Something is wrong

[SHRED]

For people to think $15 minimum wage, universal-comprehensive healthcare, and tuition free college are not attainable in the wealthiest country in the world.
Who, by the way, spends trillions on war and death.

For people to consider these pipe dreams or otherwise unattainable I say they are terribly brainwashed.
Pawns and fools.
Tools of the system that oppresses them.

Break the chains.
Rebel!

[tex-wyo-dem]

1. The conventional "wisdom" of priorities...

Are completely skewed and warped.

That's what happens when a populace is bombarded by decade upon decade of propoganda and warmongering designed and implemented by the PTB...profit trumps everything.

[davidpdx]

130. The conventional wisdom is to do nothing and let people suffer

"No we can't." What a wonderful campaign slogan.

[tularetom]

2. Land of the free and the home of the brave my ass

None of us are free and most of us stopped being brave on 9/11/2001.

[saidsimplesimon]

22. tom, nothing in life is "free" anywhere in the world.

Those of US who stand with Senator Sanders are very brave.

The memories I have of 9/11 are of pResident Bush reading my pet goat and taking off in AF1. Why we allow the Republicans a pass on their faux patriotism is beyond me.

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[Baobab]

75. The US is changing the world's ideology... Formally, we need to know that.

I want to encourage people to read this essay because it has a lot of information. Even though its about an older trade deal that didn't gain traction (Thank God) all of the stuff, the wish list as it were, in it is in the three pending backroom deals.. Also the NGO - the Canadian NGO, that published the essay has a lot of other informative writing on the same and similar subjects including several really good new papers on TPP. I only know of one US NGO that produces similar quality writing on trade deals, Public Citizen. (And I think policyalternatives.ca 's pubs are easier for laypeople to understand)

[bjobotts]

78. Air and thoughts are free.

[tazkcmo]

102. Not when that air goes in your tires.

And some thoughts can get you arrested under the Patriot Act if you think out loud. Things have certainly changed.

[VulgarPoet]

47. In the laaaaaaaaaaaand of the sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

and the home, of the, slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaves.

ETA: Trust me, this sounds a lot more poignant in a minor key.

[libdem4life]

64. Priceless ! I agree about the minor key...a bit more chilling.

[VulgarPoet]

65. I used to dabble a little in key transposition

but it's a right ragged pain in the ass.

[hillarysong2016]

110. do you sing VulgarPoet? Check out my signature for my just created account..can't believe I've (mayb

maybe?) bumped into a singer songwriter already..!

[JDPriestly]

121. It is partly a matter of a good ear combined with a thorough understanding of music theory.

Keep working at it.

[Art_from_Ark]

81. That reminds me of a poem I wrote and posted here during the early Bush years

O, say can you see, by the nu-kyu-lar glow
What so loudly they hailed, as the Second Co-o-ming
He was just a jackass, very last in his class
But the media said, he's the best thing since sliced bread

And he took all our rights
Like a thief in the night
But the sheeple didn't care
'Cause they thought Rush was right

O, say does tha-at dimwitted moro-on ye-et reign
O'er the land of the sheep
And the home of the inane?

[BeanMusical]

85. That's pretty good!

[swilton]

70. Land of the free and home of the ignorant

[Pharaoh]

3. +1000

[cantbeserious]

4. Reflects Sucessful Brainwashing By The DNC DWS DLC Third-Way Establishment

eom

[Autumn]

5. It was easier when I was blind. I just went along with their guidance.

Then Bernie happened, and I saw what is possible and who the people are who are stopping a $15 minimum wage, universal-comprehensive healthcare, and tuition free college and so much more, the very people I have supported all my life . I saw that the people who I have depended on to look out for my interests are just playing a game. The chains are broken the ties that bind are laying under my feet in the dust.

A pawn and a fool no longer.

[SHRED]

7. Well said

[lostnfound]

80. End of the Innocence... Offer up your best defense..

From the song by Don Henley, it always makes my emotions spill over. Or like Leonard Cohen "Democraxy is Coming"... "I'm just standing here holding this little wild bouquet"
A quixotic task but the minute we as a people lose our innocence about our own government and politics is the same minute that something beautiful has a chance of becoming.

