISIT healthcare entirely...again??

Which would mean new guidelines. New laws. More hospitals. New contracts with pharma and medical supply companies. More Doctors (imported), more nurses, more House and Senate Bills...wasted debate..and all again under a LAME DUCK PRESIDENCY.

BERNIE is a TOTALITARIAN who sees the power of the STATE as the force he wants to lead.. He wants to use the power of Government to completely take charge, while saying it's "The People"...which is utter BS. And he feels the STATE has the power to make us 'all equal'. He's offers a DO OVER of failed Socialist policies and claims "Social Democrat" as semantic cover. He's DUPED the poor and uneducated for votes and a power base for his "revolution"...which is no revolution, but rehashed approaches.

He claims he's not part of the system but has been in politics since the early 1980s, with the SAME exact platform.
For him this is the French Revolution, under the guise of "People Power", when his policies point to the STATE taking control, for our own good. His answer to the Banks, the Corporations, poverty, education, debt, fiscal policy, culture, justice...?

MORE STATE POWER! REVOLUTIONARY? Not in ANY sense of the word. Career Politician rehashing failed policy to unsuspecting voters...??

YEP....

a reply to: BatheInTheFountain

I'll take Bernie (unconditionally) over Billary, any day, no matter what. He is actually very likable. .... just saying .

I like to think of Bernie as someone who has plenty of experience in being immersed in corruption that he could be the first president (& only candidate) who will actively try to squash it. Obviously he can't come forward on that too hard yet, but he will if he gets the nomination I expect.

If Trump would start spouting rhetoric about using abc agencies to oust corruption in politics he'd be a real contender.

If it was trump v bern I'd vote Bernie, mainly because I want to see drastic changes to America, for better or worse. But if trump runs as 3rd party I would vote for him over R/D.

originally posted by: ReadLeader
a reply to: BatheInTheFountain

I'll take Bernie (unconditionally) over Billary, any day, no matter what. He is actually very likable. .... just saying .

Bears are likable. They'll also shred you apart and eat you.

Just saying

a reply to: ReadLeader

Bernie seems to be more "authentic" than Hillary could be any day. However, while I don't 100% agree with the OP, Bernie Sanders will have a difficult time helping avenge Americans if he's ever elected. Don't shot guys! Regardless where Bernie's heart is in this election season, we need to realize if we want to change anything we need to change it at home and at our communities. One man cannot simply force Washington and powerful companies to help us.

originally posted by: Esoterotica
I like to think of Bernie as someone who has plenty of experience in being immersed in corruption that he could be the first president (& only candidate) who will actively try to squash it. Obviously he can't come forward on that too hard yet, but he will if he gets the nomination I expect.

If Trump would start spouting rhetoric about using abc agencies to oust corruption in politics he'd be a real contender.

What 'corruption" has Bernie stated he'll expose?

Through what power?

This is the man that said we should ignore Hillary's emails.

Does that seems like Inspector Cluseau to you?

originally posted by: Teddy916
a reply to: ReadLeader

Bernie seems to be more "authentic" than Hillary could be any day. However, while I don't 100% agree with the OP, Bernie Sanders will have a difficult time helping avenge Americans if he's ever elected. Don't shot guys! Regardless where Bernie's heart is in this election season, we need to realize if we want to change anything we need to change it at home and at our communities. One man cannot simply force Washington and powerful companies to help us.

He may seem authentic. But authentic people have bad policies too. And he has LOADS.

I just listed 7 in the OP

a reply to: BatheInTheFountain

It's his message and ideology that matters the most.

Of course it is going to be next to impossible for a President Sanders to implement most of his plans , but -

Part of the goal is to not just elect Bernie Sanders as the 45th POTUS, but to also get rid of 90% of the house and senate.
Doing this and replacing these despots bloated with hidden cash deposits that fester and pop little bubbles of golden juice down their fat necks is the task at hand.

Bernie is doing such a great job than even joe nobody feels the need to tell us how they feel about him, every day.

a reply to: BatheInTheFountain

One mention of Hilary's emails by Bernie would be horrible politically. The repubs (& Hillarys ongoing investigations) are doing just fine on their own.

His whole stance on the corporotacracy & oligarchy is anti-corruption & greed. People say he's not an outsider, well that means he knows the system & where people are doing illegal things or being bribed etc etc

I didn't say he said anything specific like that though, saying what I hope he will say eventually as things heat up. But I think, politically, he can't go there until late in the game, if ever, seeing as the entire super delegate system itself is the epitome of corruption.
Trump could go there right now & it would pull the disgruntled populace to him. We need to unleash the FBI on congress imo.

I just love Bernie. I think he should write a book about his struggles. He needs to attack those who oppose him. We need change. More change

The main ingredient, the main sentiment or driving force I read coming from Bernie Sanders supporters, are things like:

"Likability, sincere, honest, good egg, means well, trustworthy"

Guys, this isn't a vote for who your neighbor or boyfriend/girlfriend should be. This is a vote for a person that can literally make or BREAK the country....for long periods of time.

originally posted by: dukeofjive696969
Bernie is doing such a great job than even joe nobody feels the need to tell us how they feel about him, every day.

Didn't know I needed to be a 'somebody' to contribute to ATS.

And what about Minorities..specifically BLACK Americans? Illegal Immigration affects them the most DIRECTLY of all demographics.
Tens of millions injected overnight to compete? And what new welfare TIDAL WAVE will come from those that cannot find work?

