Bernie Sanders, a moron from Brooklyn that hasn't a single useful idea in his entire head. Always spouting off for the litttle guy, while his constituents and peers have have done everything in the last 40 years to run every manufacturing job out of the country. Protect the environment, safe the fish, fuck the jobs, fuck the taxpayer, fuck anyone that disagress with us.
@rrhynes If we follow the republican plan this country is doomed.... Bernie Sanders is not against jobs for god sake... Your taking it too far... What he's against is injustice within our system and encase you haven't notices there's been a helluva lot of injustice in America from our fascist way's....
@funkyflights Who said I was a REpublican? I'm not. Bernie Sanders isn't an independent either, he's a fucking progressive liberal. The only striking difference between Sanders and Schumer might be policy on gun ownership.
What I cant understand is why aren't there more people up in arms about the rich getting all the breaks. Bernie seems to be the only member of the Senate and the House who cares about the regular person.
As a Christian and a social conservative I've generally voted for the GOP all my life. But anyone with any type of sensitivity to social justice, fairness, supporting the least and vulnerable in society has to see the radical injustice and pain this budget would cause to those that have taken the brunt of the sacrifice in this recession and have no presence in Washington to voice their need.
Mara2Wild... I am sorry to heard about your dad, but the question is not "What will happen to my daddy?" As a 20 yr old, the question is what is going to happen to you (and all young americans) when we get to our golden years, without Medicare, social security and everything else!!! That should be the Question.
Im 20 my father is 75 and he now has to be on oxygen he has an open wound on his leg that has been there as long as i have been alive and longer broke his arm when i was three and has a metal plate in it now to replace an elbow and he is overweight and has diabetes high blood pressure but he is strong as an ox!...I dont have insurance but he is on medicare and it has already cut a little bit and he has to pay more out of pocket. If they cut medicare...What will happen to my daddy!
Although I agree that some entitlements should be cut or monitored more closely, I think it's immoral to tax the middle class, working people to give to the ultra wealthy and corporations. Personally, I have worked hard all my life and cannot get ahead for retirement due to heavy IRS taxation. What is to become of us? We pay high monthly charges to these companies and then support them further with our hard earned income, taxation. The wealthy need to pitch in here!! Amen, Sen. Sanders!
Thank God for Senator Sanders. It is nice to hear the truth for once in our lifetime by a congress person.
Vote independent. Neither the Republicans or Democrats can get anything done with out huge payout from corrupt corporations and their so called leaders....
If you pay people more out of the profits rather than funneling them to the shareholders who are already rich - then people will begin consuming en mass. This in turn will put pressure on producers to produce more product. When they can't produce enough product fast enough to meet the demand, then they will have to hire. Not because the government is giving them a tax break but because of the organic demand. In contrast - giving more to the uppder 1% is not going to create market pull nor jobs.
If you give the rich tax breaks with the thought that they will use this money to build, create jobs, start new endeavors you are mistaken. Sorry, the trickle down theory has never worked. They see the rest of us suffering and they are scared, so they don't spend to re-build. Instead, if you make the rich pay their fair share or better, they will suddenly feel the need to make more money and will start new projects or expand to do so..
well, the republicans weigh in on many hefty issues -- war, security, justice, peace, morality, economy... however, after looking at it for decades, i have come to a conclusion that all of this is just white noise, and in all and every issue they have one agenda, and one agenda only -- how to make the rich richer. any situation, crisis, disaster or outrage will be considered from this angle and no other. it helps to understand this clearly...
This is no longer a Party issue, Sanders is brave enough to tell it like it is. WE NEED TO FIGHT TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY! We need to do it now! join WE ARE ONE!
I am not happy with either party, but the Republicans are much worse at this point. They want a country run by rich white christian men with no regard for women, gays, or people of different faiths. If you are not a billionaire, why would you vote Republican? Ignorance and religion drive people to vote for these tools.
It is time for the top 2% to participate in this 'Shared Sacrifice' that is being shoved down our throats right now by this administration and the teabaggers.
This country needs more like Bernie to stand up for the working class, the poor, disabled and the seniors.
Great speech falling on deaf ears, The current GOP leadership, doesn't see the world as Senator Sanders does, and never will. After years of demonizing government, they now want to apply to apply the coup de grace and kill those programs that help the average American to the benefit of their corporate overlords. The conservative activist judges on the Supreme Court have already appointed a President, and overturned a century of precedence to allow corporations free rein. Keep fighting Bernie!