"The End Of The Innocence"

Let your hair fall all around me
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

O' beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie
...
But, somewhere back there in the dust
That same small town in each of us
...
Offer up your best defense
But this is the end
This is the end of the innocence

[DI Freighter Watcher]

111. Thanks

Remember that song, and so fits the times.

[alterfurz]

6. What is wrong with this picture?

[senz]

26. +1 Thanks!

Cruz isn't the only warmonger running, either.

[ladjf]

8. Blind greed is the problem. People who are inflicted with such avariciousness are

incapable of self-correcting. ONLY outside force can counter it. Blind greed is like inertia, it will continue to follow it's direction until it encounter other forces that are equally strong.

[TIME TO PANIC]

9. Pawns and fools, indeed.

[mmonk]

10. +1

[avaistheone1]

11. K&R

[Duval]

12. The idea that we cannot "afford" universal health care and tuition free college is ridiculous.

In Europe, after the WWII, the Europeans started both in spite of being broke. You are right. We spend trillions in war. It is a matter of priorities.

[GoldenThunder]

21. Not just broke...

but in total ruins. And they still did it.

I fear it may take America ending in ruins for most of us to see the right path.

[RoccoR5955]

30. And some countries in Europe are STILL

rebuilding their buildings from the aftermath of WWII. Rotterdam, for instance was virtually leveled, and they have some of the most modern and innovative structures there. The Netherlands was pretty much devastated because they wanted to remain neutral. They have a version of universal care that even though insurance companies are involved, they manage to pay much less than we do here, for as good, if not better healthcare.
Part of the secret is that businesses are HIGHLY regulated, and they only spend about ONE POINT THREE PERCENT of their GDP on defense!
What are we idiots in the US doing? Spending nearly THREE TIMES that amount of our GDP on military. We let businesses off to setup shop overseas and skate off without paying taxes, or we give them breaks that make it so that they effectively pay negative taxes.
If it goes on like this, it will be proof that this rampant capitalist system is a total failure. But hey, we may just kill ourselves first, by not controlling the amount of greenhouse gasses we permit to be used, and pollute the planet with all of our fossil fuel use.

It may take something rather extreme before many of the low information voters even start to see this. It certainly is apparent by their voting habits.

[Dustlawyer]

36. Business has/is eliminating any restraints on themselves.

Don't want ANY pesky "regulations", they are BAD! End the EPA, Dept. of Education. Kill unions because we should be able to do to our workers whatever we want without opposition. Cannot audit the Pentagon because the people will see how much we steal of their tax dollars. Keep Super PAC donors secret so they wont get their hands dirty if people knew what they were doing. On and on and on. They lie to us on the MSM to shape our beliefs that our problems are caused by poor people, "takers" and "moochers" while GE pays no taxes in like 10 years. Lock up the minorities to protect our elections and blame them too!

If Bernie doesn't win it will be like the groundhog seeing his shadow, except it will be a much longer winter for the rest of us before we get another great opportunity to overthrow the shadow government that is controlling our politicians, judges, and the media. I still cannot believe that so many either don't believe what has happened and fall for the propaganda like a Fox News viewer. Either that or they just think that we are powerless to make change so they have to settle for Hillary.

Trump will roll over her with the anti-establishment sentiment we have this election cycle. Hillary is the poster child of the Establishment! She cannot hide it! They may have been able to ignore, dismiss, and lie about Bernie, but Trump demands and gets coverage from the MSM. Meanwhile, no one covers the issues we really face, its all about Isis and terrorism.

Lets get more people to feel the BERN!!!

[appalachiablue]

50. Very good points.

[RoccoR5955]

55. I would dare to say

That tRump would be our Hitler, and the democratic candidate who is in the pocket of corporations would be our Mussolini.
Just sayin'. I know that it may get this post hidden, or me banned, but WTF. If people cannot handle the truth, screw 'em.

