Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 09:15 AM Jul 2015

America Is Ready for Socialism! Massive Majorities Back Bernie Sanders on the Issues...

Sanders is right to think that Scandanavian socialism would be popular here in the U.S., if only people knew more about it. And he’s right to make spreading that awareness a goal of his campaign. In fact, on a wide range of issue specifics Sanders lines up with strong majorities of public opinion—and has for decades.

You can get a strong sense of this from the results of the “Big Ideas” pollcommissioned by the Progressive Change Institute in January, which has thus far gotten far less attention than it deserves. (Full disclosure: I’m a former blogmate with Adam Green, co-founder of PCI’s affiliate, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.) PCI first solicited ideas online through an open submission process (more than 2,600 specific proposals were submitted) and then let people vote on them (more than a million votes were cast). This bottom-up process was then tested out in a national poll. The following all received 70% support or more:

Allow Government to Negotiate Drug Prices (79%)
Give Students the Same Low Interest Rates as Big Banks (78%)
Universal Pre-Kindergarten (77%)
Fair Trade that Protect Workers, the Environment, and Jobs (75%)
End Tax Loopholes for Corporations that Ship Jobs Overseas (74%)
End Gerrymandering (73%)
Let Homeowners Pay Down Mortgage With 401k (72%)
Debt-Free College at All Public Universities (Message A) (71%)
Infrastructure Jobs Program — $400 Billion / Year (71%)
Require NSA to Get Warrants (71%)
Disclose Corporate Spending on Politics/Lobbying (71%)
Medicare Buy-In for All (71%)
Close Offshore Corporate Tax Loopholes (70%)
Green New Deal — Millions Of Clean-Energy Jobs (70%)
Full Employment Act (70%)
Expand Social Security Benefits (70%)

All of the above are in line with Bernie Sanders’ politics and all are extremely popular, with support across the political spectrum. For example, the infrastructure jobs program (a key element of Sanders’ platform) had 91% support from Democrats, 61% from independents and even 55% support from Republicans—compared to only 28% who were opposed. Donald Trump can only dream of being that popular among Republicans.


http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/america-ready-socialism-massive-majorities-back-bernie-sanders-issues-and-disdain?sc=fb

27 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
America Is Ready for Socialism! Massive Majorities Back Bernie Sanders on the Issues... (Original Post) LWolf Jul 2015 OP
Why isn't the term "Scandinavian Capitalism"? brooklynite Jul 2015 #1
How about "Americans agree with Bernie on the issues"! peacebird Jul 2015 #3
No, I agree that they broadly agree with Bernie on the issues... brooklynite Jul 2015 #6
they agree with many issue, I'll give them that. But there is little to no discussion boston bean Jul 2015 #7
This is true, LWolf Jul 2015 #9
Remember 2008 is all I can tell you madokie Jul 2015 #20
And by "way short" you mean "almost as many votes as the guy who won"? brooklynite Jul 2015 #21
One trick pony madokie Jul 2015 #22
It's "democratic socialism," LWolf Jul 2015 #8
Only if you change the traditional definition of "socialism" brooklynite Jul 2015 #10
Hence the difference in the term. nt LWolf Jul 2015 #12
When you've sold that distinction to the voters, let me know... brooklynite Jul 2015 #14
I think that's happening. LWolf Jul 2015 #15
Americans prefer good progressive policy. NCTraveler Jul 2015 #2
This is not just socialism, it is normal Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2015 #4
A lot of folks here on DU have gone to great lengths redstateblues Jul 2015 #5
You know the political scale has shifted into cloud cuckoo land raouldukelives Jul 2015 #11
Ain't that the truth. nt LWolf Jul 2015 #19
/\_/\_This_/\_/\ Scuba Jul 2015 #23
K&R CharlotteVale Jul 2015 #13
I got an idea, stop calling it socialism. Mmmmmkay? Darb Jul 2015 #16
This isn't about socialism- America is ready for honesty and common sense J_J_ Jul 2015 #17
That's why the attempts LWolf Jul 2015 #25
Its playing right into hands of repukes to not use "Democratic Socialist" snagglepuss Jul 2015 #18
Highly recommend. n/t Jefferson23 Jul 2015 #24
Apparentley the DNC fredamae Jul 2015 #26
Only 55% of republicans support infrastructure? daleanime Jul 2015 #27

brooklynite

(94,666 posts)
1. Why isn't the term "Scandinavian Capitalism"?
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 09:18 AM
Jul 2015

Can I buy, sell and own private property?

Can I own a business, hire employees and keep the profits?

Can I borrow and lend money?

I don't dispute that people broadly support a social safety net (however, they ALSO support tax cuts). The problem is when you try to label all that as "socialism", in order to line up with your candidate who has inconveniently self-identified as a socialist.

peacebird

(14,195 posts)
3. How about "Americans agree with Bernie on the issues"!
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 09:53 AM
Jul 2015

Which is true.

I am sure, however, you will find a nit to pick.

brooklynite

(94,666 posts)
6. No, I agree that they broadly agree with Bernie on the issues...
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 10:34 AM
Jul 2015

...however, voters frequently don't vote for the person with whom they most agree on the issues.

