Oooh! Bernie said rich people buying elections is oligarchy/not democracy!

[IdaBriggs]

No wonder the Hillary people are so upset - he nailed it!

http://m.krmg.com/ap/ap/top-news/the-latest-pope-meets-morales-before-vatican-confe/nq54j/

12:10 p.m.

Bernie Sanders is being peppered with questions from academics and ecclesiastics at the Vatican, giving the Democratic presidential hopeful a chance to expand on core campaign messages about the need to reform banking regulations, campaign finance rules and higher education.

After his initial speech Friday, Sanders was treated as something of the eminence grise of the United States, answering the questions of conference participants from around the globe.

Host Bishop Marcello Sanchez Sorondo kicked off the questioning, drawing out Sanders on his praise of Pope Francis and their shared condemnation of income inequality.

Sanders said: "We don't choose to politicize the pope ... But his spirit and courage and the fact, if I may say so here, that his words have gone way, way, way beyond the Catholic Church."

The Jewish candidate called the situation of public education in America "beyond disgraceful" and denounced campaign finance regulations that allow the wealthy to buy their way into office.

He said: "Is that really democracy? My view it is not. It's a move toward oligarchy."

The link is being updated regularly with the events of the trip.

Oh, and for those like myself who don't know what an "eminence grise" is, it means "a person who exercises power or influence in a certain sphere without holding an official position" - I looked it up.

This is delicious! Anyone else want some?

[snowy owl]

1. Carter on Hartmann said we have an oligarchy. What else can you call it? B=Anti Reagan

Civil Rights Act gutted. Polling stations reduced. Lines of people many of whom can no longer vote due to harsh restrictions. Thirty-nine governors republicans who have gutted democracy and taken money from Koch Brothers and others. Education taken over by corporatists and much less federal money going to states for education and other grant programs. Reagan gave us oligarchy. Small government for the People results in oligarchy where the rich buy up states and governments and eliminate programs for the people.

Bernie is our last hope. He is the anti-Reagan.