if there is one single good faith actor in the 2020 field on all fronts it's Bernie. i disagree with his entire ideology for the most part, but even beyond that he's an honorable man. he's been running on getting money out of politics for years, well before that was fashionable.

the "you're against dark money but you take campaign contributions" is just like what Ron Paul faced for years, ala "you're against big govt but work in the biggest govt arena." the insider pushing for change does more than an outsider demanding it.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/warren-vows-cancel-college-debt-140035929.html

Warren says $1k/month is not enough and offers a $50k one-time cancellation of debt her first day in office if elected

question is do people who do not have student debt (or paid it off already) get $50k too? that would only be fair

that just sounds like an absolute desperate grasp at getting younger people to vote for her.

Also yea, all those who paid anything since college costs were invented should get up to a 50k reimbursement (if we are to be "fair" but life aint fair). Imagine the amount of money that would cost lol

'the rich privileged elite' will pay for it by the wealth tax

100% agreed. Bernie is the OG, and his authenticity and credibility are a big part of his surprising appeal.

I'm not, however, sure if he could beat Trump in the general; and I'm even more sceptical of his chances at actually facilitating change should he be elected to the WH.

The great irony of bernie and his bros is that he's seen as an agent for great change. a potential to realize decades of stagnant progress for the furthest leftists. When in reality his best case scenario is as a conversation starter and potential turning point with incremental changes on his likely docket.

Bernie likely can't beat Trump straight up, but maybe. and if he does he's got a GOP senate, an all but GOP senate guaranteed after midterms, and a potential for a house flip after midterms. he'll then be trying to make large systematic changes through executive orders. a terrible prospect for even a moderate president.

Bernie would likely be another Obama. Some liberal change stymied by a slow system. Still, change being slow doesnt mean stop trying.

the funny thing is i was yelled at incredulously by a couple of bernie bros when i suggested incremental change, specifically by saying i supported medicare for some instead of for all right away.

doesnt take anything away from your post, which i agree with, just funny to me.

Depends how you phrased it. Incremental change shouldnt be a goal because you end up getting nothing. Ask for 10 and you will get 3, ask for 100 and you might get 10. Your goal should be for real tangible change as fast as possible while accepting incremental change as the likely reality.

asking for medicare for all, but accepting medicare for some as an intermediate step was how i phrased it. i even suggested a plan to bring in pools of private insurance on a tiered system all spelled out with specific timelines.

i was told that my desire to not have my insurance go through the roof and questionable coverage, in a year where my wife is pregnant and my child will require standard infant care and checkups, made me a heartless person. even my career in automation was brought up and i was asked if it made me feel guilty, with a smug face no less. so i responded "hey _____, you work at the university right?" (yes), "and bernie is against overpriced education and predatory loan practices, right" (yes, no longer smug, sensing where im going). and when i saw her face drop i didnt even finish, i just stole her smug look and enjoyed the huffs of indignation and nearly inaudible "well that's different". all from a couple in a shitty apartment, no kids, he's employed half the year, and she's a spoiled "my daddy paid for my _______" type. whereas i donate almost a literal ton of free veggies to poor people in my area every year, and my wife teaches 3-4 year old special ed kids. my wife was a bit upset, i was just laughing. typical bernie bros.

This post was edited by thesnipa on Jan 14 2020 11:06am