"you have an income of 15k and you get cancer, how are you going to pay for that?"... How about deal with it, get a job, or roll over and die because you planned for elderly life poorly. Seriously.... Basically what he is saying is this: "WHEN OLD PEOPLE WHO DIDNT PLAN FOR OLD AGE GET SICK, WE ARE CONTINUING TO LEGALLY STEAL MONEY FROM SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE AND GIVE IT AWAY TO PEOPLE WHO NEVER EARNED IT.
@tiggetty The majority of bankruptcies in this country are from catastrophic healthcare costs, not from getting old. Even still, pulling the rug out from the elderly that paid into an insurance policy (Medicare & Social Security) is THIEVERY. MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY ARE NOT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS.
@tiggetty I wonder how you define earn. The Koch brothers never "earned" their money in the conventional sense. They inherited it. Besides, you're completely ignoring men and women who did plan for their retired lives. Remember fraud that targeted seniors? Remember Enron, AIG, Bernie Maddoff? Remember the deregulation of this institutions during the Bush years? People who get screwed over are also in the unlucky camp. Taxes don't equal theft and the more you make the more your share. Damn
@tiggetty ""you have an income of 15k and you get cancer, how are you going to pay for that?"... How about deal with it, get a job, or roll over and die because you planned for elderly life poorly."
Only a conservative would believe that you can bootstrap your way out of having cancer. That is priceless.
The difference between us is that you believe that healthcare should be earned, whereas I believe it is a basic human right. You are a deplorable human being.
Joe Stalin said that no ruling class voluntarily leaves the stage of history. This one won't, either. Even when they are shoved aside, they will still be posturing and play-acting.
This is the same government that tells you it's okay to drink radioactive milk but dangerous to drink raw milk. Are y'all really going to miss 'em? Franklin Sanders.
This is a load of crap,....because the democrats never passed a budget last year we are faced with a possible shut down.
Also tax money belongs to the people who earned it,its not government;s money to begin with,so you cant say it adds to the Nat'l debt.
Tax breaks let the people who earned the money hire poor people,...have you ever got a job from a poor person?,.....so bernie,you are full of crap,....stealing money from the productive people and giving it to the lazy is wrong
He speaks the dark truth of the GOP. Oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία, oligarkhía[1]) is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, corporate, or military control. Sounds like the Rich SOBs controlling us. Republicans!
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL Uh, all the democrats in congress are incredibly wealthy too..and vote against their own tax increases. it is foolish to think the democrats are any different.
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL except that in an oligarchy there are typically no ways to ascend to a higher class. hereyou can become a millionaire coming from any background. The democrats idea of expanding the middle class is to steal money from successful people and distribute it to lazy people who dont deserve it. they pull people down into the middle class. whereas the conservative ideal is to allow money to create jobs and pull poor people up into the middle class. you have to be willing to work tho.
@tiggetty I'm SO lazy @ my $40k salary, for which I did 7 years of post-secondary ed. in order to be considered. It represents the laziest, poorest planning to fulfill the occupations of teacher, physician asst., secretary, billing specialist, etc. We're certainly not willing to work for our keep. I mean seriously, when 2/3 of our salary go to rent, groceries,&transportation, how could we possibly think of STEALING from rich ppl in order to pay med. costs that amount to 1/2 of our take-home??
@profesorabecky I know, right. We're just so lazy. I mean, the very idea that we think the top 20% who control more than 90% of the country's wealth (UC Santa Cruz data) should be taxed is just crazy. After all, clearly during the Bush years, they're the ones responsible for all that economic growth and low unemployment that the Bush cuts made room for...oh wait, yeah, that's bull shit.
@tiggetty This is just another classic conservative narrative. The reason people are poor is because they're lazy. Yeah that's it, or maybe it's becoming harder to become successful, because Republicans take strides in making it easier for financial firms to take advantage of unexperienced consumers, harder for students to go college (eliminating pell grants and reducing university funding), while refusing to address poverty that even without abundant studies to show for it, influence potential
As I am disabled paid in the system for over 30 years made 80k a year an now I get 1500 a month for me and my family. There has been no raise for 2 years and we never got the $250.00 that they said se would get . Now they want to cut mediocre heap I know people that have to choose between food and Heating oil .
