Musicmystery
Posts: 30259
Joined: 3/14/2005 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: WhoreMods In both cases any hint of leftiness is a lingering historical thing from before they moved to the right to further their political career. If Sander's alleged "spocialism" is a result of the crap he was spouting immediately before voting the other way along with the rest of the Dems, then he wasn't making quite as many extravagant (and utterly unfulfilled as a politician) promises and claims about the need for social and financial reforms as Obama was noted for before he started campaigning for the Presidency, was he? Neither is a left leaning politician in any way, shape or form, but if we're just calling them that on the basis of them talking the talk (as neither has ever made any effort to walk the walk), then Obama talked a bit leftier than Sanders ever has, dig? No, I don't. It's a specious argument. Obama is Bush Lite. Hilary is between Bush and Obama. Granted, Sanders is not a traditional Socialist--but then, he doesn't claim to be either: he's an advocate of Democratic Socialism. In the right leaning US, that distinction is lost, but only the US calls European countries socialist. If that helps, that's the distinction. "Democratic socialism is not specifically revolutionary or reformist, as many types of democratic socialism can fall into either category, with some forms overlapping with social democracy, supporting reforms within capitalism . . . as a prelude. Some forms of democratic socialism accept social democratic reformism to gradually convert the capitalist economy . . . using pre-existing democratic institutions." That more accurately describes Sanders' ideology, if you must label it. For example, single payer (a strong Sanders position) is far more progressive than the ACA. Free public college tuition is far to the left of the current loan program. Getting rid of Citizens United is a key point . . . while Obama has just adjusted to it (while disagreeing with the decision). Is Sanders to the right of socialism? Sure. Is Obama to the left of his rhetoric? Certainly not his 2008 agenda, which largely died with the economic bust. Basically, except for the ACA (which resembles the early 90s Republican plan), he's mainly continued Bush policy.
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