No one expected, at least no one in the Media and the political establishment of both party the movement that happen in Democratic primary about a man who describe himself as Socialist.
Now, that's a new turn in American politics for sure.
His name is Bernie Sanders and he is seating Senator from Vermont in the present US Senate. His 73 years old and he attract more crowd everywhere he goes then all the individual candidates combined.
Will he snatch the nomination from Hillary this time around as Barack Obama did 2008?
Possible!
Why?
Cause its the same people who deviate within Democratic Party the first time around with the current President away from Hillary in 2008.
Democratic Party clearly has some issues that need to be indisputably addressed.
For a candidate that has a second chance, Hillary is doing herself no favor at all.
What issues will determine the democratic primary?
Before i go on to the list, let me just mention this simple fact: The other political Party has such insignificant appearance, even the field is crowded with all sorts of candidates and party color denomination, libertarians, conservatives, black,, brown, white and woman too. Older, younger and foreigner. Present and ex Governors, Senators and actors! Political Rashomon on display for entertainment of the masses!
None of them even represent an option in 2016 election year. It does not matter who will win their primary colors, the Republican Party is only local event nowadays. On Federal level they have nothing to offer whatsoever. The conservatism failed miserably everywhere was implemented, from states in America to sovereign states in Europe and the whole world. Its nothing but the politics of institutionalized racism, bigotry and discrimination. Maybe in the Southern Bible belt States that backwardness still ring any bells, but the rest of the world is rejecting conservatism as thing of the past. Like a rotary phone in a wireless world. It just don't fit anymore. Obsolete! The politics of low wages and lower taxes serve no good to any nation. Not even our South that become pitfall of poverty and pollution.
That being said, let us focus on the split in the democratic Party.
The issues that will determine the outcome of 2016 election are as follow:
1. Income Inequality;
2. Climate Change;
3. Human Rights;
They are all equally important and they are consequential upon each other, meaning one can not be separated from another and vice verse, not just in America, but in the World as a whole.
How do Hillary and Bernie Sanders approach and solve those issues will separate them from one another. Nothing else matter. The rest is just accent on a tomato: the first or the second syllable.
How does Income Inequality manifest in America: Minimum Wage Increase.
Recently Hillary come out in favor of $12 per hour minimum wage increase, contrary to Sanders support for $15 per hour minimum wage increase.
"- Let not just do it for the sake of having a higher number out there, lets get behind a proposal that actually has a chance of succeeding." - she said as seasoned politician who know a thing or two of passing a bill into a Law.
At first glance it seems Hillary is right, lets not fight over higher number, cause 12 is better then 7.25, even is lower then 15. After all, the increase will definitely depend on the will of the opposition in House and the Senate also.
In reality, nothing is further from the truth. One number represent nominal wage increase, other represent transforming the minimum wage into a living wage.
Right now the Federal Government recognize the need for assistance to any family of four making less then $32 243 a year, or 130% of Federal poverty guidelines, in income per year, which represent $15.5 per hour working 40 hours 52 weeks in 2015.
If we dwell in quasi economics that don't recognize the importance of being able to raise a family of four for the purpose of simple demographic reproduction, then i offer this short information for anyone in pursuit of better understanding of the standard used here.
Having said that "fighting" for less then $15 per hour minimum wage is nothing but political pondering in order to gain support of the gullible population and it is completly detach from the reality.
Hillary either don't understand the logistics behind the issue of raising the minimum wage to certain number and currently that number is closer to $16 per hour, not a year from now, not by 2020 or some other date in the future, but this 2015 year, or she have economics advisers who are not advising her properly, which in either case is her failure as presidential candidate.
How does Climate Change manifest in America: The Keystone Pipeline.
Recently Hillary was asked if she will allow the building of the Pipeline or deny it.
She decide to answer with a pause, same Question being posed to Senator Sanders and the answer is crystal clear. "No" to building Keystone Pipeline under any circumstances.
I do believe Hillary believe in Climate Change being man made and accelerated with use of dirty oil, i just don't believe she see how important is to draw a line in the send to Oil Industry lobby in America.
And Keystone Pipeline is that line in the send. I don't need studies to show me how many people will be hired along side the pipeline, i don't need a studies that going to assure me how safe the pipeline is transporting dirty oil compared with other form of transportation. I don't need any studies about the Pipeline, since i made my mind up to believe that climate change is treat to this Earth as planet, yet alone America as a state in witch i live in.
How does Human Rights manifest in America: Penitentiary System.
Many will associate this with legalizing marijuana, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The private for profit system need to become issue of the past. Its not just ridden with racism, it is deeply unjust too. The market approach to justice, create demand for offenders of any kind. Our police become domestic military that serve gun lobby playing fast and furious with our citizens, our prisons protect corporate interest and serve money not the Society, our justice system is breeding ground that turn petty criminals into human factory of cheap labor, for years at no end. I deliberately don't even mention Guns.
After Sandy Hook elementary shooting I realize how soak is this country in their love for guns. All of it. Not even mass murder of their youngest will not repeal their second amendment misinterpretation of that outdated Law. The whole country is split between gun and no gun control, no matter how many of their citizens lives will end before their time. Its beyond pale to me.