Americans 93 % none union and our 7% union work force we must all unite for liveable wages and healthcare. Don’t be spellbound by the talking media heads of the unscrupulous companies and Gov officials who indirectly work for them. And are trying to put a wedge between us None of them are hurting are they. Support only fair trade! And USA products. Lets fill our coffers again. With taxes made by product's made here. Go on line to Made in USA.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (NIV, 1 Timothy 6:17-19)
Dump the Obamarator. Bernie Sanders for President in 2012. Let's stop waiting for truth and justice. Throw off those "Chains We Can Believe In." No more being forced to buy lottery tickets to have a good retirement because that is currently the only way for the average person to "Win the Future"!
@beautyseer The same Bernie Sanders that blocked all attempts by the Republicans in 2003 to reign in fanny mae and freddy mac? And then years later took credit for "fixing" the problem he created? No thanks.
Dump the Obamarator. Bernie Sanders for President in 2012. Let's stop waiting for truth and justice. Throw off those "Chains We Can Believe In." No more being forced to buy lottery tickets to have a good retirement because that is currently the only way for the average person to "Win the Future"!
ah yes the old class warfare cannard... the tried and true tool of all socialists to seize power and turn the working class into chattel.
You know of course that we generate more tax revenue by lowering rates and encouraging economic growth than what we do by increasing the tax rates and crushing economic activity ? It works everytime it's used...just like it did when JFK slashed the tax rates... but then again this isn't really about generating revenue, it's about social justice isn't it ?
@judyleasugar97 extending the Bush tax cuts by a pawltry 2 years isn't going to spur investors who think in the long term. That is what we are experiencing now. If the Bush tax cuts were made permanent and investors felt that is was safe to gamble in the market place and make a profit that wasn't going to be subject to confiscatory tax rates in 2 years, we would be out of this economic malaise by now. When will you people stop thinking you have a right to other people's money?
@violentlogic: You didn't really answer what I said. The rich have had low taxes for ten years and yet jobs dwindle, they send many overseas. In the fifties taxes on the wealthy were 80 percent and yet industry flourished, creating a vibrant middle class, It's clear: Republican methods DON'T WORK.
@violentlogic You need to take a look at job growth and GDP growth when top marginal tax rates on the rich were higher, specifically the times between 1940 and 1970. Then take a look at 1985-2009. As these tax rates on the rich dropped, private sector job growth plummeted.
Some of you people need to put down the Ayn Rand books, you're in a fantasy world.
@Sloxx701 Explain exactly how an employer having less money to spend allows them to employ more people? The down trend you are referring to is due to an increase in automation, globalization, and outsourcing due to the enormous jumps in the corporate tax. The high you are referring to was due to post-war economic and industrial advances fueled by a population explosion and consumer demand. It slowly normalized after that. You have to read many books in order to not be a brainwashed idiot.
@tiggetty No, how about you explain to me why the only two times in history marginal tax rates on the rich were at their lowest just so happened to coincide with the two largest economical crashes of this century. The only idiot is you. Because as you can see, some of the lowest tax rates on corporations and the rich in this same time span just so happen to have been in the last 10 years. Where are these jobs at again?
@tiggetty I'm just going to go out on a limb here. During the Clinton years, the wealthy, the so-called job creators did phenomenally well. Our economy also grew. How exactly does an employer with less money allow him/her to employ more people? I don't know, but why then over the 6-8 years during which we had the Bush tax cuts did we lose over 1 million jobs, when they had more money? Jumps in corporate tax huh, why then did our top corps pay nothing in taxes and still lay off tons?
@violentlogic This argument is so tiresome. The bush tax cuts were in effect for at least 6 years before there was ever a possibility of getting rid of them and investors over that period of time didn't seem to take much interest. Worse, jobs were lost, over a million jobs were lost. Taxation, that's in the constitution. So long as it's right to tax to provide for the defense, it should be right to provide to make room for a quality standard of life in this country, SOMETHING worth defending.
@violentlogic "To befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day." -- President Theodore Roosevelt
@violentlogic When all the bricklayers, machinists, miners, blacksmiths, printers, hod-carriers, stevedores, house-painters, brakemen, engineers, conductors, factory hands, horse-car drivers, shop-girls, sewing-women, and all the telegraph operators; in a word all the myriads of toilers in whom is slumbering the reality of that thing which you call Power, when these rise, call the vast spectacle by any deluding name that will please your ear, but the fact remains a Nation has risen. - Mark Twain
@violentlogic oh and by the way, I don't think he was referring to your beloved millionaires and billionaires who are trying to get out of paying Clinton-era taxes
@violentlogic: In the fifties we had 80 percent taxation of the wealthy and yet industry flourished. Raising taxes on the wealthy to where it was under Clinton would actually end the defecit.