Of course it's all about ISIL and terrorism. All military spending, all the time.
War is a racket. This was plainly stated by Major General Smedley Butler back in 1935!

He said: "War is a racket. It always has been.
It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."

Read the whole thing here: http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html

(I think that this is about the fourth time I have posted this link)

[appalachiablue]

49. Canada has had universal 'Medicare' too since the late 1950s thanks to politician

and advocate Tommy Douglas. Pres. Lincoln established many land grant colleges, California had affordable college for 100 years before Reagan and so did many other places.
The US is far behind many nations in so many areas now and our people are uneducated about the truth.
In 1889, German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck established SOCIAL SECURITY (old age insurance), the first in the world to combat extreme poverty among the elderly and to satisfy working class unrest in Germany. Other important worker social safety net benefits were added for Germans between 1884-1927.
But radical conservatism, Reaganomics, neoliberal economics and unfree trade agreements have hurt working Americans and U.S. communities for 40 years. Enough is enough.

https://www.ssa.gov/history/ottob.html

>From the U.S. Social Security Administration,

Germany became the first nation in the world to adopt an OLD-AGE SOCIAL INSURANCE PROGRAM in 1889, designed by Germany's Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck was motivated to introduce social insurance in Germany both in order to promote the well-being of workers in order to keep the German economy operating at maximum efficiency, and to stave-off calls for more radical socialist alternatives.
Despite his impeccable right-wing credentials, Bismarck would be called a SOCIALIST for introducing these programs, as would President ROOSEVELT 70 years later. In his own speech to the Reichstag during the 1881 debates, Bismarck would reply: "Call it socialism or whatever you like. It is the same to me."

The German system provided contributory RETIREMENT benefits and DISABILITY BENEFITS as well. Participation was mandatory and contributions were taken from the employee, the employer and the government. Coupled with the WORKERS' COMPENSATION program established in 1884 and the "SICKNESS INSURANCE" enacted the year before, this gave the Germans a comprehensive system of income security based on social insurance principles. (They would add UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE in 1927, making their system complete.)

German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1862-1890)

[lob1]

57. The same people that say our country is "Exceptional"

are the same ones who say we can't do what "non-exceptional" countries are doing all around us.

[SHRED]

114. +100

[ReRe]

125. People like Tweety...

... MATTHEWS.

[AtticusInd]

118. They only see profit in warfare

It reminds me of tha quote. Why is it when its the rich its capitalism but when its the poor, its class warfare?

[IdahoGoBlue]

13. I hope you don't mind

I just copied and pasted that in it's entirety to my facebook page. And I've been trying not to post politically lately. Let's memorize and share that daily everywhere we go!!!

[SHRED]

14. No prob...Thanks

[colsohlibgal]

15. Great Succinct Post

Yep, trillions for war no problem. A little humanity and a fair shake for all big problem.

We need to convince the masses that it isn't a few welfare queens, it is billionaires and corporations sucking all the resources out.

[SHRED]

16. I have worked with so many blue collar...

...working-class people that have bought into blaming those less fortunate than themselves for our country's ills.

It's s sick sick joke.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

44. Fear and anger works for the Republucans, SHRED.

Apparently it works for Hilly as well.

[Plucketeer]

17. I'll second that!

This should be fashioned into a TV ad. Or maybe an ad that features an F-35 vs. how many college diplomas could be had for the cost of that one F-35.

[Enthusiast]

18. K&R! This post deserves hundreds of recommendations!

[Enthusiast]

19. Unnecessary counterproductive wars.

[SHRED]

20. Very productive for the .1%

[Enthusiast]

58. Yes.

[jalan48]

23. It's what happens when people focus on image rather than substance.

[senz]

24. And when campaigns push image after image after image.

#WhichHillary

[Arugula Latte]

42. And when they think that a "D" by someone's name is all they need to know.

Pesky details about how that person has little relation to traditional Democratic values don't interest them.

[rhett o rick]

87. It's authoritarian worship. Many have been raised to follow authoritarians and not

question. Sadly some of them call themselves Democrats. They are DINOs.

