It's amazing how much our views align. Every time I do those political quizzes, Bernie ends up near the top, but there is no way I would vote for in the primary. He's too extreme for America at the moment and the thought of more conservative judges on the supreme court cares the bejesus out of me. Social issues are the most important thing for me because they take generations to change and we can not have any more guys like Scalia and Thomas deciding on them. Citizens United already set us back decades.
Paul truly stands for small government (unlike other Republicans), and greater personal freedom. His policies don't focus on allowing the powerful to benefit, even if they may be able to exploit individuals. That is part of what is wrong with politics. Don't be part of the problem. 3rd parties and better candidates will never get the attention they deserve if we just assume nobody else will vote for them. FWIW, I'd vote for Sanders in a general election, I would not vote for Hillary.
First off standing for "small government" doesn't make you a populist. Rather it probably makes you the opposite of a populist. American populism traces its formal roots back to the early 1900s when farmers organized in order to demand greater government intervention in the economy. . The thought then, which is probably still valid, is that left untrammeled, the rich and powerful will buy off the government and use it to benefit themsleves at the expense of the rest of us. And right now ironically by many measures, we're living in the 2nd gilded age, so I guess they were right. Paul-ism is pretty much designed around changing our system of regulation to make it easier for the rich and powerful to do whatever the **** the want in the guise of "freedom" Name any single one of the Pauls' signature policies - repealing progressive taxation, rolling back civil rights protections, trashing social security. All of these are anti populist measures because they have the effect of tiliting the balance of power in favor of the already-powerful and away from the less powerful. It's one thing to say you "want a level playing field" - but it's incredibly cynical and disingenuous when you say you want a level playing field with full knowledge that the participants with vastly unequal resources will be able to bring those to bear to perpetuate the status quo indefinitely. It doesn't give you "greater personal freedom" to not regulate climate change - nor is it freedom loving to say that gay marriage should be left to the states with full knowledge that the red states will continue to legally **** over gays as much as they possibly can. That doesn't make you a populist, it makes you an *******.
It depends on what you mean by "populist" if you mean simply "a believer in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people" then Paul would certainly qualify as a libertarian. If by "populist" you mean a fan of far left big government policy, then he wouldn't be a "populist" by that definition. That said, I know your political leanings and to you I'm sure that you think nothing says greater personal freedom like more government regulation and increased government taxation and spending.
This is where I am too, and I think a lot of people are thinking this way. The people who think Sanders can't win the general are ignoring the polls saying that he would beat various Republican contenders and they are ignoring a lot of people who would never vote for Clinton or any other establishment candidate from either party.
You can't take any polling as gospel, especially now. The dynamics will change when both parties have nominees and coalesce behind their choices. I like the integrity Sanders brings, but I have a hard time seeing him as both the nominee and the President. Of course, I have have great difficulty in seeing any of the Repub candidates as a nominee, but one of them will be just that. As far as debates go, it's like watching the offensive line. If things are going OK, it is boring and only captures your interest if something bad happens.
Gotta agree with rimrocker and deck that Sanders doesn't look like a guy who would win in the general (of course, I also have my doubts about Clinton). But, I can't really go along with the strategy of voting party over candidate and picking the person with the best shot in the general. And it's because though I lean liberal in some ways, I'm not really a democrat and I don't really fear a republican government. They'd make choices I don't like, but I'm not in a panic about what terrible things they'll do once they have the reins. The system is more robust than that. And in any case the decision is only up to me in an infinitesimally small degree. So, I'll vote my conscience. If that means Ted Cruz comes out on top in the end, so be it, even though I think he's a sociopath.
I have been frequenting the D&D for about 6 or 7 years now, so it should not really shock me, but I still can't see how some of you are so far to the left. I mean I am 180 degrees away from anything the true left on this forum believe. It fascinates me that anyone can be that opposite of each other. Some of the people here like yourself, Cometswins, Sweet Lou, mc Mark, Franchiseblade(the only one I truly respect) etc... are complete polar opposites of my personal beliefs. It is hard to believe that people raised in the same country can be such polar opposites. I was raised middle class. I have never been rich. I was taught to work hard in life, do not count on the government for anything, respect others, and it will pay off from you. So far those philosophies have worked very well for me. I was also taught a lot of religious beliefs which have completely shaped my life but I will leave this out of the discussion. I just can't imagine how someone could be raised to believe as you and others like you do. This is not a personal attack on you rather just an honest question. You think people like me are completely bat**** crazy and I think people like you are completely bat**** crazy. Almost all of the people I know believe as I do and the ones who differ have very small differences in my beliefs. I know nobody personally who is 180 from myself. How can people raised in the same country under the same rules be such polar opposites???? This is a serious question!!!