@violentlogic Because that's precisely what we did during the Clinton years and those years were so badly off to show for it. Seriously, the Bush years and their tax cuts are the easiest and clearest contradiction to your claim.
Taking money from one group and giving to another by force is morality? Really? The fact is unless spending is slashed dramatically, *no* amount of taxing will do a damn freaking thing. We could confiscate everything owned by every billionaire in the country and not even balance this years budget..how is a few % of tax increase going to help?
Every time things are going smoothly with the rich paying higher taxes, the US as a whole prospers. Unfortunately, whenever things are alright, republicans want their billionaire friends to have just a little bit more so they can finance their next elections.
Yes, taking money from the middle class who are struggling for jobs and livelihood right now, while companies like GE and Exxon make billion dollar profits, PAY NO TAXES, and get a tax rebate of millions IS MORALLY WRONG.
@SechyoolarYOOESAY You do realize that the democrats in congress are among the richest of them all, right? Diane Fienstien alone is worth over $100 million and voted AGAINST tax increases.
so it isn't an issue of republicans vs democrats, It's an issue of corporatism and cronyism among all members of congress, with party affiliation meaning nothing!! Wake up, if you honestly think democrats are any different then republicans you're a fool.
@Da40kOrks Do you have any conception of what it takes to run for congress? Wealth doesn't make you a bad person and Democrats don't argue that it does. There are wealthy democrats just like there are wealthy republicans and very few, if any, congressmen/women, US or state reps are less than high middle class. If you honestly can't recognize a difference in social policy, you're negligent and if you can't recognize a clear trend in fiscal agenda, you're incompetent...calling the kettle black
@Da40kOrks "You do realize that the democrats in congress are among the richest of them all, right?"
I do realize that - and the majority of them are FOR tax increases. Dems are always the ones pushing for tax increases. You pick one and try to smear them all.
DEMS ARE DIFFERENT THAN REPUBLICANS!
Dems are for social programs like medicare, medicaid, and social security!
Dems are for funding public education and healthcare for all!
@Da40kOrks What does that have to do with what Sen. Sanders is saying? The majority of the congressional freshmen are millionaires. They are proposing a major tax cut for themselves while putting the burden of funding this country on the people who go to work every day for less buying power when they get their paychecks. If every member of Congress was doing their job, like Sen. Sanders is, representing the people that elected them, this could once again be a great nation.
@oopsieeee We will NEVER be a great nation as long as we are borrowing 1 TRILLION dollars or more a year. Raising taxes will never make any difference in the amount of deficit incurred by the federal, any state or local government until the spending is controlled. This means sacrifices for ALL, not just people you hate.
When you say "representing the people that elected him" what you mean is "pay off people with free government money so they will re-elect him".
@Da40kOrks That is true to an extant. The republicans are far more rank and file in favor of tax breaks for the wealthy, with a few (and sadly growing number) of democrats following suit. But I agree that corporatism is THE issue. So I am with you in the end.
@Da40kOrks "if you honestly think democrats are any different then republicans you're a fool."
Oh really? So Bernie Sanders is the same as republicans? He votes Democrat 99% of the time and supports Harry Reid. Sure there's a lot of rich people who are democrats....but the democrats BY LARGE are not the fools trying to lower taxes for the rich. The Democrats historically always want to raise taxes...but you say they are the same as republicans? You're the fool here...
If I had to choose between the two, I'd put a Democrat in the driver's seat everytime.... they don't try to impose morality on people and try to define what people can do in their social lives. Democrats aren't the ones pushing for intelligent design in our classrooms....how are they the same as republicans other than the fact that they help sustain the status quo? Explain...
@SechyoolarYOOESAY LOL that's the point! They maintain the status quo instead of actually fixing anything. They put on a big dog and pony show, pretending to be for the people, and you fall for it! They are just the same..well paid for bought and sold tools of the rich and corporations.
@Da40kOrks "The fact is unless spending is slashed dramatically, *no* amount of taxing will do a damn freaking thing"
Oh really? Do you propose cutting public education funding as well as community health organizations? That is Rep. Ryan's plan. Republicans see funding for public education as "expendable" and then wonder how we're falling behind in the world.
You asked a question, now it's my turn...Why should we give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires? They aren't creating jobs.
