Bernie Sanders Is About as Radical as Harry Truman

[cal04]

The mainstream media continues to be shocked that Bernie Sanders keeps gaining traction against frontrunner Hillary Clinton. However, if you look at what Sanders actually stands for, it is well within the mainstream of what used to be the Democratic Party.

Ever since Jimmy Carter, it has been evident that much of the Democratic electorate, and for that matter much of the country, is more progressive in its core values than what Democratic presidents have been offering. As big money has crowded out grass-roots democracy, the policies that people crave are simply not on offer.

There is also the historical accident of which leaders arise at what moments. We have not had a large number of plausible progressives with national appeal.

(Snip)
Half a century ago, such ideas as full employment, a strong labor movement, national health insurance, investments in early childhood, free higher education, ending poverty in the richest nation on earth, progressive taxation, large-scale public infrastructure outlay, effective consumer regulation, and full enforcement of civil rights were utterly mainstream. Guess what? They still are.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/8242074

Robert Kuttner

[ZM90]

1. "If the choice is between a Republican and a Democrat who acts like a Republican the voters will

choose the real Republican every time." -Harry Truman

It's a good thing Bernie acts like a real Democrat just like Harry Truman .

[Enthusiast]

2. Precisely.