Bernie had to do better, or Hillary worse for him to have a chance. Debate just confirmed that this really isn't a race. Bernie fans will continue to rally around him as the Rand fans did with him....but when it comes time to actually vote, I just can't see Bernie having staying power.
It's like one of those "why no NBA team will win the championship this year" sports columns pointing out the flaws of every team. Well, somebody will end up with the trophy at the end of the whole process.
fwiw I was a very strong Hillary supporter in 2008. Over Obama. But....not so enthusiastic this time. Seems it's a huge conflict for Bill and the Foundation to be receiving mega donations and grants from corps and governments while Hillary is President. I don't see how you overcome that.
Liberals wonder the same. It isn't unique to you and it is a fair question. Historically it isn't a surprise either, you can look at the situation in Europe less than 100 years ago with communists and right wing extremists having a very different vision of the world they live in. I notice it a lot in the United States when it comes to what this country was founded on and traditionally has been. I hear liberals and conservatives romanticizing the founding of the USA and believing that the founding fathers were in toe with their own political views. Look at religion. You view yourself as a Christian and feel strongly in your beliefs. I was raised by Jesuits and have a very different view of Christianity and Jesus than you do.
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I was raised lower-middle class. I have never been rich, we were downright poor by the time I was a teen. I was taught to work hard in life, do not count on the government for anything, respect others, and it will pay off for you. So far those philosophies have worked very well for me. I was also taught a lot of religious beliefs in 12 years of Catholic schools which have completely shaped my life but I will leave this out of the discussion. I am a pragmatic liberal progressive and can't understand how anyone can support the Republican party whose aim is to destroy the functionality of our government.
Regarding Sanders winning a hypothetical general election- In winning a national election, it's not about winning your base. They are already there. As a republican or democratic candidate, 1/3 of the voters are automatically for you, 1/3 are automatically against. It's that last third, the supposed independent voters in the middle, who you must woo in order to win a national election. Sanders has no problems with the democratic base on the left. The question is, how will the independents in the middle react to him? How many will listen to the definition of "democratic socialism" with an open mind? His policies are utterly middle-of-the-road standard fare for most free democracies in the world, but America has lurched so far right for so long, the middle may not be ready for it. We're coming back to the left as a country, and Bernie's popularity is a sign of that, but enough to truly win the general in 2016? I really don't know. I think he would do far better than most think. Back in 2007 I thought America really wasn't ready for a black president, and I'm so happy I was wrong about that. Hillary will do better with the middle 1/3, through recognition and moderate corporatist democratic policy. One last note- back in 2012, with the economy in bad shape, high unemployment, and very high negative ratings for an incumbent president, Obama still solidly beat Romney. He could have lost FL and still won. This is a turning point in national elections in the US. Despite very thorough analysis showing exactly what is turning people away from the republican party, they've tripled down on every negative they have. Xenophobia, homophobia, sexism, fiscal policy that only benefits wealthy Americans... The republican party will have to face a few more national trouncings before they can take a look in the mirror and change, or finally rupture along the gaping fault line between the fiscal conservatives and social conservatives under their single tent. Hillary has the best shot, but Bernie has a shot at winning the general. Not only because American demographics are changing, and the country is ready to come back to center after leaning right for so long- but because the republican brand, as it was in 2008, is dogsh**.
Some people come to their own conclusions, or more importantly grow up in an environment where they are allowed to do so. Some stuff sticks and some doesn't, I was raised by 2 very conservative Christians, and I grew up to be a pretty liberal Christian. I argue politics with my Dad every time I go to visit, but we argue in such a way that it helps each others understanding of the other side.
It is truly fascinating that people can turn out with such polar opposite beliefs in well EVERYTHING. As crazy as some people of the left think I am, I assure you I and people like me think they are just as crazy.
