I'd love to discuss this some. What policies of his are scary to you, and what policies do you think would not work here? It's so odd to me in general that we had a major recession caused by a number of factors merely 7 years ago that we're still recovering from and listening to the candidates its as if everyone has forgotten the why's and how's of it except Bernie. I was just talking about this with a friend last night actually...Republicans (of which I know you are one) seem to think that all liberals or Dems want to increase the size of government when its definitely not necessarily true. I don't think we need more govt bloat or even to raise taxes, I think we need to rid the govt entirely of the cronyism that renders it ineffectual in many senses to be the appropriate check and balance for the supranational corporate class. The revolving door of industry to govt to industry where the henhouse is being guarded by wolves needs to end. We need to diminish the failed experiment with private contractors getting sweetheart deals and public-private partnerships that almost never create a good ROI for the taxpayers given the outlay. Military waste (F35 anyone) is rife and needs overhaul. The off the books black budget for DOD and NSA is absurd and there is absolutely no oversight whatsoever, just a secret money pit. There are plenty of opportunities to tweak the govt that will not grow its size and stature, merely make it more effectual and efficient, more liberty driven and beholden to the people, and it only takes a budgetary reshuffle and some intelligent policies that I think Bernie has a grip on. The way we elect people and the insane money existing in politics only serves to entrench the problems and that's another area that Bernie addresses. I for one am weary of the oligarchy we have fashioned for ourselves and capitalism that's run amok to the point where it only works for the few. Bernie will not turn this country socialist, I can guarantee you that, he just understands that at the moment money and business have entirely co-opted the founding purpose and functionality of our govt, and proposes solutions that, each in isolation, will solve specific problems and regain parity within the public/private relations.
About to leave work and then am leaving for out of town for the long holiday weekend. Will happily address this early next week, just wanted to make sure it didn't seem like I am evading the question. I think his $15 minimum wage proposal is silly, his tax all the rich to make the poor richer stance using Scandinavia as an example is a farce, and his oft-repeated rhetoric that all the successful people are selfish, self-serving and the reason why we have a bunch of homeless and starving children is off base. Sure sounds good at a rally though.
I'm certainly not against everything he says, and there is a part of me that would laugh happily if he somehow defeated Clinton and/or Biden.
By the way, I'm not a Republican. Registered independent and while I've voted for the two Republican candidates the last two presidential elections, I do not tie myself to one party.
Sure thing, I'll be indisposed myself starting tomorrow anyway. Sorry for calling you Republican, registered independent with conservative leanings maybe? Libertarian? Labels don't really matter tho, policy does, I look forward to tossing some ideas around.
OK, sorry for the later than 'anticipated' response. Sometimes life gets in the way of RAWK, ya know?
I am in agreement with you that not all Democrats want a huge government and yes, cronyism in politics is a terrible thing and the main thing that has turned me off so much from when I was more idealistic about the political process. So yeah, Bernie doing as well as he is doing without the usual big money donations is something to be admired, no doubt. And the fact that he just went and spoke to students at Liberty University, one of, if not the most conservative school in the country, is also something to be applauded. I believe he said something to the effect of "it's important to have civil conversations with those that you disagree with" to the students and attendees there. You rarely hear that kind of thing in politics today and if I thought he had any idea what to do when it comes to economic decisions, he's the kinda guy I could see myself getting attached to as a voter.
But while not all Democrats believe in making the government bigger and more involved, Bernie Sanders is not one of them.
He wants to introduce a single-payer healthcare system for the entire country. Do you know that his home state of Vermont tried to do that a few years ago (which Bernie was very much in support of as a US Senator)? It completely and utterly flopped. Why? Because when the numbers were run, it was going to cost the people of Vermont incredible amounts of money (on top of a 10% increase in taxes to Vermonters) to fund it. Single-payer healthcare, scrapped in Vermont, a place where you Euros would probably look to as the bastion of all light and hope in this country.
His proposal to raise the national minimum wage to $15/hr would kill jobs. Sure, that hourly wage MIGHT work in places like NYC, Seattle or San Francisco. But to all the workers in non urban areas where the cost of living is much lower? Millions and millions would feel the effect, and it wouldn't be a good one. On top of that, companies would have to cut jobs to make up for the increased wages to pay. Managers and longer tenured employees currently making $10-$15/hour, what happens to them when brand new employees are making the same or more in wages?
While his plans to tax the hell out of the rich and corporations is fine and dandy, there's absolutely no way it pays for the healthcare system along with the other things that Bernie wants to expand (free college education, roads and bridges, increase of social security benefits, youth jobs initiatives, etc.). And if the rich can't pay for it all and the corporations can't pay for it all, where does the remaining money come from? I'm guessing the middle class, the same middle class that Bernie is trying to "save".
I think the man has some good intentions but I also think he is completely and utterly detached from reality on the things I've listed. He absolutely wants to increase government involvement in our day to day lives and I do not want any part of that. This government has f'ed up too many things already and continues to do so at an alarming rate.
He may just win the nomination over Hilary or Delaware Joe, but there's a long way to go and a lot more people on the Democratic side to win over with his far-left leanings.
Edit: Yes, I'm a independent with conservative leanings, I'm guessing part of that having to do with my faith.
And at the end of the day, this is my OPINION of Bernie Sanders. He's a democratic socialist and I don't want someone of that political persuasion running this country. I absolutely get it if you Euros think he's the best thing since sliced bread, and that's all fine and dandy. We live in two very different parts of the world.