What Democratic Socialism means to Bernie Sanders

political ideology, politicians, political figures, politics in the media,

Everyone that is assuming Bernie is just a "Socialist" which is a very broad term -- isn't the saying deny ignorance? Go straight to the source and hear what "Democratic Socialism" is defined by Bernie Sanders.

Democratic Socialism DOES NOT do away with free markets. There's still money, still personal private property, still have the ability to get rich, still the possibility that you fall flat on your face if you don't work hard or just survive if you choose to do the menial or under valued. There would still be taxes to care for the incapable or people who for whatever reason are temporarily limited and to pay for government and infrastructure.

The first three videos are brief descriptions but the fourth goes into deep detail of what Democratic Socialism means to Bernie Sanders and is long but a good watch.

Attempting to differentiate between "Democratic Socialism," and "Communism," to those who oppose Bernie is about as fruitful as attempting to differentiate between "Semi-auto," and "full-auto," to those who oppose the freedom to bear arms.

It is a waste of time.

I mean - they're kind of the same, but not necessarily the same - but they're close enough. This is the attitude I've seen towards Democratic Socialism. Willful ignorance on the matter, and it's disappointing.

Full-auto and semi-auto are BASICALLY the same thing, there is a minute difference.

See how flimsy and silly that logic is? But - for some reason unbeknownst to myself - that is the prevailing "logic," when viewing Democratic Socialism.

Free anything is bad. The only thing I love more than debt slave society are the banks themselves. Your jobs wouldn't exist without CEOs & board of directors so stop whining about your wages. Money > God so F# you.

Did I miss anything?

a reply to: Gumerk
I don't really care what he or anyone else calls it.

He wants to spend a lot more than we do now... and we already spend a lot more than we have.

It sounds like the ravings of a lunatic to me.

What is so 'difficult' to understand about 'Democratic Socialism'.

Anytime the mob feels froggie they get to vote themselves a bunch of 'free' stuff.

At the expense of the constitutional RIGHTS see the 14th amendment of them evil rich.

Under D.S. they only exist to pay for the whims of the mob.

Short, and to the point without any BLOVIATING.

OK, here's the issue. Bernie wants to take an additional $18T/year out of the private system in order to attempt to finance his social Democracy. That's money coming out of everyone's pockets that will have dubious benefit. For example, I won't see the benefit of free college, but I'll be paying for it. It's debatable how much free health care will benefit me since health decisions in such a system are made based on bell curve numbers and I have a condition that is highly individualized in its treatment, meaning the bell curve approved government methods may not benefit me at all, leaving me out in the cold and worse off than I am now even though I won't have to pay for it ... except through taxes, and before you come back, I have seen this happen to people with migraine in social democracy single payer systems - the approved treatments do not always work for them, so they suffer.

And I still have to wonder ... if Bernie actually can raise an additional $18T in new revenues, why doesn't he pay down our existing debt with it instead of adding new spending?

a reply to: ketsuko

And I still have to wonder ... if Bernie actually can raise an additional $18T in new revenues, why doesn't he pay down our existing debt with it instead of adding new spending?

Bernie thinks money grows on rich trees.

Of course when the state is printing trillions of money out of thin air, Thus devaluing the dollar more than it already is, and as each day goes by the value of the dollar decreases.

Which means it takes more of it to buy the same things.

The terms millionaire, and billionaire are meaningless when one takes in to account FIAT CURRENCY.

Now since we would be looking at more taxes. The costs of those programs increase ever year.

Because the money keeps buying less, and less.

Sanders is selling snake oil, and some people buy it hook, line, and sinker.

Then there is the interest on that debt. Then there is the borrowing from other countries. Like China, and Japan.

That already finance the bulk of the programs we have now.

Since the 'people' are not paying for them.

We are looking at a whole wide array of new taxes.

Socialism is a delusional ideology. It's one of the most corrupt ideologies I have ever heard.

Hell it's a scam that makes evil Wall Street look like a rank amateur.

Personally, I don't doubt some of Bernie's ideas would be good. The problem is, is how do we get there from here? I have come to believe that a national single payer health care system, augmented with additionally purchased private insurance, would be a net gain for this country. What is not clear is what happens to the approximately 500,000 people currently working in the health insurance field. Some would stay on for those additional plans, but most would be out of work. The same goes for other programs...how do we get there from here without destroying our economy?

a reply to: Arizonaguy

I have come to believe that a national single payer health care system, augmented with additionally purchased private insurance, would be a net gain for this country

WHY ?

The STATE already is the largest health care provider in the country. Which is a monopoly. That costs us over 1 trillion dollars per year as it is.

Medicare, and medicaid.

