Bernie

So it’s very possible that Bernie Sanders could win the Democratic primary. Shame on the Democrats.      Now, the supporters of Sanders have solid arguments for the positions he espouses and I agree heartily that health care for everyone, easier access to opportunities and education for all and a more equitable distribution of wealth as it existed when my parents and their parents were growing up -all are desirable. I just haven’t heard a reasonable explanation as to how that would happen. Certainly it cannot happen by just electing Bernie. He’s not a communist nor is he a socialist. But he should be aggressively questioned about his many actions and statements that suggest a favorable ness to those two political philosophies and their conduct. He refers to countries like Denmark, Norway and Sweden as examples of democratic socialism. And he is right that the majority of industrial nations have universal health care and a much more inclusive and beneficial social protection network. He does not mention those countries’ very high tax rates, their high anxiety rate amount the population and of course suicides. And their economic competitiveness amount the nations of the world is not high because the idea of capitalism is not encouraged. Just like we have in the past we need to take advantage of the best of other countries but not to diminish what has made us successful. We are blessed with a land mass rich with treasures. And we are blessed to be a nation of immigrants. Our competitiveness and creativity are a result of those two blessings.    Back to Bernie; he’s been around for 40 plus years advocating his positions. And, he has worked in this country’s political system. What are his concrete accomplishments, his landmark legislative achievements, his bipartisan successes? I can’t find any.    We can get to those goals that improve all lives with the society and governing systems we have. It will take time and the leaders who can get that done are moderate progressives.  But right now in 2020 there is an existential threat to Sanders that he cannot overcome-and that is TRUMP.      The “ polemic in chief” will eviscerate the 78 year old heart attack victim; call him a communist who visited Moscow right after he got married, nicknamed him “crazy Bernie”, a Soviet socialist and totally ineffective legislator. And that’s just the beginning.    The Dems have to present an alternative to the destructor of American democracy. A candidate with few vulnerabilities for Trump to trash and demean. There are many voters in those swing states that have to be convinced they are choosing a solid, sturdy leader who can maturely and truthfully get the nation back on track.