[Shadowflash]

25. Yup.

If everybody who gets elected says it can't be done, it won't be.

I expect that someone who has taken a LOT of campaign $$$$ from insurance companies to be SURE there will be no single payer and to be sure the insurance vultures don't lose their place at the trough, won't fight too hard for it.

[SHRED]

31. ^^ this^^

[Ilsa]

61. Nailed it! ^^^ nt

[swilton]

71. It's not just the health insurance industries

for the middle-aged and youth....There are multiple businesses for long term health care for the elderly......

It's a racket from birth to death.

[PatrynXX]

27. think it might be about time to split the party like the Republicans did with the Whigs.

Going back to the original idea of the Democratic party Carying for others. if one must go on parties I still refer to them as the Conservative Party vs the Liberal Party and only one is running in the Liberal party. naturally the Conservative Party withing the Democrats gets the Dems blamed for most of our problems

[elljay]

41. Except

That would add more hurdles that we have to overcome ( setting up and funding a party, getting on ballots, etc.) My heart's with you, but my head tells me that we need to stay within the Democratic Party and stage a coup. Pick off the conservadems one at a time and replace them with true progressives.

[spooky3]

28. I agree. I would like candidates to propose moving

Some of the oversized military budget to infrastructure and other programs.

[SoapBox]

29. Ab-so-fricking-lutely!

What the hell is wrong with people...supporting creeps that work as hard as they can against the interests of the 99%.

It's like a damned suicide wish...stupid idiots.

[Javaman]

32. those republicans are so negative...

oh wait.

[abelenkpe]

40. +1000 nt

[Iwillnevergiveup]

33. The actions of

MHP and the Hawaiian rep Turli (sp?) this past week are further indications of cracks in the corporate wall. Courageous stands based on principal...not for sale. So there's hope.

K&R

[WillyT]

34. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[retrowire]

35. exactly!!! nt

[Duppers]

37. Yes! +1000

Glad this is pinned.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

38. Been saying this for years

all it takes is for people to vote for it in overwhelming numbers.
Learn to say no to the naysayers and don't be afraid to speak out in public places.

[LongTomH]

39. Preach it, Brother!!!!

[MisterP]

43. oh, she's for all that (in the SEIU fliers)

[closeupready]

45. If you are health insurance companies' metaphorical 'trump card', you don't rock the boat.

This is why the obviousness of your brilliant OP will open no one's eyes here or in the race for president.

[TexasBushwhacker]

46. Whenever someone says minimum wage is okay

where it is, or even at $10 an hour, I just wonder which jobs do they think it's okay to work full time and still live in poverty?

A person cooking and serving you food?
A person selling you clothes, electronics, or groceries?
A person stocking those items or keeping the stores clean?
A person mowing the grass and trimming the bushes?
The one mopping the floors and cleaning the toilets?
A person changing a baby's (or Grandma's) diapers?

Which of these people, working 5-6-7 days a week, 30-35-40 hours (or more), which of these people deserves to live in a dilapidated and/or overcrowded home, not knowing when their next meal will be because there's more month than money? These jobs are essential. Someone has to do them. Therefore people that do them are ESSENTIAL as well.

[CrispyQ]

48. Most of the repubs I know don't think those thing are not attainable,

but rather, they don't think that people deserve those things. You shouldn't expect anything to be given to you. You see, they all have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps & so they are all self-made people & everyone else is a loser. There is a lot of that attitude out there in FB land.

[SHRED]

51. And the irony is...

...many of those I'll wager are solely dependent on a government paycheck, healthcare, and/or retirement as in the military.

[lunasun]

105. or got a head start with $ inheritance or parents paid for college

Even if the $ amount is small, or the college was 2 years, it was not their boot strap

[grasswire]

52. It's coming.

We are in the beginning of the American Spring.

Hillary is trying to keep the lid on the box, for the sake of the 1%, and many good Democrats are being used to bring her to power.

[MuseRider]

53. Break the chains indeed!!!

Best post in a long time.

Thank you!

