Melissa Harris-Perry, a weekend talk show host on MSNBC, who could have the victim of the politics of bullying. Recently, some cretin approached her at the Iowa caucuses and started acting in a threatening way. Although the situation had a "happy ending", one can easily understand why people live in fear when they are in the minority. (And in this case, I do not refer to color, as much as I refer to being in ANY minority.) Bullying people is a tactic which has been used since time immemorial, and will continue to be used until potential victims have ALL the tools to resist bullying.
Compare today's positions of the two major political parties. The Democrats are the more pacifistic party, seeking greater "gun control'. The GOP is the more bellicose party, defending "gun rights" every chance they get. So the supporters of our political left and its positions that are more likely to be bullied by people who are a few french fries short of a "Happy Meal". And, for the most part, we tolerate that.
Why do potential victims tolerate bullying? There are many reasons. For some, they do not wish to stoop to the level of the intellectually incompetent. For others, they are afraid of being chosen to be sacrificial lambs for the sake of social cohesion. As I said, there are many reasons, none of them good. It would make more sense for people to stand up to bullies and "go 'all in'". Yet, this goes against a primal instinct to run in the face of danger.
Recently, a different cretin barged into the offices of a Texas state legislator. Texas has both open carry and concealed carry. And there are no provisions to keep firearms out of the state capitol, where a few deranged madmen could take down the entire legislative branch of government, as well as its executive, if done at the right time. As much as I believe that the people must preserve the right and ability to rebel against a tyrannical government, this was hardly the time and place where that right was needed. This lawmaker had real reason to fear for his life. And all Texas is doing in response is to put "panic buttons" in legislators' offices - a potential case of "too little, too late."
Sadly, it looks like we're letting the bullies control us. Hopefully, we won't go down without a good fight....
Bernie Sanders - the "Independent" senator from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats. The big question for many is - Is his candidacy for real, or is he, like Elizabeth Warren from the sides, trying to pull Hillary Clinton to the left?
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There is one key element in play that benefits both Sanders and the Democratic party. By running on the Democratic ticket, he prevents a three way race (GOP Wingnut, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders as an independent) that would give the presidency to the GOP. Since Bernie plays nice with the Democrats (look at his debates with Hillary for example), the Democrats are more than happy to let him play in their sandbox. Even if he loses to Hillary, he has done his job - keeping the Democratic contender for the office of the president from going too far to the right to win votes.
However, Bernie's candidacy throws a monkey wrench into the expected coronation of Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party's candidate. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is an avowed Hillary supporter, and has gamed the Democratic Party debate schedule to prevent Bernie from getting name recognition. And yet, he may just yet win both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Can you imagine if Hillary is doomed to lose before the real campaign starts?
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As I see it, the important differences between Hillary's platform and Bernie's platform focuses on two areas: Regulation of the Banking Industry and Healthcare. Hillary has said that Wall Street needs greater regulation, but falls short of a restoration of Glass-Steagall. She is also pragmatic, and says that any attempt to change the healthcare system, Obamacare, with a Republican congress might make things worse. On the other hand Bernie says that restoring Glass-Steagall and Medicare for All is absolutely needed.
Bernie has yet to issue a detailed plan on how America can afford "Medicare for All", but his logic does make sense. A recent estimate from people unconnected with Bernie's campaign estimates that the average family savings under his plan would roughly be between $500-$1,800/year. Given the GOP and its willingness to repeal Obamacare, does Bernie really think that he could implement his plan?
However, I think that the reregulation of Wall Street is possible, as even the wingnuts of the GOP right wing hate the banking industry. But could Bernie unite enough people to dislodge some of Wall Street's corrupting influence on Washington politics? I'm not so sure of this.
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In the past, I have noted that both Sanders' and Trump's candidacies have been propelled by the same fuel - the ruling elite of both parties has betrayed the public, and that public is mad as hell and won't take it any more. At this point of time, I still predict a November election with Trump and Sanders being their parties' candidates. And it will be very interesting.
But the big question is - Does Bernie have a real chance to win? And if so, will the Democrats (other than Debbie Wasserman Schultz) try to scuttle him before he wins too many delegates?