@SechyoolarYOOESAY Why should the government take money from anyone, at all, ever? Why is the government the ONLY solution you support to issues like poverty, education, health care or anything else?
I propose cutting everything: End all wars, close all 700+ military bases around the world, end the drug war, close the dept of education (return 100% education control to local authorities), close the dept of homeland security and a whole lot more. We don't NEED any of it!!!!
@Da40kOrks "Why is the government the ONLY solution you support to issues like poverty, education, health care or anything else" Because people, especially those who tend to self-identify as conservative or republican, cannot be trusted to do humane and reasonable things for the common good. I am not talking massive welfare. I am talking smart, efficient programs that reduce suffering and help people in times of need. Charity and volunteerism doesn't cover the needs.
@donbearwilkinson I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of humanity. There are also free-market ways to deal with some of these issues, but of course no one is willing to actually have a free market because that would mean corporations and their cronies in congress would have to compete fairly instead of buying whatever kind of favorable regulations, tax breaks and laws they want.
My point remains: The belief that taxing alone will fix anything is simple-minded and myopic.
@Da40kOrks No one is suggesting that raises taxes alone is enough!!!!! The argument is that there should be a balance between both spending cuts and raising taxes. I don't think you have to have a low opinion of humanity to be cognizant of what our fellow human beings are capable of, whether you're looking at the brash selfishness within the financial markets that almost drove the US over a cliff or you're looking at insurance companies that cast children off their plans to protect profit.
@Da40kOrks "Why should the government take money from anyone, at all, ever?"
It's called taxing, not taking. It's your patriotic duty to pay taxes that support the welfare of our country. It's not all about you - we're all in this together.
"return 100% education control to local authorities"
WOWOWOWOWOW - so you're gonna let the bible-thumping idiots in the south teach creationism to our kids, as well as try to round up enough money to pay teachers minimum wage...RIGHT.....
@Da40kOrks "Taking money from one group and giving to another by force is morality? Really? " In a word - Yes. If rich people (as a generalization) had any soul, there would be no need for taxing them. They would naturally find ways to share their wealth for the betterment of fellow humans. But, as is often the case, greed, selfishness, racism and other moral defects stop them from being decent.
@Da40kOrks You do realize that the top 400 richest people in the US have more wealth than the bottom 50% of the entire population combined? And that many of them bypass paying taxes at all because of loopholes in the law provided by their butt buddy republican pals in office? Or did that slip your mind... Nah a little taxing/ capital gains tax on the rich just wont help at all... It's not going to solve our problem tomorrow, but that doesn't make it right.
@Sloxx701 "And that many of them bypass paying taxes at all because of loopholes in the law provided by their butt buddy republican pals in office?"
If you think this was only the republicans, you're a moron.
"Nah a little taxing/ capital gains tax on the rich just wont help at all"
It won't. at. all. It's at best a drop in the ocean..just like the so-called cuts being proposed. a $50 billion cut from the budget is like you or I finding 1/10th of a penny on the street. It's nothing.
@Da40kOrks Yes, $50 billion is certainly nothing. Raising the estate tax exemption level will cost an additional $68 billion for us over two years. Also certainly nothing. And this is just by removing the Bush tax cuts, not actually returning tax rates to what they once were before this happened.
@Sloxx701 The estate tax is probably the most immoral of them all..you're taxing money that has already has taxes paid on it. Sorry I just don't subscribe to class warfare. You might say "the rich don't care about us". My response would be "So what, I don't care about them either" up to the point where they buy laws.
The top 25% of income earners already pay 87% of all federal income taxes...so the characterization that rich people don't pay taxes is, at best, a lie if not just a mistake.
@Da40kOrk I never said the rich don't pay taxes. I also have to pay tax money that I've already payed taxes on, yet I'm not complaining. It's hard to take you seriously if you honestly think that free market will fix our problems. Please explain to me how you think that work. I am liberal, but I can occasionally agree with libertarians. I'm not being sarcastic.
@Sloxx701 We can fix health care with free-market principles. First, allow any insurance company licensed in one state to provide services in all states. Second, remove the monopoly of the AMA to grant licenses. These are both examples of government cronyism under the guise of "regulation" stifling competition leading to higher prices, less service and rampant greed. Health insurance companies need to compete fairly in an open market instead of having income/territory protected by law.
@Da40kOrks Although I agree with allowing insurance competition across state lines, I do not believe it will solve our health care problem. I realize you are libertarian (which is basically code for anarchy), and there's not really enough room here to say what I wish, but I find it ironic that you think deregulation (of any industry) would actually prevent greed and recklessness. Been paying attention much since the Reagan administration? Crash of 2008 ring a bell?
