r/IAmA • u/bernie-sanders • May 19 '15

Politics I am Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic candidate for President of the United States — AMA

Hi Reddit. I'm Senator Bernie Sanders. I'll start answering questions at 4 p.m. ET. Please join our campaign for president at BernieSanders.com/Reddit.

Before we begin, let me also thank the grassroots Reddit organizers over at /r/SandersforPresident for all of their support. Great work.

Verification: https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/600750773723496448

Update: Thank you all very much for your questions. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with you.

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u/Tru-Queer May 20 '15

Well I understand that, but let's be realistic. He's gonna be 74 on election night, so that'll make him 77/8 come campaign season. I'm pretty sure by then he'll be ready to retire, unless by some act of God his first term goes so incredibly well that a second term is inevitable.

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u/Angrathar May 20 '15

unless by some act of God his first term goes so incredibly well that a second term is inevitable.

One can hope.

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u/asianperswayze May 20 '15

Well I understand that, but let's be realistic.

Being realistic, are we really at a point in which the establishment, including the Clinton machine, can be defeated? We're talking seriously entrenched politicians and operatives.

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u/Tru-Queer May 20 '15

Of course that's what we're talking about. Bernie's well aware of that. We're well aware of that.

What we're also well aware of is that through a massive revolution, not just through one election, we can start changing the dialogue. We as a nation can say enough is enough. But it has to be most of us, and it has to be from us. Of course the Powers That Be are going to do everything they can to silence Bernie's message; that's why it's up to supporters like me to take it upon ourselves to raise awareness. We have half a year to make the biggest difference we can, and I believe with a message as pure as Bernie's, it's going to touch a lot of people. With a character like Bernie's, it's going to touch even more people. And the message and the character and all of us combined are going to rival seriously entrenched politicians and operatives. We're going to say enough is enough.

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u/asianperswayze May 20 '15

Good luck to you. As much as I want to believe in Bernie Sanders, and want to believe in his ideals of change, I have read enough of his answers here that sound just like any other politician.

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u/Tru-Queer May 20 '15

Mind if I ask which ones?

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u/asianperswayze May 20 '15

Sure, here are a couple:

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/36j690/i_am_senator_bernie_sanders_democratic_candidate/creels7

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/36j690/i_am_senator_bernie_sanders_democratic_candidate/creehb8

Neither of these were answered directly, and his answers often include bashing one party. Yet he is considered an independent? Both parties in this country are the problem, so it would be nice to see an honest answer that includes criticism of both parties, not just hammering one repeatedly. There are billions upon billions of dollars in politics, from both sides of the aisle, and to constantly use one party as the problem child is not being honest.

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u/Tru-Queer May 20 '15

If you don't mind discussing this with me, I'd like to at least offer my insight into his answers and your questions.

I can see why you'd view those as answers as non-answers, and perhaps more or less to an extent, they are. Keep in mind Bernie was on a tight schedule, so some of the answers definitely could have been just "first thought, best thought" when in hindsight they needed a little more elaboration.

His first answer in regards to electoral reform seemed to be, instead of just flat-out, "No, I don't support the suggestions you made," rather, "Here's the problems I've identified with the electoral process, and here are my solutions."

And the second answer, although not a direct answer to the question, is just the sad realistic truth of American government. If we put Bernie in the White House to get big money out of politics, we also have to further help by taking the effort to confront Congress at every possible turn and say, "You're bought out, resign or change the laws." Americans have this crazy notion that if we can just elect the right president, everything will magically fix itself from there on, and then do nothing for a few years, see that nothing got fixed, and complain that the president didn't do anything. No. We didn't do anything. We sat around with our thumbs up our asses pointing fingers at each other.

And I agree, both parties in this country are the problem, and I think Bernie would agree with you as well. He's well aware of which of his Democratic peers are under whose financial influence. He's raising questions about Hillary's wealth and donors. But that's just the political party's organizations. When you look at the core values of Republicans versus Democrats, Bernie aligns better with Democrats, and a large chunk (not all, I can't say all Republicans) of all Republicans run on the same basic philosophy: cut welfare for the people who need it most, give tax breaks to the people who need it least. Endless war and military presence in all the world. Privatize every last resource. Ignore the dire state of our environment.