[valerief]

54. WAR makes very rich people richer. That's the whole kit and caboodle. nt

[EndElectoral]

56. Yes, when there is no problem bailing out multi-billion dollar corps, but a 15 min wage is abhorrent

I believe this really began in the Reagan administration with trickle down. The concept that people's plights can only be improved when the wealthy filter their wealth down. That the middle class and poor are "reliant" on their honest passing on of profits. That we are dependent on them and we must give them tax breaks and benefits to help them facilitate this process of trickle down.

The idea was proposed that government is not helpful, but that government is the problem, and they should just get out of the way of the well intentioned "small" businesses (like GE), let the private sector solve problems naturally.

As a result it didn't filter any money down to the middle class and poor in terms of increased wages, but it did filter down a philosophy of "just be grateful for what you have", "others are looking for work, and there is a lot of outsourcing of jobs, you can be replaced". It is "bad for business" and "impossible" to offer 15 an hour. "All our jobs will go overseas."

So people shut up, unions took concessions after concession, and jobs still went overseas, and profits skyrocketed with no real trickle down and the entire function now of the GOP is to simply "stalemate" government so in fact the private sector is essentially legislating the government.

It is time to reverse this corporate oligarchy approach of "No, you can't, only those of us with wealth can," and change it to "We damn well can!"

[fredamae]

59. Yes-Part of it is the fact (imo)

that most don't connect the fact that Most of the GOP/Third Way's most visible mouth pieces (here/there/talking heads/politicians et al) Are in the Upper 5% of wealth. Period. Add CorpoMedia suggesting these things are BAD for Americans- too often even those who would be Harmed allow themselves to believe the bull.

It takes much less effort to allow oneself to be lulled into a false sense of security via talking points, easy to believe lies, mis-information, full on blackout/Ban on discussing issues that Are critical (out of sight out of mind) etc than it is to reason through fact, personal experiences/observations and connect the dots, imo.
The whole truth is there-in the Big Picture......not everyone Wants to see that, however.

[SHRED]

66. I don't know my % bracket

If my wife and I sold the house (it's paid for), cashed in our IRA's (tax hit though), we'd probably net about 1.5 million. I get a retirement for life every month too.

I consider my self extremely fortunate but I worked and saved for this.

I probably could just sit back and enjoy my life, which I do, but I care deeply about the type of country I live in.

We deserve so much more as citizens of this country than just war and poverty.

[fredamae]

69. I can't disagree... n/t

[Ilsa]

60. "But Hilary says I shouldn't have to pay for Trump's kids to go to college."

Not that I would, since they probably would go to a private college, not a public one. What a red herring that line was from her campaign.

[Cobalt Violet]

63. That ad was the stupidest thing I've heard.

She thinks we're that dumb.

[Ilsa]

68. I'm happy for taxpayers to help support PUBLIC

Colleges and universities. An educated workforce brings prosperity. Even childless people appreciate that they want trained people taking care of them, etc.

[Phlem]

62. Exactly.

Which is why I'm selective about the threads I reply in. The Stupid has been around since I joined DU and it's just gotten way worse.

I read and move on mostly anymore.

PS. I've lived with an abusive stepfather who was full on Republican. I've had a lifetime's worth of ignorance fed to me by an uneducated ignoramus. Excuse me if I can't stand the stupid here anymore.

I will however contribute when I can.

Excellent post.

[MrMickeysMom]

67. Yes, Yes, Yes... I believe in everything you've said so well...

I've almost been driven insane by the dilemma.

I have but one course, and that is to get on the stationary bike, then eat, then call up a bunch of locals who signed up to be volunteers. I wear by button outside of work, I try to use social media better (for a boomer, who isn't as fluid with it) tweeting, friending people who happen to be black, AA, or just estranged from the I was in local office.

I need to get as many young people fired up to show their interest in the same things we know. We KNOW DAMNED WELL that a budget is socializing the biggest block of money for the military industrial complex.

Fight, FIGHT, FIGHT to reveal truth to whoever will talk with me until the "conventional wisdom" is shaken out of the sheep that have no good understanding until my talking with them makes them talk to me with some sign of understanding... until I cannot anymore.