Are you seriously saying that should we have an influx of immigrants who are made legal citizens that Black people will be out of jobs because they will gave more competition? What are you insinuating, that these immigrants will right away run to their local government offices to apply for all the assistance they can, and thus Blacks will be thrown by the wayside? Statistically, more white people are on governmental assistance, first of all. Second, that was a seriously racist assumption to be throwing out there. Oh and I too would take Bernie over any other candidate, whether he has been a politician for forty years or more. His stance on important issues has not wavered over the years, nor does he pander to big money. I'd say that's a damn good reason to vote for him.

originally posted by: Menrva

And what about Minorities..specifically BLACK Americans? Illegal Immigration affects them the most DIRECTLY of all demographics.
Tens of millions injected overnight to compete? And what new welfare TIDAL WAVE will come from those that cannot find work?

Are you seriously saying that should we have an influx of immigrants who are made legal citizens that Black people will be out of jobs because they will gave more competition? What are you insinuating, that these immigrants will right away run to their local government offices to apply for all the assistance they can, and thus Blacks will be thrown by the wayside? Statistically, more white people are on governmental assistance, first of all. Second, that was a seriously racist assumption to be throwing out there. Oh and I too would take Bernie over any other candidate, whether he has been a politician for forty years or more. His stance on important issues has not wavered over the years, nor does he pander to big money. I'd say that's a damn good reason to vote for him.

So now I'm 'racist' for saying that unskilled Immigrants which are granted citizenship overnight, which were ILLEGAL Immigrants a day before...would compete for low skilled jobs and welfare benefits...

Though the economic data shows the direct impact on Black and Minority employment by those same Illegals..

Who knew...

What would a political thread be in 2016 without an accusation of "racism".

a reply to: BatheInTheFountain

What 'corruption" has Bernie stated he'll expose?

He already has. What other candidate is talking about super pacs and rampant corruption in DC and has made their campaign message around corruption to the extant that Bernie has?

It makes no sense to talk about any issue but corruption. You cant expect the corrupted group of people that signed the existing regulations to fix them. Its working just fine for them.

If he gets elected I expect a lame duck congress. All I want him to do is to keep TALKING about corruption so maybe the masses gets their heads out of their Arses and we can begin to fix the system.

Right now bringing corruption to the forefront is even more important than party ideals. The only political ideal that is implemented by the DNC and the GOP is an Oligarch.

You cant fix corruption till you make it an issue and it wont become and issue until its brought to the forefront.

Note I'm a libertarian which puts me in direct opposing views on his party ideals but until we remove corruption all we get is an Oligarch.

originally posted by: BatheInTheFountain
The main ingredient, the main sentiment or driving force I read coming from Bernie Sanders supporters, are things like:

"Likability, sincere, honest, good egg, means well, trustworthy"

Guys, this isn't a vote for who your neighbor or boyfriend/girlfriend should be. This is a vote for a person that can literally make or BREAK the country....for long periods of time.

Exactly. Whats the problem here?

It's time to wake up and take real action. As a country, we are getting shafted pretty hard.
33% of our earnings go towards missiles and bombs and oil, opium and coc aine conquest.

Other great countries out there spend 44% on taxes and get healthcare, food, housing and free higher education for those in need.

I'm tired of being the "greatest nation in the world" with no health insurance, etc coming out of my taxes.

Why does the greatest nation in the world have the highest incarceration rate?

This isn't the 80's, we are totally screwed now and when you add outsourcing to China and bringing in robot workers in an ever increasing world population, this isn't the f### 1980's.

This is 2016 and we are about to implode.

To the OP: Well said

Sorry I don't have something wise and lengthy to add, but there are a couple of thoughts I have on this.

Time and time again, when the "Grand Plan" has been attempted one thing has messed up the works: Human Nature! On its face Socialism and its various versions sounds like a humane way for a society to be run. Problem is that those at the top (and every level between them and the unwashed masses) are never going to willingly do what their job requires while living within the same means as those at the very bottom.

The other thing I've noticed over the years is that it's usually the "Smart People" who push these Progressive Utopias. What is the first thing that always happens when a society "Progresses" to the End Game? The killing fields see the bones of all the teachers, writers and other intellectuals begin to pile up...

It kind of reminds me of the "Bad Boy" syndrome where gullible and naive women betray their significant other for a guy with a lengthy list of completely destroyed relationships in the belief that they will be "Special Enough" that they won't be the most recent notch in his belt within an amazingly short time.

Capitalism has been getting a real beating, lately. I highly recommend "Who Stole The American Dream?" by Pulitzer Prize winner Hedrick Smith, published by Random House. It doesn't hold all of the answers, but it will sure educate you enough about the era starting about the time I was born (1952). I noticed in another thread that someone referred to Marxism as something like "scientific" politics. Scientists make a big deal out of how what you think or feel isn't relevant, science is about Cause & Effect and Facts. If you can read that book and still not understand what I've tried to say, then it's a lost cause...

Out of all the possible candidates on both sides of the aisle, he's the only one whose policies are least likely to result in the planet being a smoldering radioactive wasteland endorsed by God where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and the US military gets morphed into something that resembles Emperor Palpatines death star.

He can certainly do no worse than any other POTUS has done over the last 50 years.