Let me end this returning to every issue but the Second Amendment issue.
The Question that beg the Answer:
- Where do our candidate stand on the dismantling of private for profit system?
Well, as far as i know, they stumble on the first step: legalizing marijuana and let every inmate on marijuana charges free out of jail, Bernie little ahead of Hillary.
None of them will di-privatize our penitentiary system, not even Senator Sanders.
How those issues are dependent on one another?
What climate change got to do with criminal justice system and minimum wage.
What minimum wage increase got to do with illegal activities that render people in our justice system committing crime of passion, greed, or pure malice?
How the justice system reboot can save the planet? How one well paid family can save the planet and resist vices and vanity?
It is a choice we make as Society. Either we build a system that give a chance to a healthy development of a families enabling their time for laughter, or we create underclass to work and live in the shadows, one step away from breaking the Law. Either we educate our population to participate in building a healthy environment, or we nourish fewer portfolios of selected few.
There is no middle anymore.
There is no time for uncommitted mind anymore.
We may not save and we may not help everyone. It will take a generation or two the wounds to heel, memories to fade, Earth to be restored.
If we don't start now, every day we wait will be a day later, not closer to our goal.
If we elevate the minimum wage to a living wage, we will create a tide that will lift all the boats. Happiness is the best crime prevention. More income will generate more taxes in the budget and those programs that are starving now will get revenues to help more people being rehabbed into productive members of our Society. Abundance create more abundance. Knowledge push Science into field previously unknown: Innovations.
Innovations will save our Planet, not prayers. Innovations feedback elevate a Societal Conscience to level previously unseen. Nobility is not a gens one inherit, its years of comfort and stability.
Maybe Senator Sanders Movement will never bring him into the White House, but if Hillary want to create a mark in History as First Female President of United States, that mark shouldn't be her gender, but her attempt to curb Climate change by creating healthy environment for all American Families.
After all, aren't we "Out of many we are One".
Marie.
Now, that's a new turn in American politics for sure.
His name is Bernie Sanders and he is seating Senator from Vermont in the present US Senate. His 73 years old and he attract more crowd everywhere he goes then all the individual candidates combined.
Will he snatch the nomination from Hillary this time around as Barack Obama did 2008?
Possible!
Why?
Cause its the same people who deviate within Democratic Party the first time around with the current President away from Hillary in 2008.
Democratic Party clearly has some issues that need to be indisputably addressed.
For a candidate that has a second chance, Hillary is doing herself no favor at all.
What issues will determine the democratic primary?
Before i go on to the list, let me just mention this simple fact: The other political Party has such insignificant appearance, even the field is crowded with all sorts of candidates and party color denomination, libertarians, conservatives, black,, brown, white and woman too. Older, younger and foreigner. Present and ex Governors, Senators and actors! Political Rashomon on display for entertainment of the masses!
None of them even represent an option in 2016 election year. It does not matter who will win their primary colors, the Republican Party is only local event nowadays. On Federal level they have nothing to offer whatsoever. The conservatism failed miserably everywhere was implemented, from states in America to sovereign states in Europe and the whole world. Its nothing but the politics of institutionalized racism, bigotry and discrimination. Maybe in the Southern Bible belt States that backwardness still ring any bells, but the rest of the world is rejecting conservatism as thing of the past. Like a rotary phone in a wireless world. It just don't fit anymore. Obsolete! The politics of low wages and lower taxes serve no good to any nation. Not even our South that become pitfall of poverty and pollution.
That being said, let us focus on the split in the democratic Party.
The issues that will determine the outcome of 2016 election are as follow:
1. Income Inequality;
2. Climate Change;
3. Human Rights;
They are all equally important and they are consequential upon each other, meaning one can not be separated from another and vice verse, not just in America, but in the World as a whole.
How do Hillary and Bernie Sanders approach and solve those issues will separate them from one another. Nothing else matter. The rest is just accent on a tomato: the first or the second syllable.
How does Income Inequality manifest in America: Minimum Wage Increase.
Recently Hillary come out in favor of $12 per hour minimum wage increase, contrary to Sanders support for $15 per hour minimum wage increase.
"- Let not just do it for the sake of having a higher number out there, lets get behind a proposal that actually has a chance of succeeding." - she said as seasoned politician who know a thing or two of passing a bill into a Law.
At first glance it seems Hillary is right, lets not fight over higher number, cause 12 is better then 7.25, even is lower then 15. After all, the increase will definitely depend on the will of the opposition in House and the Senate also.
In reality, nothing is further from the truth. One number represent nominal wage increase, other represent transforming the minimum wage into a living wage.
Right now the Federal Government recognize the need for assistance to any family of four making less then $32 243 a year, or 130% of Federal poverty guidelines, in income per year, which represent $15.5 per hour working 40 hours 52 weeks in 2015.
If we dwell in quasi economics that don't recognize the importance of being able to raise a family of four for the purpose of simple demographic reproduction, then i offer this short information for anyone in pursuit of better understanding of the standard used here.