That was a good post, and I'm grateful to you all here.

[scuciti]

72. Stockholm Syndrome

Great post.

I've been thinking Stockholm Syndrome.

[rosesaylavee]

73. the head of my very large company today

told the office that our health care costs had risen because the baby boomers are coming of age and using more and more benefits thereby causing the young folks (those who he thought were in his audience) to pay $$ extra. I was on a conference call so only heard it and he didn't have the pleasure to look out in the crowd and see my grey hairs. Holy cow. What a maroon. I have a mind to beat him with my cane or my health alert necklace. (jk, have neither).

Yes, something is wrong and the message people get over and over again is that it's everyone else's fault but those who are truly to blame.

The Insurance Corporations, the do-nothing Congress, the PTB who are raking in the cash.

My head hurts.

[SHRED]

96. It's ugly what they do

[Ferd Berfel]

74. Bravo

[thereismore]

76. Tools of the system that oppresses them.

Absolutely. They have given up.

[democrank]

77. "Something" is not just wrong, SHRED, it`s completely haywire!

A zillion times a day we have folks obedient to Establishment Handlers reminding the rest of us that we have a duty to put some pom poms in overdrive and get with the current let`s-not-rock-the-boat-DNC-program. Keep things as they are. Stop this Socialist nonsense. Join the Party Favorites who understand regular, all-American compromise. Cut the pie-in-the-sky BS. Not everyone gets a trophy. Stuff costs money and we don`t have any extra....and if get some, we should save it for the next war and to help all those corporations that have made America great.

Apparently I reside in an odd area, because people I speak with have a different take on things. They wonder why, if our leaders all wear American flag lapel pins, they aren`t standing up for Americans....all Americans, not just the ones with money and power. Don`t they see those vets with one leg and no hope sleeping in that cement alley? Didn`t they see that kid from the projects walk into her school with the holes in the ceilings? Did they overlook that elderly man riding his bicycle holding a plastic bag filled with everything he owns? Wait....have they seen the unemployment lines where the results of Congress-approved off-shoring shines so brightly? Have they even checked to see that their flag pins most likely were Made in China? Do they know about our infant mortality rate or the obscene cost of insulin pens? The number of veteran suicides or faulty bridges?

Lip service------An expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction. NOT SUPPORTED BY REAL CONVICTION.

Simple truth is that we have lost our way. The Democratic Party has lost its way, strayed too far right from its roots. It has become arrogant and complacent. It demands an entitlement to a loyal following, no matter what it does or doesn`t do. Even in the case of neglect, abandonment or abuse. The days of blaming all inaction on Republicans should be long over.

[Paka]

79. K&R

The rebellion is way overdue. Life vs. Death.

[Martin Eden]

82. It's tribalism.

If my candidate is for it and the other is against it, supporters of the other candidate have to tear it down regardless of merit.

[dchill]

83. So, so true.

It's the media, stupid!

[Skeeter Barnes]

84. $250k per hour is fine for Hill & Bill. $600k per year is fine for Chelsea.

$12 per hour will have to do for me & you!

[SHRED]

89. And Donald wants to do away with minimum wage

[BeanMusical]

86. Kick and R

[rhett o rick]

88. Looks like things are going to have to get a lot worse before those that

worship the wealthy and super-wealthy figure out that the oligarchy doesn't love them.

[Dont call me Shirley]

90. There is a Revolution afoot!

[Third Doctor]

91. I agree

I was looking at a article recently stating that the latest generation of aircraft carrier cost $13 billion to build. That's not including the years of research and developmental costs that went into to it. This is the first of a entire class. We already have more carriers than the rest of the world combined. No one blinks a eye at this kind of expenditure. At the same time we are told that we don't have the money for single payer or tax funded education. That's not realistic? Give me a damned break.

[SHRED]

92. Preach it!

[JudyM]

93. And all this money spent on looking to see if humans can live on Mars. What idiocy to not

spent energy and resources preserving our planet with more care, and educating our people and solving disease and hunger etc.

