Here are the 5 best things that have happened to Bernie Sanders since he announced.

a reply to: poncho1982

I believe that too problem is its not just us we have to consider other peoples opinions or why would they consider ours? Its not aboutwhat should be its what is possible. If you think the US will pass a universal healthcare law then you dont understand politics at all or believe only people with your opinion are right.

The right thing to do and what is void in modern politics is compromise and come up with something that works. There are a lot of models in the world that are not single payer that work very well foe the citizens.

a reply to: The Vagabond

When one considers both the industrial prison and military industrial complex are both funded by socialism, it would seem socialism has failed the common person in our society.

The absurd thing is the people that are against the good that can be done through socialism support the evil of todays socialistic programs, i.e. war, the drug war and for profit prisons.

a reply to: AlaskanDad

I don't understand how a prison run for the benefit of the capitalists who created it can be placed at the feet of socialism. Likewise for the military industrial complex which is run for the benefit of capitalists behind arms manufacturers.

What must be understood about socialism by proponents and opponents alike is that it is not a complete system. It is a tactic that may be used within other systems in limited ways where it is appropriate to circumstances. It pretty much only works when everyone has the same motives and there's one obvious way to satisfy them. On its own it cannot deal with conflict or disorder- it requires cooperation. Democracy cannot compel cooperation, Capitalism presents motives not to cooperate for some and gives them disproportionate power to interfere, and Authoritarianism can make socialism operate where it should fail, with the little catch 22 that it only works by hurting rather than helping the people.

In the American system, capitalism undermines both democracy and socialism, and uses authoritarianism to compensate.
In the Communist system, authoritarianism sets out to make socialism work and quickly becomes an end unto itself.

Thus you can see it is not inherent to socialism that we are all working together to fund prisons to lock us up in for no reason, but that is how authoritarianism uses socialism to mistreat everyone in an equal and efficient manner in a unique "dig your own grave" way that logically should never work but somehow does.

originally posted by: The Vagabond
a reply to: AlaskanDad

I don't understand how a prison run for the benefit of the capitalists who created it can be placed at the feet of socialism. Likewise for the military industrial complex which is run for the benefit of capitalists behind arms manufacturers.

Ah but the funding to pay for imprisonment is from government, so private prisons can be considered a product of socialism. So it would seam the capitalists have twisted socialism to their own ends, that being of greed and power.

Totally agree with your posts concepts!

a reply to: AlaskanDad

Socialism isn't simply public funded. Socialism is public/worker owned. Democratic Socialism is not Socialism, it's a mix of Capitalism and Socialism.

a reply to: Kali74

My point is; if Obamacare, welfare and Social Security can be deemed socialism, why not military and prisons???


With that in mind the US could be considered to spend more on socialism than any other country.


I hope you realize I am being very sarcastic, in pointing this out.

a reply to: AlaskanDad



Go Bernie!!!

Well, it's a touchy subject but...

The military is pretty darn socialist, especially if you use all of the services it offers:

1. Free clothes (uniform)
2. Free housing (base duplex style homes)
3. Free healthcare (Tricare)
4. Free food (mess hall for lunches)
5. Discounted groceries (AAFES/base exchange)
6. Discounted gasoline on post

The thing is, the military *has* to offer all of that because of the miserable starting pay. Enlisted guys starting off make next to nothing. When you make that little and have to take advantage of all the military services -- it sure sounds like you're living in a very socialist or communist society.

originally posted by: MystikMushroom
We can do better, we should do better. America should be setting an example for the rest of the world, instead of letting herself get bogged down in partisan bickering over idiotic ideological abstractions.

I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR EVERYONE ELSE'S GODDAMNED DOCTOR VISITS!!!! THOSE SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, JUST AS I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MINE AND MY OWN...

I do not understand what is so blasted difficult about that to understand. It isn't partisan, it isn't ideological, and it isn't "idiotic", it's simply the fact that sometimes life sucks the big one and you gotta figure your own way out of hell.

For that reason alone, Bernie Sanders can take a long walk, IMO. I will not vote for politicians who are more interested in jamming more hands into my wallet than they are in "allowing me" to keep a few more bucks I earned from my paycheck (God I flipping hate wording it like that... as if the tax payer is a freaking little child and those jackasses in DC are graciously permitting us to keep some of our own money.... ) This is victims standing up for themselves and stopping the theft. This is telling redistributionists like Sanders "Screw you, we won't put you in office over us." This is social Darwinism.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right?
All right, all right
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're all doing what we can
But if you want money
For people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right?
All right, all right
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right?
All right, all right!
All right, all right, all right!
All right, all right, all right!
All right, all right!

a reply to: burdman30ott6

I would gladly pay more taxes if you and your family and everyone else has free healthcare.

