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1. Why we need term limits. Jesus this guy has spend his whole life running his mouth in congress.
2. He laughs at the thought that Iraq would ever pose us any threat.
This guy seriously needs to slip quietly into retirement and live off his government pension.
yeah, because everyone is stupid enough to believe that lie..
He's been fighting for small business owners for 40 years. Small business owners has for decades been one of his major supporters in Vermont, and he is probably the most popular politician in Vermont in the last 50 years, routinely getting 25% of the Republican vote as well. They know what he is about. He's a straight shooter, always fighting for the little man. He is running on the same classic common sense pro-worker and pro-American policy platform that FDR, Truman and Eisenhower did, simply because he is not beholden to anyone other than the voters. He's had the same positions on the issues for decade after decade.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
11,974 posts, read 25,486,476 times
Reputation: 12187
I think Liberals accurately state that many Americans are suffering and they want govt to help. The problem is they often fail to understand the root of the problem. They feel that all poor people are victims and refuse to acknowledge that the real cause is mostly bad behavior that was enabled by the govt.
Let's start with the Student Debt Crisis. It's real, I'm part of it. What is the root of the problem? People who were unqualified or uninterested going to school for too long, switching majors over and over, and graduating with a degree with poor market value. Free or reduced tuition doesn't solve that root problem. Then you'll have people going to school til they die to avoid paying back their loans. Like communism, that solution only works if 99% of people are virtuous. We know human nature is to milk the system as much as possible. The solution is to not allow anyone into a 4 yr university if they still need remedial work, anyone who is dropping tons of classes or switching majors more than once must sit out at least 2 semesters, similar to being kicked out for low GPA. Also, universities must post real time average starting salary for all majors so students can make good choices, just like a nutrition label on food.
We also have a poverty crisis. Wage stagnation is part of it but the #1 cause of poverty is single parenthood. It seems compassionate to give poor moms lots of welfare but that makes it economical for people to birth kids they can't provide for. It encourages birth outside of a married household, which every study or statistic prove is the best way to raise children. Instead of 2 incomes you have the same amount of bills on 1 income. That allow destroys savings, which makes people preputial renters. It is now considered acceptable for a man to not provide for children he fathers because the govt will make up the difference.
Consider the following facts that the mainstream media will never tell you:
12% of children raised by married parents experienced 1+ yr below poverty threshold
68% of children raised by a single mother experienced 1+ yr below poverty threshold
I think Liberals accurately state that many Americans are suffering and they want govt to help. The problem is they often fail to understand the root of the problem. They feel that all poor people are victims and refuse to acknowledge that the real cause is mostly bad behavior that was enabled by the govt.
Let's start with the Student Debt Crisis. It's real, I'm part of it. What is the root of the problem? People who were unqualified or uninterested going to school for too long, switching majors over and over, and graduating with a degree with poor market value. Free or reduced tuition doesn't solve that root problem. Then you'll have people going to school til they die to avoid paying back their loans. Like communism, that solution only works if 99% of people are virtuous. We know human nature is to milk the system as much as possible. The solution is to not allow anyone into a 4 yr university if they still need remedial work, anyone who is dropping tons of classes or switching majors more than once must sit out at least 2 semesters, similar to being kicked out for low GPA. Also, universities must post real time average starting salary for all majors so students can make good choices, just like a nutrition label on food.
We also have a poverty crisis. Wage stagnation is part of it but the #1 cause of poverty is single parenthood. It seems compassionate to give poor moms lots of welfare but that makes it economical for people to birth kids they can't provide for. It encourages birth outside of a married household, which every study or statistic prove is the best way to raise children. Instead of 2 incomes you have the same amount of bills on 1 income. That allow destroys savings, which makes people preputial renters. It is now considered acceptable for a man to not provide for children he fathers because the govt will make up the difference.
Consider the following facts that the mainstream media will never tell you:
12% of children raised by married parents experienced 1+ yr below poverty threshold
68% of children raised by a single mother experienced 1+ yr below poverty threshold
Let me just say that I like you.
I am under no illusion that Democrats will do what it takes to actually fix problems like poverty, student debt, etc.. because doing so would require assigning blame to personal behaviors and would alienate a lot of their base. But they acknowledge there are problems and try to do something, even if it's a band aid approach.
Conservatives increasingly either refuse to acknowledge that these problems exist; have regressed into some Randian fantasy world where others are not worthy of help from society; or think they can be solved with enough religious devotion.
I think Sanders idea of free college is a bad one. But he's created a plan of how to pay for it. And he's at least discussing the very real problem of the disappearing middle class.
I think Liberals accurately state that many Americans are suffering and they want govt to help. The problem is they often fail to understand the root of the problem. They feel that all poor people are victims and refuse to acknowledge that the real cause is mostly bad behavior that was enabled by the govt.
That isn't what I stated. The banks failed. The government forced the middle and lower classes to bail them out with trillions of dollars. Why is it wrong for those who have to pay for this to want some for themselves?
When I think of a socialist, I think of higher taxes and more intrusive centralized government.
Bernie has openly stated he's a socialist. So, why do you support someone who openly states he will raise your taxes and expand government?
So basically you have no idea what Sanders stands for other than what right wing media tells you, which means he must be a communist loving socialist that wants to tax everyone 100%.
That isn't what I stated. The banks failed. The government forced the middle and lower classes to bail them out with trillions of dollars. Why is it wrong for those who have to pay for this to want some for themselves?
Lets look at this a little further....the Bank Bailouts were not money provided for free, but a loan. The money was paid back with interest, and even at a profit.
I am not a fan of these bailouts, but there is a difference in a short term loan...than taking money from one part of the population to redistribute to others who "want some for themselves." Bernie is suggesting that the high income earners, who pay a disproportional share of federal taxes already should pay for more to help others (Top 20% of earners make 51% of income, but pay over 80% of federal taxes) which seems high to me.
We could also talk about school loans, making college for free, but to fund everyone's education, taxes would need to go up on the middle class as well....I paid off my 65K in school loans without help, so I am not too sympathetic for folks who decide to take big loans and ask for help paying them back. The root problem is the unfettered increase costs in academia and the realization, that when one takes a loan, they are accountable for paying it off.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
11,974 posts, read 25,486,476 times
Reputation: 12187
I do agree with Bernie on corporate welfare. The govt shouldn't crown kings. Why subsidize corn but not organic okra? I think more conservatives are coming around on this but many remain beholden to donors and lobbyist. I also favor strong environmental protection laws.
On stuff like free tuition... you can not forgot human nature. People will choose their own short term short interest over the long term interest of their nation or world every time. That's why socialism only works in a handful of very advanced nations. It works with iron German work ethic, it fails in Greece where people want to hang out at the beach all day. What happened when the USSR guaranteed everyone a job no matter what? People were crappy workers. Laziness is encoded in our DNA. Our ancestors survived by getting the most while exerting the least energy.
I'm for safety nets but we need to be careful about enabling bad behavior.
Tuition free college means the students who work hard in high school will get that seat in university, regardless of how poor he or she is. People who do terrible in high school will find it hard to compete for the seat. These days it is the opposite, it is increasingly the wallet of the parents that decide.
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