24 ms·

What’s fascinating about Bernie is how familiar he is. A 1960s radical who went to a top level university (UofC), has never belonged to a union, has worked in

What’s fascinating about Bernie is how familiar he is. A 1960s radical who went to a top level university (UofC), has never belonged to a union, has worked in government or non profit sector all his life, etc. Never worked for consulting or finance or academia. There sorts of folks used to be much more common in politics. Now they’re mostly retired. It’s not bad per se. But not really new. In fact, very very old. I guess Bernie is the last roar of the 1960s generation. Very telling that his generation is rejecting him in the polls. 1960s radicals were always divisive an unpopular in mainstream America. The left hasn’t done a very good job figuring out what it’s next step should be, so taking a step back might be a good idea.

thundergolfer 7y ago
Really confused by your comment to be honest. Maybe it’s an age gap thing? because Bernie is a deeply unfamiliar political animal to people who are less than 40. Also the left knows exactly what it’s need step should be. There’s obvious changes to be made in the areas of healthcare, wealth inequality, and environment. In what sense has “the left” not got a clear next step?
- lasagnaphil 7y ago
  Maybe the commenter failed to distinguish between “left” and “liberal”, resulting in a confusion. Right now it’s the liberals who doesn’t have a clear next step, failing to acknowledge that they are part of the problem for the US’s staggering wealth inequality (which by the way, is the fundamental reason why Trump won), and now just trying to present a more “milder” version of Bernie’s policies to pander to voters.
  - pyuser583 7y ago
    I was referring to the Democratic Party, which is the more left leaning of the two main American political parties. And additional any left of center activists affiliated with it. Yes, one can refer to liberalism in an economic and philosophical sense which is very different. Yet, few Republicans, including very libertarian leaning ones, would ever identify as liberal. Nobody would call Barry Goldwater a liberal, even though he very much fit the definition.
    - Fjolsvith 7y ago
      > Nobody would call Barry Goldwater a liberal, even though he very much fit the definition. Only in the latter years of his career. [1] 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater
      - pyuser583 7y ago
        He never identified as a liberal, even in later years. He consistently called himself conservative. He accused the Republican Party of becoming liberal.

thundergolfer 7y ago

Really confused by your comment to be honest. Maybe it’s an age gap thing? because Bernie is a deeply unfamiliar political animal to people who are less than 40. Also the left knows exactly what it’s need step should be. There’s obvious changes to be made in the areas of healthcare, wealth inequality, and environment. In what sense has “the left” not got a clear next step?

lasagnaphil 7y ago
Maybe the commenter failed to distinguish between “left” and “liberal”, resulting in a confusion. Right now it’s the liberals who doesn’t have a clear next step, failing to acknowledge that they are part of the problem for the US’s staggering wealth inequality (which by the way, is the fundamental reason why Trump won), and now just trying to present a more “milder” version of Bernie’s policies to pander to voters.
- pyuser583 7y ago
  I was referring to the Democratic Party, which is the more left leaning of the two main American political parties. And additional any left of center activists affiliated with it. Yes, one can refer to liberalism in an economic and philosophical sense which is very different. Yet, few Republicans, including very libertarian leaning ones, would ever identify as liberal. Nobody would call Barry Goldwater a liberal, even though he very much fit the definition.
  - Fjolsvith 7y ago
    > Nobody would call Barry Goldwater a liberal, even though he very much fit the definition. Only in the latter years of his career. [1] 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Goldwater
    - pyuser583 7y ago
      He never identified as a liberal, even in later years. He consistently called himself conservative. He accused the Republican Party of becoming liberal.