[SHRED]

94. Love your response

[SciDude]

95. We live in a full-blown Oligarchy and we are modern day peasants.

Of course you must accept the scraps they throw at you so your $15/hr is outrageous!

In the American caste system the "lazy" underemployed, minorities and unwanted teeming masses are not allowed to challenge the status quo because they amount to little more than chattel for the American Industrial and Military Complex our oligarchy has created. The lower caste is not allowed to ask for decent education, health care options, healthy food, safe working conditions, livable housing, basic liberty or freedom from the American industrial prison complex.

That's what Clinton 2016 represents and I'm having none of it.

[billhicks76]

97. I See No Photos Of Bernie Laughing With Trump

[TBF]

98. I donated all I could the past couple of days -

my total is climbing and my goal is to max out. I want to see a better world for not just us, but for our kids. Hell, I just want to see the world continue. One candidate stood on that stage and said global warming is an ISSUE. And it wasn't Mrs. Moneybags.

[raouldukelives]

99. We live in the most change Wall St shareholders will allow.

We are not where we are by accident. Everything we must have. Decent educations, clean drinking water, addressing climate change realistically, actual health care instead of just insurance, ending the incarceration of our least for profit, the crushing of fledgling attempts for democracy at home and abroad. Our pipe dreams are nightmares to those who are invested against them becoming reality.

[dchill]

100. Kick.

[tazkcmo]

101. It's only because

America just can't do these things. They're ridiculous inside our borders while existing outside our borders. Ponies here, real there. American exceptionalism turned around.

[marble falls]

103. Education and health care and a living wage is unattainable but a military force larger than ...

the combined military of the next eleven countries is not only obtainable, its reality.

[Uncle Joe]

104. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, SHRED.

[SHRED]

108. De nada... :-)

[Spitfire of ATJ]

106. The Beltway still believes cutting taxes for the rich and corporations creates jobs.

[Zorra]

107. I will rebel until we win, or until I die, whichever comes first. nt

[hillarysong2016]

109. We spend easily over 600 billion on militarism (maybe 900B) therefore...

per person or per family the amount is huge..And studies show Medicare for All's cost would be negative, that is it would save money...and the tactics to scare people away from "dangerous so shuh li sm" still seem to work too often

P.S. how many posts before I'm allowed to create a new thread? I have a pro-Bernie song parody of Hillary song I want to share and ask for help make something viral.

To whet your appetite the first two stanzas sung to Bush's great 1990s song Gycerine but I hope by tomorrow it lets me create a new thread to I can post the whole thing:

It must be your skill, lies luring me in
To you it ain't real, 'cause you can't feel
At first I didn't mind
I'm not a troublesome type
But now's my time to wonder why

Everything's alright
And everything's ok
Now you're with the people, now you're away
At Wall Street stints
I'll remember that
I'll never forget Walmart Boards' where you're at


WON'T LET YOUR LIES GO BY
HI-LUH-REE (Sung like "Don't let the days go by....Gli-ceh-reen&quot

[Whimsey]

112. You need to know the real world

My husband is an owner in a small business in our state providing services for developmentally disabled. The state sets the reimbursement rate for the facilities providing these services. Over the last ten years, minimum wage has gone up, insurance rates have gone up, but state payments have not. Increase minimum wage to $15 this business will no longer be able to provide the services unless state reimbursement goes up (not likely in Illinois). One of the reasons shifted the service to private business is that it was cheaper than a state run service. When it goes back to a state it will be a budget increase resulting in increased taxes.

Yesterday on NPR I heard non-profits who provide similar services complaining about the same effect on their businesses. There is not a simple cause and effect here. At least Oregon is recognizing the difference between cities and small towns when it comes to minimum wage.

I also think you need to look at the Mother Jones article on Bernie in May 2015. It was a real eye-opener to me on what a career politician he actually is, how unsuccessful he was in his life until he got elected mayor, and how he has changed his rhetoric to keep his job. Politics corrupts everyone.

