Thursday, March 10, 2016

My Viewpoint On Bernie Sanders On The Issues

Some of my favorite people are Liberals. They are kind and loving people and often selfless. Unfortunately, I think many of them are out of touch with reality. One the other hand, I think many conservatives are also out of touch with reality. Both seem to feel they have the right to invade my life, my privacy, my bank account, my choices and that the government can make better choices than I can. I take great issue with this. I am a Libertarian and still believe that we should have a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

I think Bernie Sanders supporters are especially vehement about their candidate. I went to his website and the page on the issues and addressed each of them briefly. I do not claim to have all of the answers or think that the Libertarian (Classic Liberal) mindset is flawless. I welcome open, lively discussion (not debate which assumes being right. I don't do pissing contests.) I do believe in minimizing the government (and its intrusion into personal life) and maximizing personal freedom and responsibility. I recommend reading "Don't Hurt People And Don't Take Their Stuff" by Matt Kibbe for a better understanding of Libertarianism. It's our country and the problems it has won't go away until we wake up, face reality, and do the work together.

Here are my comments on Bernie's Issues. (The red comments are mine)

BERNIE SANDERS
On the Issues
The American people must make a fundamental decision. Do we continue the 40-year decline of our middle class and the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else, or do we fight for a progressive economic agenda that creates jobs, raises wages, protects the environment and provides health care for all? Are we prepared to take on the enormous economic and political power of the billionaire class, or do we continue to slide into economic and political oligarchy? These are the most important questions of our time, and how we answer them will determine the future of our country. - See United States Constitution.

INCOME AND WEALTH INEQUALITY - See "Free Market" and MAKING THE WEALTHY, WALL STREET, AND LARGE CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE
IT'S TIME TO MAKE COLLEGE TUITION FREE AND DEBT FREE - Many college graduates cannot find jobs now. If you make college free it will lose much of its perceived value.
GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS AND RESTORING DEMOCRACY - One issue, one bill. Make all bills clear, transparent, and pork free.
CREATING DECENT PAYING JOBS - Most people get the jobs they deserve. The world doesn't owe you a living. That is life for adults. it takes occasional sacrifices and compromises, not handouts. Who do you think will create these good jobs? The government or the evil free market?
A LIVING WAGE - Don't procreate before you can provide. That is on you, not the taxpayers. Work smart, learn a trade, move up through the ranks. Once again, adulthood. Quit feeling entitled, even our poorest citizens live better than 75% of the world.
COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE TO SAVE THE PLANET - Scientific fact. So what is the plan? carpooling laws and public transportation won't fix it. Once again it falls on the free market to create cleaner running vehicles and factories.
A FAIR AND HUMANE IMMIGRATION POLICY - The world is overpopulated. Many immigrants no longer want to assimilate and become Americans. Who do we allow in? The best of the best, further impoverishing their native countries, or those who cannot speak or read english and are in most case destined to manual labor or crime? Illegals are invaders. Most of their money is sent back to their native land.
RACIAL JUSTICE - Read Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell. Quit playing the race card everytime you don't get your way and there will be a lot less racism.
FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS - Fight for human rights, not special treatment.
FIGHTING FOR LGBT EQUALITY - Fight for human rights, not special treatment.
CARING FOR OUR VETERANS - Our veterans deserve a place at the head of the line for medical and social services. All gave some, some gave all. Give them all VA benefits that they can take to a doctor of their choice.
MEDICARE FOR ALL - Who is going to pay for that and how? We have a shortage of doctors now because of excessive government regulations and forcing them to take losses on many procedures.
FIGHTING FOR DISABILITY RIGHTS - Be more specific. Are we talking about jobs you are not fit to perform? Fight for human rights, not special treatment.
STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND SOCIAL SECURITY - It cannot survive even as it is. It needs to be privatized, so the government can't use to to borrow from Peter to pay Paul.
FIGHTING TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES - Drug companies motivation is profit. Drug testing, especially with the FDA, costs millions of dollars, even on failed attempts. Prevent monopolies with an open free market and competition will drive the quality up and prices down, like street marijuana.
SUPPORTING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES - Support segregation? Support your own cultural history if you wish. It is not the government's job.
IMPROVING THE RURAL ECONOMY - Not the government's job.
REFORMING WALL STREET - Not the government's job.
REAL FAMILY VALUES - Not the government's job.
WAR AND PEACE - Abide by the Constitution that you took an oath to defend. Pull our troops from all foreign countries. Quit sending money and weapons overseas. It's unconstitutional.
MAKING THE WEALTHY, WALL STREET, AND LARGE CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE - Class warfare is a poisonous myth. Study history. We are not guaranteed anything. the right to become wealthy is inherent to the right to own property. If you choose to leave your wealth to your lazy children or "blow it" living high, it is still your right.  Looking at history, those who became rich built America, though inventions, production, jobs created, railroads, etc. You don't get paid to show up. What skills would you bring to the table in a post-Apocalyptic society? Are your potential contributions valuable? Yes, loopholes should be eliminated, but you don't punish the successful just for getting ahead.
HOW BERNIE PAYS FOR HIS PROPOSALS - He can't. His campaign promises would cost more than the current national debt to keep.

We all have to be aware of cognitive dissonance.
"
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool." - Richard Feyman

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I appreciate mature feedback. I don't do pissing contests though and will delete comments before posting them if they are hostile or blatantly offensive. Thanks for visiting!

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