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Forum Post: Will Bernie Sanders start a revolution?

Posted 8 years ago on June 24, 2015, 1:55 p.m. EST by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

"Burlington, Vermont (CNN)It wouldn't be the first time a revolution sparked in New England changed the world.

But two and a half centuries after the insurrection that birthed America, the idea that a rumpled radical like 73-year-old Vermont socialist Bernie Sanders could overthrow the U.S. economic, health care and tax systems seems farfetched at best.

Yet that's exactly the task the fiery U.S. senator has set himself in a presidential campaign targeting billionaire "oligarchs" who he says have hijacked America's economy and inflicted misery on the middle class.

Sanders, an agitator who doesn't suffer fools, political opponents or journalists gladly, is testing whether the kind of populist, liberal agenda that gave him 75% approval ratings in his adopted home state can catch fire nationwide.

"Brothers and sisters: Now is not the time for thinking small," Sanders told thousands of supporters in Burlington on Tuesday.

"Now is not the time for the same-old, same-old establishment politics and stale inside-the-Beltway ideas," Sanders said in an implicit denunciation of the runaway front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton.

The obstacles Sanders faces in the presidential primary race, however, are immense.

Sanders has no viable countrywide political organization, so he must foment a grassroots uprising. His task is complicated by the fact that although he caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate, he has always been a political independent wary of formal party affiliations...."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/28/politics/bernie-sanders-presidential-campaign-revolution/index.html

24 Comments

24 Comments


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[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

" I think, this is how political revolutions get started ..."

The Wisconsin Turn-out is getting Noticed

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

Add your name if you agree that the only long-term health care solution for America is a Medicare-for-all single-payer system.

Because of the Supreme Court's decision to protect the modest gains made under the Affordable Care Act, it is a good day for millions of Americans who will be able to keep their access to health care.

It's also a good day for the small business owners who, before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, couldn't afford the escalating cost of providing insurance for their employees.

But while I am glad the Supreme Court upheld the law, in my view, the only long-term solution to America's health care crisis is a Medicare-for-all single-payer system.

I start my approach to health care from two very simple premises:

  1. Health care must be recognized as a right, not a privilege—every man, woman and child in our country should be able to access quality care regardless of their income.

  2. We must create a national system to provide care for every single American in the most cost-effective way possible.

Tragically, the United States fails in both areas.

The health insurance lobbyists and big pharmaceutical companies make "national health care" sound scary. It's not.

In fact, a large single-payer system already exists in the United States. It's called Medicare and the people enrolled give it high marks. More importantly, it has succeeded in providing near-universal coverage to Americans over age 65 in a very cost-effective manner.

It's time to expand that program to all Americans.

If we are serious about providing high-quality, affordable care as a right for all Americans, the only solution to this crisis is a Medicare-for-all single-payer system. Add your name to our petition if you agree.

The American people understand that our current health care system is not working.

They understand that the profiteering of the pharmaceutical industry and private insurance companies causes the United States to spend more per capita on health care than any other nation, while our life expectancy, infant mortality and preventable deaths outcomes are worse than most other countries.

We should be spending our money on care and disease prevention, not paper-pushing and debt collection. But the simple truth is that our efforts to eliminate waste and profiteering are endangered by these powerful corporate interests.

A single-payer system will expand employment and lift a major financial weight off of businesses burdened by employee health expenses. And the millions of Americans stuck in jobs they don't like, they would be free to explore more productive opportunities as they desire.

I attempted to offer a single-payer amendment during the Affordable Care Act debate, but my efforts were blocked.

But our time will come.

Add your name to mine if you agree it's time for America to adopt a Medicare-for-all single-payer health care system.

I am convinced today more than ever before that universal quality health care as a right will eventually become the law of the land. It is the only way forward.

Thank you for adding your name to mine, Bernie Sanders

PAID FOR BY BERNIE 2016

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

Bernie Rocks Wisconsin

Bernie Sanders holds biggest rally of the campaign to date. AP: “Sanders packed the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Madison, filling its 10,000 seats to show his bid to snatch the Democratic nomination from front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton isn’t a longshot after all.”

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

It's beginning. This is the 1st I've seen. It is one of the groups that I asked if they could use the voting record to show facts of who is working for the people and who is working against the people. It's only been a short while since I began to ask. And - Now - there is this:

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a dangerous bill that would invalidate our best chance at climate action, with 247 (239 Republicans and 8 Democrats) voting for the bill and 180 (4 Republicans and 176 Democrats) voting against. The bill allows states to simply opt-out of the EPA's Clean Power Plan—America's first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from our existing power plants.

With this vote, the House undermined one of the biggest steps we could take to boost clean energy. EPA hasn't even finished writing the plan, and the House is already trying to help climate opponents wiggle out of it.

Find out how YOUR member of Congress voted—and either thank them for standing up for climate action, or tell them how disappointed you are in their decision.

When he proposed this bill, Rep. Whitfield chose to ignore the nearly 9 million comments Americans sent to the EPA supporting pollution limits. He chose to ignore the fact that a recent study by Yale found that nearly two-thirds of Americans support strict carbon limits on existing power plants, and that public support for clean energy is at an all-time high.

And when lawmakers voted to support this bill, they ignored the tens of thousands of messages EDF activists sent standing against this bill. But we can still send a message: this is not the leadership we need.

With our easy tool, you can find out how your Representative voted—and make sure they know what you think.

