Just saw this New Yorker article about Sanders. I'm curious what Sanders supporters think of it. Is it a fair appraisal of the man?
He puts Sanders in historical perspective which is helpful.
I had thought of Sanders as an FDR democrat and a social democrat, rather than a democratic socialist. Although Sanders compares himself to FDR and brings up Denmark in his interviews, the article points to Sanders' insistence that he's a democratic socialist and there is a big difference. FDR never called himself a socialist, and Denmark is not socialist, but a social democracy.
While Sanders and FDR spoke about the same things for Americans -- free health care for all, free education, unions; FDR himself was wealthy and believed in what he called Moral Capitalism and never socialism. (But FDR suffered from a disability and was in a wheelchair and many say that is why he was so sympathetic to those who could not work through no fault of their own--the disabled, the elderly, and dependent children.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/how-socialist-is-bernie-sanders
Liz Warren fits the FDR vision more than any other. She wants health care for all, and break-up of vulture capitalism while preserving moral capitalism.
Social Democrat and Democratic Socialist are pretty much synonyms. I'm not sure why Sanders uses the latter, but I think it's meant to emphasize the socialism.
The definition of Social Democracy is:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20democracy
I can't vote so my opinion doesn't matter but if I could it would be Bernie or warren for me. I am one of those progressive millenials who is sick of seeing the politicians being bought up by the corporations. I am also sick of the way the mainstream media is bought by the same. I've got a lot of life in me and so do other millennials, we know the boomers are against us but we are the future and whatever happens now this movement Bernie started is going nowhere, it's only going to grow with time.
I know I sound angry and I apologize, but I passionately believe this country needs another FDR, without a bold progressive vision for the future and the courage to fight for it the slide to fascism will only continue. I support repealing citizen's united, medicare for all, free college, the green new deal and regulating and taxing the banks and the rich. A lot of people will dislike me for this, but I am beyond the point where that matters to me. I want to create a just, fair and equitable society for everyone not just for the privileged.
Apologies for the rant.
@natalie, I understand and can relate to much of your anger and frustration, and am glad you are expressing it here.
I am a boomer, and I'm not against you and other millennials. I love and respect your passion and insights. As a senior, it's invaluable for me to see the world through a set of young eyes. And I know a lot of boomers who also feel the same as me. There are many in my generation who, like you, want to create a just, fair and equitable society for everyone, not just for the privileged. We just may not always agree on the best approach of getting there.
I totally agree with you that the country needs another FDR. In fact, I just got back from voting. I voted for Warren.
"Everything will be okay in the end, if it's not okay, it's not the end" -John Lennon.
I just want to say that everything is happening for a reason. The world is going through a great change right now and from our lowly human perspective, everything seems out of control, chaotic and scary. But, be assured, from the highest perspective (the soul's) all is exactly as it should be. We are here to learn the greatest lesson: Unconditional Love. And right now there is so much opportunity for this. The question to ask yourselves is this: What can I learn from my actions and my feelings? Why do I feel so threatened by the views of others that I feel the need to separate rather than unify?
For the answers, I suggest, stopping, taking a rest from the outside focus and directing your attention inside to your heart. Here, you will realize that everything really is okay, both now and in the end.
@natalie, I understand and can relate to much of your anger and frustration, and am glad you are expressing it here.
I am a boomer, and I'm not against you and other millennials. I love and respect your passion and insights. As a senior, it's invaluable for me to see the world through a set of young eyes. And I know a lot of boomers who also feel the same as me. There are many in my generation who, like you, want to create a just, fair and equitable society for everyone, not just for the privileged. We just may not always agree on the best approach of getting there.
I totally agree with you that the country needs another FDR. In fact, I just got back from voting. I voted for Warren.
gen x-er here, but i agree with what @natalie & @deetoo said. I also just voted for Liz, and it felt great!
@natalie, you expressed my feelings better than if I had written them myself.
I went into this election season all for Warren who I know well and respect. I would love to have her as president. It was a hard decision.
But I voted for Bernie because I feel he is what we need to pull us back from the brink. I doubt we will get him because many dems just want the same old pre-Trump establishment.
But that system doesn't give our children a fighting chance at a soulful healthy existence. It's based on a paradigm that has replaced humane living with craziness, with living to work rather than working to live, with an oppressive existence to make profit for Mr. Big.
Of course I will vote for anyone who we put up against the Orange blight. Biden will be a good transition if he can unite the party and rally the people to a blue Congress.
Well, I believe that may be true to some extent. The flip side I have heard as well. I think by the time the election happens, some will still vote , some will not. But I am sure Bernie voters might feel burned, again. If Biden does end up as the nominee, he will need to be a uniter starting ASAP. He will really need to build bridges. He will need to find a way to inspire young people. He might start with Yang supporters ( AKA The Yang Gang) who are young but would not be upset like like Bernie ones might be. If Biden is the candidate, he would do well to name his potential cabinet early and include people like Warren, Yang and others which could help unite the party. He also needs to start making connections with Latino voters. Trump might not end up as the candidate and whoever is the nominee must be able to win against someone who might not ultimately be Trump.
thanks! I am not American and it all seems very complicated. Lets hope everyone can unite behind a great candidate.