I generally am very liberal, but I do support the American idea of equal opportunity. My friends and I also graduated in an era of economic downturn (Arab Oil Embargo), took jobs below our pay grade, but several of us went on to graduate school, paying for our schooling with loans or work - I personally worked 20-30 hours during undergraduate and law school in addition to my loans and we have worked our way up into comfortable lifestyles. I expect my daughters to work to the same level, not to expect they deserve it just because they were born to me. And I am a liberal. But I am a social democrat, not a democratic socialist, and I suggest you look up the difference.

[BuelahWitch]

113. Whew! Thought you were going to say something wrong at the caucus

That the DNC had brought in a bunch of department store dummies and declared their votes for Hillary. Or something...

[YourAMIGO]

115. I agree

People are trained to cheer for the bad guys. People sometimes vote against their own good.

Wake up people!

[JFKDem62]

116. There are more than enough resources in this country

to provide for basic human needs. But most of those resources
have been stolen by the elite who convinced us that substandard living is normal.

[SHRED]

117. Spot on

[unflapped]

119. Well said!

We need more free-thinkers on soap boxes reminding people that we can build the society that we want, and not just keep the society our forebearers thought might be swell for us.

[Rparker123]

120. Agree

Totally Agree. This election is revealed the ignorance of many Americans!

[Goldmundion]

122. Bernie Vid

Please check out this video I made for Bernie. It features FDR and the best of his campaign's footage.

Some important statistics to know:

"It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people—whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth—is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure." - FDR (January 11th, 1944)

"Nearly 1 in 7 American households experienced food insecurity in 2014. 15 million children... lacked the resources necessary for consistent and dependable access to food." - White house council of economic advisers (December 2015)

"Two decades ago... the 400 highest-earning taxpayers in America paid nearly 27 percent of their income in federal taxes. By 2012... that figure had fallen to less than 17 percent." - New York Times (Dec 29th, 2015)

"In 1974 3 percent of retiring congressmen became lobbyists. Now it's 50% of senators, 42% of house members." - The Atlantic (July 10th, 2012)

[Rhiannon12866]

123. Wow! That is excellent! Very powerful!

Thanks so much for sharing that with us! And welcome to DU!

[LostHorizon1937]

124. shredding

A key point in the Bernie campaign was the discussion of transcripts of speeches for those corporations who have donated to the Hillary campaign. I've started a petition to force Hillary
and/or corporations to release transcripts to these events. Please thoughtfully consider it.

https://www.change.org/p/hillary-clinton-demand-hillary-clinton-release-all-corporate-speeches-from-whom-she-has-received-donations?recruiter=515052401&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

Reform and Transparency is needed in order to educate the American people and restore a democracy for the people.

[eastwestdem]

126. Totally agree, but when doing research on the countries that have universal healthcare and free

public colleges...all started at a place of much better economic stability than we have now. I wonder if we need to start by dealing with income disparity as a first step to making the other goals more attainable.

[SHRED]

127. That is a fair point

Maybe integrate all at the same time ideally since they are related?
In perfect world we'd go to $15 per hour, or more, at that time also.

[ncovington89]

128. Cart before the horse

College will fix the problem by creating more skilled, highly paid workers, and the jobs program of his will force companies to compete for more workers and therefore drive up wages.

[truedelphi]

129. You are misinformed. Germany, if the population is adjusted per capita,

Is the world's leading exporter, and has held on to the manufacturing base.

The economy of other countries is fine.

Our economy is not fine, because of the same greedy people who don't want decent wages, or decent opportunities or education at the higher level for all, who want that.

Read "What Went Wrong" by George R Tyler.

That book shook me to me core.

In Germany, France and Scandinavian countries, since 1985, the wage increases are above 150%. Australia doesn't come close, as it has given its workers only a 60% wage increase.

But where is our nation? At a friggin' one half of one percent!

So what has to be done is nothing short of a revolution. Which given how this important election is being stolen, if you add up the purges done to the Sanders voting lists, the calling of the election before even 2% is in, and all the rest of it, might require a revolution out in the streets.

[midnight]

132. universal-comprehensive healthcare and nothing less-Please and thank you!