Now since the 'people' aren't paying for those programs that use them. New taxes like the capital gains medicare surtax was created that was supposedly to cover the difference being spent.

Which it doesn't.

The STATE has no business being in 'business' of providing corporate products to the masses.

And that is supposedly a single payer. Doesn't work like that EVERYONE is paying for the over 120 million people on those programs.

The kicker there?

Look up medicare, and medicaid outsourcing.

Look people on those programs being told to supplement that 'care' with PRIVATE insurance.

And here is another thing.

If people actually do get that 'universal' health care they 'want' so much.

That means there would be absolutely NO NEED for medicare,medicaid, and planned parenthood.

You think the Sanders is EVER going to end those programs ?

NO.

a reply to: Gumerk

Here's what I care about: Bernie has the biggest spending plan that will allow our corrupt Congress to misappropriate and steal the most money from taxpayers. I also care that he has the biggest tax plan which will grow the federal government even larger giving them more power.

By that logic alone, Bernie must be the Establishment's choice. And so it would make sense that the media and parties have bent over backward to sell Bernie's image as the most anti-Establishment candidate.

It's a no-brainer, of course the Establishment loves Bernie. Why wouldn't they?

They do and therefore, I cannot support Bernie.

a reply to: Arizonaguy

Personally, I think health insurance as we understand it is part of the problem with the cost of health care, and it doesn't much matter whether we are talking about a private version or a public one like Medicaid, Medicare, or TriCare.

We've gotten to the point where we expect health insurance to pay for everything from the most routine health things to the most catastrophic ones, and when that happens, we lose touch with what our services should actually cost and arcane costs like paperwork and the costs of paperpushers start to get factored in along with the middlemen. True costs get shoved all over the place and hidden or inflated as part of the negotiating process.

Costs now reflect the deep pockets of the insurance companies and the government rather than what you or I could actually be expected to pay.

Imagine if our car insurance actually worked this way what car repairs like an oil change might actually cost us and what the premiums for the insurance might actually be.

Honestly, I think insurance needs to be scaled back to cover catastrophic needs like major traumas and diseases like cancer or chronic conditions leaving routine care and minor injury services to be priced into the average person's pocket. Imagine the $20 annual checkup ... OK maybe more like $50 or $60. Imagine offices offering an annual deal or monthly deal whereby you pay for a membership to the office and its doctors, and they take care of all your routine yearly care and minor services like stitches and the like at no cost because the annual membership covers their costs.

Then you buy a catastrophic policy like a life insurance that would follow you anywhere and it would cover you in the event of some major catastrophe like major surgery or cancer (or similar disease) or you could purchase a rider to have it serve to cover for chronic care should you be diagnosed with a chronic condition.

I want to know what part of "You Aint Gonna Get it" does he not understand, He will not win the nod and honestly neither will Trump, You guys will be looking at FRIGGIN TED CRUZ FOR PRESIDENT ! THANKS FOR THE PROTESTING AND LETTING HILLARY GET THE NOD YOU WANNABE IN THE COOL CROWD IDIOTS.

originally posted by: neo96
And here is another thing.

If people actually do get that 'universal' health care they 'want' so much.

That means there would be absolutely NO NEED for medicare,medicaid, and planned parenthood.

You think the Sanders is EVER going to end those programs ?

NO.

But that is exactly my thinking. By enacting a national health care system we actually can eliminate all those programs and consolidate them, actually reducing waste. If Sanders and the left wants this system, then they have to be willing to concede.

a reply to: Arizonaguy

One would think they would consolidate medicare, and medicaid in to one.

They don't, and they won't.

They want something 'different'.

That isn't different.

It's their way, and anyone that disagrees is 'hitler' or some other pejorative.

Who cares what that lame out of date moron loser thinks ?

a reply to: Arizonaguy

The problem with it is that you are then forcing people into a system where they are forced to subsidize things they do not agree with and that are highly controversial that get lumped under the unbrella of "health care." By creating a system that is single payer, it also generally rules out a system where those highly controversial things can be left in a separate system that leave people the freedom to leave themselves in or out as they wish which at least creates some separation because those private systems are either extremely expensive in a socialized health care system or generally outlawed.

Sanders wants to dictate salaries and control the means of production. He wants to make government bigger.

Pretty easy to understand.

Note the word "instead". Spending OUR tax dollars on things we want and need versus things politicians and corporations want and need, sounds pretty great.

a reply to: Kali74

How about things YOU want and think you need? I don't want "free" health care. I don't want "free" college. I don't basically want the government to make all those choices and decisions away from me. I spent 18 years growing up and learning how to be an adult human being. The last thing I need now that I've been basically living my independent life is for the bureaucrats in Washington to step in a tell me I've been doing it all wrong.