When you consider what wealth you have ever accumulated will eventually be wiped out by healthcare costs.

a reply to: AlaskanDad

It's an OCD thing of mine, sorry

a reply to: AlaskanDad

See, I do not want a revolution (or at least I don't really care one way or another) and I don't want to change the world. I want to be left the hell alone.

originally posted by: LDragonFire
a reply to: burdman30ott6

I would gladly pay more taxes if you and your family and everyone else has free healthcare.

When you consider what wealth you have ever accumulated will eventually be wiped out by healthcare costs.

I ungladly pay more taxes so a bunch of people I shouldn't be responsible for can have subsidized lives at the cost of my sweat. That is why I flat refuse to vote for anyone who even remotely supports higher taxes and more redistribution.

LMAO! Dude, I'm stuck in that zone between "I make too much to qualify for any tax breaks whatsoever" and "I don't make enough to accumulate any extra." They can have it all, my empire of dirt... If taxes were lower, then kalukalay! I could start amassing something worth protecting money-wise.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

It costs more to reimburse hospitals for unpaid emergency room bills (often for non emergencies, but they can't turn you away) than it does to provide basic health care insurance for all people. Unless of course you would prefer to move to policy where emergency rooms can turn you away if you can't pay and have people dying from easily treatable illnesses and medical problems.

a reply to: burdman30ott6

I bet it makes you angry that so many corporations pay so little in taxes? It makes me angry.

I support socialized healthcare. I also support forcing corporations to pay taxes plus pay a higher rate. I would also support paying higher individual taxes if we got free healthcare, because we all would be paying for it not just you.

I would also support tax breaks for corporations that paid living wages, and adding jobs.

Bernie's message is going to be very popular, as what he wants to do have been successful elsewhere.

originally posted by: Kali74
a reply to: burdman30ott6

It costs more to reimburse hospitals for unpaid emergency room bills (often for non emergencies, but they can't turn you away) than it does to provide basic health care insurance for all people. Unless of course you would prefer to move to policy where emergency rooms can turn you away if you can't pay and have people dying from easily treatable illnesses and medical problems.

For non-emergencies, yeah... turn them away.

But aside from that, those costs are picked up in higher costs of service for the folks who actually pay for their responsibilities, correct? Interesting, I didn't see E.R. costs go down after Obamacare was passed. Hmmmmm....

Well, if we want "freedom" from things like taxation and government interference, one can always move to Slab City:

Slab City or The Slabs (located at 33°15′32″N 115°27′59″WCoordinates: 33°15′32″N 115°27′59″W) is a snowbird campsite in the Colorado Desert in southeastern California, used by recreational vehicle owners and squatters from across North America.[1][2] It takes its name from the concrete slabs that remain from the abandoned World War II Marine barracks of Camp Dunlap.

Several thousand campers, many of them retired, use the site during the winter months. These "snowbirds" stay only for the winter, before migrating north in the spring to cooler climates. The temperatures during the summer are unforgiving (as high as 120 °F) (48 °C); nonetheless, there is a group of around 150 permanent residents who live in the Slabs all year round. Some of these "Slabbers" derive their living by way of government checks (SSI, Social Security, and Social Security Disability) and have been driven to the Slabs through poverty. Others have moved to The Slabs to learn how to live off the grid and to be left alone. Still others have moved there to stretch their retirement income.

The site is both decommissioned and uncontrolled, and there is no charge for parking. The camp has no electricity, no running water, no sewers nor toilets, and no trash pickup service. Many campers use generators or solar panels to generate electricity. Supplies can be purchased in nearby Niland, California, located about four miles (6 km) to the southwest of Slab City.

Wikipedia

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Some of these "Slabbers" derive their living by way of government checks (SSI, Social Security, and Social Security Disability)

We may have found Bernie Sanders' campaign headquarters!

a reply to: burdman30ott6

Whahah! You do have a sense of humor after all!

Honestly, that picture I posted reminds me where Bill's brother from "Kill Bill 2" lived...

I watched a documentary on that place last night...interesting folks to say the least.