Heather ShelbyThank you for standing up for climate action, HeatherShelbySignature Heather Shelby Action Network Manager


In the section provided - I added:

Further - I guess that if you can not work for the benefit of the people to promote forward and implement affordable clean energy - then you should resign from office (or not run again) and get a job in the private sector - hopefully doing something that will not hurt the environment.

People are getting educated - We are beginning to take real note of how our elected representatives are voting. No more pretty speeches - we are looking at actual actions.

[-] 1 points by Nevada1 (5843) 8 years ago

Signed, and letter of disapproval sent to stink bomb congressman sent.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

I very much liked the use of the voting record - I look forward to seeing more of those.

[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 8 years ago

Would you be willing to vote out a Democrat and replace them with a Republican if they voted for the TPP?

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

Bernie's awesome momentum in one glorious picture.

" Bernie transcends political parties. He is a true independent leader. Bernie can reach out to working-class Republicans -- he can authentically and convincingly cross party lines -- because Bernie is Bernie. And, with his record of honesty and consistency over 40 years in politics, he does not need to hide behind cheap tricks and party-aligned rhetoric."

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

Show me a republican that stands solidly with Bernie Sanders and his full agenda - a republican that has a history to back up the claimed stance. There are at least 28 corp(se)oRat top tenth of the1% supporting dems that I would vote against.

Now whether I would vote for another individual running as a dem or whether I would vote for an individual running as a rep to replace the incumbent or not would depend on the individual.

It is not about party affiliation - it "is" about whether or not individuals actually work to support the people or not (consistently).

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

"Will Bernie Sanders start a revolution? "

He just might: (the latest)

In this election, there's going to be a whole mess of shadowy Super PACs funded by the super wealthy for nearly every presidential candidate.

That is, everyone except for our campaign.

The Supreme Court's decisions in Citizens United and other cases opened the gates to a flood of billions of dollars that threatens to undermine our democracy.

I have led the fight to put an end to the corrupting influence of big money in our politics. What we need now is a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

Our democracy is not for sale. Can you sign our petition to join me in supporting a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United? Click here to add your name.

It's not an accident that 99% of new income created in the last 5 years went to the top 1%. It’s not an accident that Republicans refuse to accept the reality of climate change. It’s not an accident that the Republican budget calls for huge tax breaks for billionaires.

The lesson here is that our political system isn't broken, it's rigged.

The laws are written by politicians to please the corporations and ultra-wealthy, who bought those politicians with hundreds of millions of dollars in political contributions.

We need a political revolution to return our government to be of the people, by the people, for the people.

It starts with taking our country's destiny out of the hands of the billionaires who want to buy this election. We must overturn Citizens United to get big money out of politics.

Click here to add your name to our petition calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

Thanks for your support,

Bernie Sanders

Paid for by Bernie 2016 (not the billionaires)

To unsubscribe from ALL Daily Kos emails, visit this link. To opt-out ONLY from action emails, visit this link.

[-] 2 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 8 years ago

good interview

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

Will Bernie Sanders start a revolution?

With proper support from the people - He could be very successful.

I sent off to his attention a couple of tools that he should put to good use in his campaign:

50 state senatorial listing of who to remove from office. Please share.

50 state congressional listing of who to remove from office. Please share.

[-] 2 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 8 years ago

Did you see the post about Bernie and Cornel West?

[-] -1 points by mdonelly (324) from Mineola, NY 8 years ago

Are the CORRUPT DEMOCRATIC Senators Schumer, Menedez, and Feinstein on your *shit-list too? And what about DEMOCRATIC Mayor 1% of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, did he make the list? And how "bout YOUR CORRUPT DEMOCRATIC President who pushed so hard for the TPP? Will you be starting an impeachment campaign on him?

[-] 2 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 8 years ago

Here's a post I put up two years ago about attacking Schumer in the primaries, you didn't support that because doing something to make things better isn't your way, you prefer to bitch about shit and do nothing.

https://occupywallst.org/forum/it-is-time-for-ows-to-get-involved-and-challenge-s/

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago
[-] -1 points by mdonelly (324) from Mineola, NY 8 years ago

By calling it "the peoples shit list" (my emphasis), do you think that adds more validity to your shilling for more CORRUPT DEMOCRATS, and for your goal of co-opting our struggle into the CORRUPT DEMOCRATIC Party? Both parties stink BIG time!

[-] 2 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 8 years ago

So two years ago where were you when OWS could have launched a primary attack on Shumer? Oh that's right you don't give a damn about anything but your stupid ego driven bullshit Green Party.

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago
[-] -1 points by turbocharger (1756) 8 years ago

Politicians don't start revolutions, revolutionaries start revolutions. The politicians simply find a way to capitalize off of it.

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 8 years ago

19th track "(We are not about Democracy)"

As some can plainly see

We feign to support it

While doing our best to get the public not to participate to own it or control it

We spout propaganda while trying to expound that the public is unable to make a difference and so should just protest instead of voting out those working against them - as that would be futile

Thus we get a lot of mileage to argue our meaningless "public self defeating" circular logic arguments - that to make a difference one must opt out

  • by (mdonelly, turbocharger, lugano, windyacres - harmonizing & the Cronies singing back-up)
[-] 1 points by factsrfun (8310) from Phoenix, AZ 8 years ago

Who really gives a damn about what a Rand Paul loving con has to say anyway?

What the hell would you know about revolution?

You're too worried about your taxes going up to worry about a revolution.