He's pure. He's uncorrupted, and, even though he's been in politics for 30 years - making him a professional insider politician - he's somehow found that "sweet spot" that allows him to stay above the political fray, above all other bought-and-paid-for politicians (Lockheed Martin and Sandia, Inc., aside). Oh, and they also tell me he's definitely not a corporatist.
But that's not what his record tells me.
Sanders strengthens the smoke screen as he rails against the corporatist Democratic Party, the bloated Military Industrial Complex - promising to cut the military budget to fund, I don't know, whatever it is at that moment he wants to fund. He keenly omits, of course, his role in lobbying for corporate-giant Lockheed Martin's failed F-35 program for Burlington, Vermont, (Lockheed Martin, draws 82 percent of all revenue from taxpayers, and Lockheed’s information systems department gets 95 percent of its money from taxpayers - is this corporate welfare?) costing the American taxpayer already one trillion dollars - and growing. Consequently, Lockheed Martin's F-35 is the epitome of Pentagon waste.
Since I didn't really know the man (aside from always seeming to rail against both Parties - and specifically, President Obama), I ignored the rhetoric and looked at his legislative career. I find it seriously wanting in many areas, but especially those areas important to me (MIC, immigration, gun safety laws, supporting our first minority president). I also discovered that he's not exactly anti-war. He isn't that much different than Hillary Clinton, actually, except without the clout in Congress - a Congress he'll need in order to get any of his ambitious domestic agenda through. Understanding this Congress, it means he won't be able to much, if anything, through.
I soon got the feeling that his railing against "millionaires and billionaires" could have more to do with envy that he's not one, just as his railing against President Obama for offering chained CPI in the grand bargain was more out of self-interest: the threat of losing money out of his social security check that amounts to $39,281 per year (3273.42 per month).
My conclusion is, he's in it for himself and his family. And although his policies would benefit others, as well, I get the distinct feeling he's only in it for personal reasons. He's a professional politician who never really held a real job outside of government, and he doesn't appear the least bit presidential to me. He just doesn't have the temperament since he has the tendency to march angrily away when he's questioned. Can you imagine him having to deal with foreign heads of state and not hearing what he wants to hear? Just imagine it for a few seconds.
Based on the facts above, and my personal opinion of the man, I cannot support him. I will, of course, vote for him in the G.E. should he become the Democratic Party nom. No matter my misgivings of the man, he's a thousand times better than any Republican. I just hope it doesn't come to that.
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