Remember last year in Colorado, when voters rejected a personhood amendment...and then kicked out the Democrat who also opposed it in favor of a Republican who supported it?

boston bean

(36,223 posts)
7. they agree with many issue, I'll give them that. But there is little to no discussion
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 10:40 AM
Jul 2015

as to how to get there.

It's not always as simple as people think. You know, sometimes the way to get to a common goal is fraught with issues that make people not support it.

So, when Bernie begins to tell us all how he plans on making these changes, we'll see how many actually agree.

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
9. This is true,
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:06 AM
Jul 2015

that American voters frequently aren't issues voters, and it's the reason our nation has been swirling down the toilet.

If we're going to change that, there's no time like the present.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
20. Remember 2008 is all I can tell you
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 01:43 PM
Jul 2015

Hillary was supposed to win that one too but came up way short. As she will once again. This time will be her last so you can expect the long knifes to come out here shortly. She has nothing to loose beings as how she will loose anyway. We'll be rid of the Clintons on the political stage for good then.

Hillary Clinton is not one of us, she is one of the rich and well connected, a corporate stooge.


brooklynite

(94,666 posts)
21. And by "way short" you mean "almost as many votes as the guy who won"?
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 02:01 PM
Jul 2015

A guy who was better organized and fare better funded that Sanders is?

madokie

(51,076 posts)
22. One trick pony
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 03:50 PM
Jul 2015

Just whatever you think bro'.
I'm still voting for Bernie in the primary and the nominee in the general. same as I've been saying since day one.

Do you have the numbers handy on how many votes she got compared to obama?
It's been so long I don't remember.

brooklynite

(94,666 posts)
10. Only if you change the traditional definition of "socialism"
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:27 AM
Jul 2015

e.g. Government ownership and control of the means of production.

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
15. I think that's happening.
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:39 AM
Jul 2015

The fact that Sanders doesn't back down from the term or hedge his discussions helps.

 

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)
2. Americans prefer good progressive policy.
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 09:20 AM
Jul 2015

Much of this is actually the opposite of socialism and in opposition to Scandinavian style "socialism".

Allow Government to Negotiate Drug Prices (79%)
Give Students the Same Low Interest Rates as Big Banks (78%)
Universal Pre-Kindergarten (77%)
Fair Trade that Protect Workers, the Environment, and Jobs (75%)
End Tax Loopholes for Corporations that Ship Jobs Overseas (74%)
End Gerrymandering (73%)
Let Homeowners Pay Down Mortgage With 401k (72%)
Debt-Free College at All Public Universities (Message A) (71%)
Infrastructure Jobs Program — $400 Billion / Year (71%)
Require NSA to Get Warrants (71%)
Disclose Corporate Spending on Politics/Lobbying (71%)
Medicare Buy-In for All (71%)
Close Offshore Corporate Tax Loopholes (70%)
Green New Deal — Millions Of Clean-Energy Jobs (70%)
Full Employment Act (70%)
Expand Social Security Benefits (70%)

Rosa Luxemburg

(28,627 posts)
4. This is not just socialism, it is normal
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 10:12 AM
Jul 2015

Most of this stuff happens in other countries. It's not that socialist it just normal. Canada isn't particularly socialist and has a single payer health system.

America is extreme and has a high degree of unfairness in its society.

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)
5. A lot of folks here on DU have gone to great lengths
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 10:12 AM
Jul 2015

To convince themselves that word "Socialist" will be a big plus in the GE if Bernie is nominated. It won't.

raouldukelives

(5,178 posts)
11. You know the political scale has shifted into cloud cuckoo land
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:27 AM
Jul 2015

When centrist positions are considered far left socialism.

 

Darb

(2,807 posts)
16. I got an idea, stop calling it socialism. Mmmmmkay?
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:55 AM
Jul 2015

Mmmmmmkay? It is not true socialism anyway. Mmmmmmmkay? "Socialism" comes in many forms and degrees. Mmmmmmkay? Americans would close the post office if you called it "socialized". Mmmmmkay.

Annoyed yet?

 

J_J_

(1,213 posts)
17. This isn't about socialism- America is ready for honesty and common sense
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:58 AM
Jul 2015


Even Republicans can see we are being looted by insurance companies, corporations and bankers.

LWolf

(46,179 posts)
25. That's why the attempts
Fri Jul 17, 2015, 09:33 AM
Jul 2015

to derail the campaign with the socialism "scare" aren't going to work.

snagglepuss

(12,704 posts)
18. Its playing right into hands of repukes to not use "Democratic Socialist"
Thu Jul 16, 2015, 12:26 PM
Jul 2015

Its either stupidity or arrogance for the Left not to make this distinction at the get go.

Mark my words, Bernie's opponents will start framing the issue to suit themselves either equating Socialism to National Socialism or Communism.

fredamae

(4,458 posts)
26. Apparentley the DNC
Fri Jul 17, 2015, 09:37 AM
Jul 2015

Isn't Sure it is "Ready for Socialism"

Check this out:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/17/1403055/-DNC-Accused-of-Rigging-Debate-Schedule-to-Benefit-Hillary-Clinton

I just called them and aired My thoughts on this.....
202-863-8000
I informed them...If any of this comes to fruition...they Cannot "count on me to be a reliable Dem Follower..not This time"....."Do Not Mess With Us"

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»America Is Ready for Soci...