Why calling Bernie Sanders a 'radical' is nonsense

[Uncle Joe]

(CNN)As the Democratic candidates for president continue to roll out policy positions, many pundits are classifying them as centrists (such as former Vice President Joe Biden) and radicals (such as Senator Bernie Sanders and a few others). But let's not confuse semantics and substance. Voters want and need a different standard: Which candidates have the most pragmatic solutions to America's woes?

It is clear to most Americans that our country faces several challenges. According to a Gallup poll from May 2019, 63% of Americans are dissatisfied with the way things are going in our country. Trust in the government is also at a low, with only 17% saying that Washington will do what is right "just about always" or "most of the time."

The US is now an outlier among high-income countries, and not in a good way. Compared to 25 peer countries, the US ranks poorly when it comes to life expectancy, maternal mortality, child poverty and income inequality. The situation is stark, especially for a country that prides itself on global leadership.

Yes, the US is relatively rich, with a GDP per capita that ranks fifth out of the 26 countries. However, the cumulative national income is heavily concentrated among the rich, and the US has the very highest income inequality out of the 26 countries.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/29/opinions/bernie-sanders-radical-sachs-fajans-turner/index.html

[hlthe2b]

1. I really don't think one has to do more than look at Sanders to know "radical" as a descriptor

is laughable.

[sop]

2. "Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth" - Lucy Parsons

Sanders is branded a "radical" by corporate media because he continues to hammer away at what he sees as the fundamental, over-arching problem facing America today: corporate greed and corruption, and the extreme wealth disparity that creates.

[yaesu]

3. Bernie's ideals are exactly where our party should have been for decades instead of the

middle of the road, cowering to the fascists crap.

[wyldwolf]

4. It is nonsense, I agree

His ideas are popular. He is, however, ineffectual.

[oldsoftie]

5. But his ideas cannot be paid for with his proposals. Nor anyone elses.

Even MY preferred candidate.

Look at all the ideas out there; 1000/500 a month for all families (depending on whos proposing), forgive 1.5 trillion student debt, medicare for all, free college, free childcare, etc. Not to mention the already existing 22 Trillion national debt.

NO ONE has ANY serious way to pay for all of it. A 70% tax, wall st transaction fees, removing Trumps tax cuts, all still will not raise nearly as much as all the ideas actually cost.

[wyldwolf]

6. FACTS. Like I said, he ineffectual

[sandensea]

7. Advocate for progress of any kind, you're a 'radical' - so the American Taliban always tell us