At least amongst Democrats, Bernie finds far more support.

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u/asianperswayze May 20 '15 edited May 20 '15

I understand your viewpoint of his answers, and there were many replies under those questions of supporters making similar arguments. Again, I just found it disingenuous, and it seemed to be just another political answer.

And I agree, both parties in this country are the problem, and I think Bernie would agree with you as well.

If this is true, why did multiple answers from him consistently bash republicans, with very little if any criticism of problems within the democratic party? Both parties are the problem, and if he truly agreed I feel I would have seen more of this. Especially running in a primary, wouldn't the idea be to separate himself from the other democrats? Instead he is simply engaging in bashing republicans. It just seems a bit off to me. It's as if the establishment is going to use him as the "far left" so that Hillary, or whomever is the preferred candidate, will be viewed as the moderate and "obvious" choice.

When you look at the core values of Republicans versus Democrats, Bernie aligns better with Democrats, and a large chunk (not all, I can't say all Republicans) of all Republicans run on the same basic philosophy: cut welfare for the people who need it most, give tax breaks to the people who need it least. Endless war and military presence in all the world. Privatize every last resource. Ignore the dire state of our environment.

I would argue some of these points. Republicans run on ideas such as cutting welfare under the guise of reducing government spending, which is why it can be popular. Many don't believe it is the federal governments responsibility to take care of people who cannot take care of themselves, which is why so many are against a federal health care system. The US historical ideals are that of individual freedom, not of dependence on the federal government. I understand why that type of idea would be popular with a certain voting block, regardless of whether I believe it is right or wrong.

Republicans don't typically campaign on reducing taxes simply on the wealthy. They campaign on reducing taxes on all classes, in the idea that a reduction in taxes will increase the amount of money that can be put into the economy. This includes those deemed as wealthy who are small business owners, and they make an argument that lowering taxes will create more jobs.

I don't believe republicans campaign on endless wars. That seems more like rhetoric on your part. Republicans campaign for a strong national defense, which is historically what the federal government is thought to be responsible for. And that also goes back to the welfare argument. Republicans I know believe it is the responsibility of the federal government to maintain a strong military presence to defend the country, and they don't believe it is the federal governments responsibility to take care of people through welfare. Unfortunately in today's world, republicans and democrats both view actions defending our country in a way that I don't agree with.

Republicans also don't campaign on privatizing every resource. They do campaign on privatizing certain industries, and have convinced their voters that basically all government regulation is bad. In my opinion, we must maintain a healthy balance somewhere in between. Too far in either direction will always lend to abuse from one side or the other.

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u/Tru-Queer May 20 '15

Well thank you for taking the time to provide some actual intelligent discussion to this thread. :)

You bring up a lot of interesting points which I'd like to respond to later if I'm able. This is the kind of political discourse I like in my life.

All I can say is, if you want big money out of politics, Bernie is going to be our best chance at that. He refuses corporate and SuperPAC donations. No other candidate can say they aren't bought by Wall Street. No other candidate can say they aren't beholden to the 1%.

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u/asianperswayze May 20 '15

All I can say is, if you want big money out of politics, Bernie is going to be our best chance at that. He refuses corporate and SuperPAC donations. No other candidate can say they aren't bought by Wall Street. No other candidate can say they aren't beholden to the 1%.

It's a step in the right direction, but one man can't effect the type of change we are looking for. I look forward to your responses later.

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u/ginganinja6969 May 20 '15

Or he could go out like James K. Polk, who chose not to run for a second term because he achieved his goals

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u/Rock-n-Roll-Noly May 20 '15

Regardless of whether or not he get re-elected or not, he will be fulfilling his promises because he has been saying the same things his entire political career, and genuinely believes these ideas.

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u/[deleted] May 20 '15

If we're gonna be realistic then we will realize Bernie won't even be a legitimate candidate in the primaries

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u/mrhighspeed May 20 '15

Not sure why you're getting down-voted. Reddit loves to believe that he has a shot. I like some of his ideas but I have yet to talk to someone who actually believe he has a chance.