This is the first in a series of blog posts in which our volunteers answer questions they hear when they talk about Bernie Sanders.
Chris S.
Bernie Who?
This is the question I’ve been getting ever since I started talking my friends’ ears off in late April about Bernie Sanders. He is a senator from Vermont. He is an Independent but he caucuses with the Democrats. He is a 24-year veteran of Congress. And he’s a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. (Also, he happens to be a social democrat.)
Kelsey P.
OMG! SOCIALISM?!?
Bernie Sanders is a social democrat, which scares a lot of people. Socialism in its purest form dictates that the government owns ALL markets, it receives 100% of the profits, you work for the markets, and the government gives you everything you need. This, for many reasons, will NEVER happen in America – at least not in any of our lifetimes.
The #1 mistake we make when we talk about the economy is to assume that it has to be one way or another. However, all successful economies are mixed economies, where business is checked in order to serve the best interest of the masses, but the ability to have a business is not.
The truth is, our economy is not a one-way or the highway system. It’s most effective when it can adapt to fit the needs of the most, especially when they need it the most. This had always been the case in America until the Reaganomics takeover. Let’s not forget that NASA was founded by President Eisenhower, a Republican who oversaw a booming economy with a top marginal tax rate of 91%.
Mike K.
Even Bernie Sanders says the system is rigged, so why bother getting involved?
This question strikes at the heart of why I believe the Bernie 2016 campaign will actually lead to the most pragmatic revolution this country has ever seen. Many of us campaigned and voted for change in 2008, and yet even with a victory for “our guy” there has been little to show for it. Washington is still in the hands of special interests and the abuses of the 1% during the Wall st bailout lead many of us to physically occupy the streets.
But there is good news! In Bernie Sanders we have found the champion America has been ready for. Once elected, Sanders will not fail the American people in the way so many politicians have for three main reasons. First, Bernie takes no money from Super PACs; rather most of his donations come from average folk. This means he is beholden to the people, and not the special interests – Bernie will not feel the obligation to take a weekly meeting with Google. Second, Sanders has a proven track record of a non-wavering progressive agenda. He has been an unapologetic democratic socialist for decades and doesn’t run from his stance when confronted. Last, but not least is Bernie’s plan to maintain the grassroots network growing right now so that once in office he will have America as his ally against the special interests and 1%. When he can reach a deal even those with the opposing viewpoint, and most Americans agree with his stances, it would seem silly let this amazing chance drift out of our grasp, and allow Big Money to run not just politics, but our whole country as usual. Lets get out there and let people know that change in politics can really happen if we organize now and #FeelTheBern!
Bernie Sanders will not disappoint us if elected, but Washington and the federal government will continue to disappoint, if we re-elect the same Congress.
Run, Bernie supporters, RUN! We need to make sure there is a candidate on every ballot in all 435 congressional districts that will support Bernie’s agenda if he wins, and all the open Senate seats, too. Incumbents like Barbara Lee can be counted on to support the new President Sanders, but that’s not the case in most congressional districts nationwide. We need to give people more than just the top of the ticket to vote for, and allow for real, genuine revolutionary change if we win.
Thanks for all you do. Feel The Bern!
Thank you, Misty – yes, we need to run (and, in MLK’s words, if we can’t run, walk, and if we can’t walk crawl – but move). We here at BA4B are very interested in getting a progressive Congress elected to support Bernie’s presidency, and we can do it with the support of people like you. So thanks again – and keep on moving.
Thanks for another informative site. Where else could I get that type of info written in such an ideal way? I’ve a project that I am just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
Thank you for visiting. In the next week, we plan to publish some more information about Bernie and his record on the issues, as well as a helpful guide to conducting outreach, so stay tuned!