Having said that "fighting" for less then $15 per hour minimum wage is nothing but political pondering in order to gain support of the gullible population and it is completly detach from the reality.
Hillary either don't understand the logistics behind the issue of raising the minimum wage to certain number and currently that number is closer to $16 per hour, not a year from now, not by 2020 or some other date in the future, but this 2015 year, or she have economics advisers who are not advising her properly, which in either case is her failure as presidential candidate.
How does Climate Change manifest in America: The Keystone Pipeline.
Recently Hillary was asked if she will allow the building of the Pipeline or deny it.
She decide to answer with a pause, same Question being posed to Senator Sanders and the answer is crystal clear. "No" to building Keystone Pipeline under any circumstances.
I do believe Hillary believe in Climate Change being man made and accelerated with use of dirty oil, i just don't believe she see how important is to draw a line in the send to Oil Industry lobby in America.
And Keystone Pipeline is that line in the send. I don't need studies to show me how many people will be hired along side the pipeline, i don't need a studies that going to assure me how safe the pipeline is transporting dirty oil compared with other form of transportation. I don't need any studies about the Pipeline, since i made my mind up to believe that climate change is treat to this Earth as planet, yet alone America as a state in witch i live in.
How does Human Rights manifest in America: Penitentiary System.
Many will associate this with legalizing marijuana, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The private for profit system need to become issue of the past. Its not just ridden with racism, it is deeply unjust too. The market approach to justice, create demand for offenders of any kind. Our police become domestic military that serve gun lobby playing fast and furious with our citizens, our prisons protect corporate interest and serve money not the Society, our justice system is breeding ground that turn petty criminals into human factory of cheap labor, for years at no end. I deliberately don't even mention Guns.
After Sandy Hook elementary shooting I realize how soak is this country in their love for guns. All of it. Not even mass murder of their youngest will not repeal their second amendment misinterpretation of that outdated Law. The whole country is split between gun and no gun control, no matter how many of their citizens lives will end before their time. Its beyond pale to me.
Let me end this returning to every issue but the Second Amendment issue.
The Question that beg the Answer:
- Where do our candidate stand on the dismantling of private for profit system?
Well, as far as i know, they stumble on the first step: legalizing marijuana and let every inmate on marijuana charges free out of jail, Bernie little ahead of Hillary.
None of them will di-privatize our penitentiary system, not even Senator Sanders.
How those issues are dependent on one another?
What climate change got to do with criminal justice system and minimum wage.
What minimum wage increase got to do with illegal activities that render people in our justice system committing crime of passion, greed, or pure malice?
How the justice system reboot can save the planet? How one well paid family can save the planet and resist vices and vanity?
It is a choice we make as Society. Either we build a system that give a chance to a healthy development of a families enabling their time for laughter, or we create underclass to work and live in the shadows, one step away from breaking the Law. Either we educate our population to participate in building a healthy environment, or we nourish fewer portfolios of selected few.
There is no middle anymore.
There is no time for uncommitted mind anymore.
We may not save and we may not help everyone. It will take a generation or two the wounds to heel, memories to fade, Earth to be restored.
If we don't start now, every day we wait will be a day later, not closer to our goal.
If we elevate the minimum wage to a living wage, we will create a tide that will lift all the boats. Happiness is the best crime prevention. More income will generate more taxes in the budget and those programs that are starving now will get revenues to help more people being rehabbed into productive members of our Society. Abundance create more abundance. Knowledge push Science into field previously unknown: Innovations.
Innovations will save our Planet, not prayers. Innovations feedback elevate a Societal Conscience to level previously unseen. Nobility is not a gens one inherit, its years of comfort and stability.
Maybe Senator Sanders Movement will never bring him into the White House, but if Hillary want to create a mark in History as First Female President of United States, that mark shouldn't be her gender, but her attempt to curb Climate change by creating healthy environment for all American Families.
After all, aren't we "Out of many we are One".
Marie.
Hi Marie,
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very good analysis of the present situation. I personally would want the US going even more in a socialistic direction, which is impossible with both candidates. Even though Bernie Sanders calls himself a socialist, he's not coming close. Socialism doesn't start where Bernie is: top down. Socialism starts bottom up. As long as there is not a grassroots movement that starts vocalizing what people need and start getting support from other grassroots people, enough to form their own political force that chooses their own political candidates, it is not real socialism. Look at what Kshama Sawant is doing in Seattle. She comes from a grassroots movement and has been building that movement and that's why she was chosen so overwhelmingly into the city council of Seattle. Her policies are derived from the community that supports her.
Or look at Jill Stein. Her policies are even more socialistically defined, although I'm not sure how she got her base.
I'[m convinced that the US is not ripe yet for real socialistic policies and that for now the best chance to get a president that would not ruin the SCOTUS for a generation, Bernie Sanders is the best you can do right now. Hillary is definitely out of the question, because she's bought and paid for by Wall Street.
So, though I don't agree with you completely, I still think that you wrote down a valuable analysis of the present situation. Thanks for that.
Lydia