Is Sanders a better indicator of the country's future direction than Trump?

[2facedboonefan]

I think the answer is yes. We've known for a while now that the country was moving back to the left. The GOP more or less admitted so after the last election. Young people and minorities overwhelmingly supported Obama. In this year's Democratic field, Sanders leads Clinton two to one among young voters and is teaching a whole generation that socialism isn't such a naughty word after all. Whether he wins the nomination or not, the importance of that can't be understated. The phrase "Conscience of a Democratic Socialist" comes to mind.

I think what we're seeing on the right is a backlash against the leftward shift of the country. Trump says he's going to "Make America Great Again". The social conservatives are going to keep declining in number and importance and this might be their last great cry. That's why candidates like Cruz and Trump are so popular while others like Rubio and Bush can't gain ground. Anything seen as moderate is rejected as part of the country's move to the left.

The thing that Trump and Sanders have in common is that they are perceived as outsiders. People are tired of "insider politicians". Whether or not they can put two and two together, that means they're tired of the influence of money in politics. Sanders channels that populism through his democratic socialist vision and tackles the issue directly. Trump more or less throws crap at the wall to see what sticks.

 

[theVoicefromtheTomb]

Are people tired of political insiders or are they tired of political insiders who cannot work together to solve problems?

 

[naturalmwa]

Are people tired of political insiders or are they tired of political insiders who cannot work together to solve problems?

Do you hear a loud drumbeat to elect compromisers and negotiators? I hear a lot of support for pure unwavering absolutists who never back down no matter what.

 

[NoleSoup4U]

This country has been moving towards statism since its inception. Unfortunately, it's the natural order of things and will eventually lead to a more readily noticed oligarch.

 

[theVoicefromtheTomb]

It's kind of a Catch 22

In the end I think it is the political process that is broken. We have gerrymandered districts to ensure a large number of safe seats in Congress. The politicos play to the base to ensure they get themselves reelected. That requires they be intractable on the issues that matter to their "safe" districts. Thus we have extreme positions that are not negotiable. The end result is a government that is never able to move on the the issues The lack of results is expressed as a frustration with Washington and political insiders.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Free college? $15/hr minimum wage? Medicare for everybody?

That is Sanders and if people want that as a future, they better brush up on their knowledge of being bankrupt.

 

[CeMar_Clone]

Are people tired of political insiders or are they tired of political insiders who cannot work together to solve problems?

If working together was important, than why vote for any democrat? If Bernie or Billary are elected, they will have no support from the House or the senate, so how could they possible get anything passed?

 

[SSG T]

Either way we're screwed. They are both horrible for completely different reasons.

 

[naturalmwa]

Free college? $15/hr minimum wage? Medicare for everybody?

That is Sanders and if people want that as a future, they better brush up on their knowledge of being bankrupt.

Medicare is cheaper than the current system and both of the others are a recipe for economic growth.

 

[naturalmwa]

If working together was important, than why vote for any democrat? If Bernie or Billary are elected, they will have no support from the House or the senate, so how could they possible get anything passed?

You're right on Bernie, but the Clintons will pass all sorts of stuff you like. Don't you remember the 90's? Ds compromise. Bernie isn't a D.

 

[IowaHawkeyeFBnBB4Life]

Medicare is cheaper than the current system and both of the others are a recipe for economic growth.

I knew you were a far left liberal, this only proves it

 

[theVoicefromtheTomb]

If working together was important, than why vote for any democrat? If Bernie or Billary are elected, they will have no support from the House or the senate, so how could they possible get anything passed?

It may be that Bernie and Hillary represent some segment of the population. Perhaps we could find a common ground where not everyone gets their way but everyone gets something.

 

[soybean]

You're right on Bernie, but the Clintons will pass all sorts of stuff you like. Don't you remember the 90's? Ds compromise. Bernie isn't a D.

Bernie has been a Democrat for a couplethree weeks now. He has no connection to most Democrats in Congress. The GOP is likely to stay in the majority in both houses. Sanders will get absolutely nothing accomplished if he gets elected.

 

[naturalmwa]

Bernie has been a Democrat for a couplethree weeks now. He has no connection to most Democrats in Congress. The GOP is likely to stay in the majority in both houses. Sanders will get absolutely nothing accomplished if he gets elected.

I didn't know he joined the party. I thought he was just using the ticket.

 

[cigaretteman]

One would certainly hope so. Unfortunately, most of the electorate is too ignorant and brainwashed to ever vote for a "socialist."