@Da40kOrks Then I misinterpreted you, your responses seem to show a different ideology. I will ask you this - Why is it that we are the only first-world country on the planet to not have a form of single-payer or universal healthcare? And yet our average life expectancy is among the lowest (lower than Cubas actually) and our healthcare costs, per individual, are 10 times higher than the next highest country. Our system is far from a problem with just competition.
@Sloxx701 Government run health care isn't perfect. It's ok for basic needs and common problems, but has issues with anything specialized..from long wants to requiring approval for new advances. So to answer your question, because no one has tried anything else. They assume government is the best way to do things.
We don't have a health care crisis, we have a "can't pay for it crisis" which is completely different. the care itself is fine. Government is the problem, not the solution.
@Da40kOrks Since you say it's the governments fault, just an example, but have you ever heard of the Prescription Drug Marketing Act? How about Medicare Part D? Do you know that under the law, Part D forbids the government from negotiating prices of pharmaceuticals that it buys from Big pharma, and it is by far their biggest customer? And take a guess at who wrote this legislation. The best part? People turn around and blame the gov for this. This is just ONE example.
@Sloxx701 You're so close but can't quite make the leap. The example you give is perfect demonstration of the cronyism and corporatism I've been saying is the problem all along. You're fully able to blame the company for that law, but the law wouldn't be in place if the companies couldn't buy whatever favorable laws they want from our corrupt government!!! Until we can divorce power from money, nothing we do will fix anything
@Da40kOrks You are attacking a SYMPTOM of the problem (corrupt government) and not the CAUSE (corporations that can buy whatever laws they want). I don't understand how this is difficult...
@Sloxx701 No, you're wrong. That is not the cause, but the result of the system put in place by those very same people who benefit from it. The so-called "two party system" itself is corrupt, where so-called anti-election fraud laws are really protectionism to keep anyone else from having a chance. This is because the people in power are actually just as greedy as anyone else, they pretend to represent everyone but only represent themselves. Blaming JUST corporations is myopic and false.
@Da40kOrks I never said I was JUST blaming corporations, still putting words in my mouth I see.. I can only agree with you on the fact that both the government AND corporations are corrupt. As such, they BOTH need to be dealt with. I also never said that democrats weren't just as corrupt as the GOP.
@Da40kOrks The reason blaming corporations is popular is because voters don't want to blame themselves for the abominations they've elected. However, that doesn't make it false. We live in a capitalist society where money is power. Corporations have money; they have power. The goal of any corporation is to make more money and gain more power. Most corporations put their interests first above those lower than it. This is why no one likes them. It really isn't as complicated as you think.
@Da40kOrks and if you look at the wealth distribution in this country, the same 20-25% control up to 90% of the wealth! You can check that statistic with UC Santa Cruz. I take very little issue with taxing a small group of people who control so much of the wealth in this country in the first place, as if the rest of the country works less or is lazy. I'm sure we can quite a few teachers who work harder than many of those people have or ever will, but I digress
@Robbyguy and? Are you saying that it's ok to take money from people until everyone has the exact same? Again the disparity of wealth isn't the problem, it's the disparity of *power* created by the immoral marriage of business and government we have called "corporatism". If a rich person had the exact same influence over law making as you do, then there would be no laws favoring the rich and protecting them from competition and loss of profits.
@Da40kOrks I didn't say that "it's ok to take money from people until everyone has the exact same." Although, you know what's really funny? I don't sincerely disagree with you that much, something I find quite frankly, surprising. The difference, from the little survey available from your views and mine displayed here is that I see "corporatism" as being connected to that disparity of wealth. If you have that much control over a nation's wealth, you're bound to have influence on its legislators
@Robbyguy I agree, and that is what we have. My points are: 1. The influence is the problem, not the disparity itself. and 2. Taxing won't help in any way, shape, or form until spending is under control.
Cutting spending is hard, because people have been indoctrinated for so long that they think they are "entitled" to other people's money. raising taxes are easy because they have also be indoctrinated with class warfare.
@Baelzar and given Republicans' records and the public's general disapproval of a wide range of Republican efforts, like focusing on abortion the first 18 months in office as opposed to jobs, stripping workers of the rights to collectively bargain, getting rid of Sesame Street (seriously?). yeah, we're really looking forward to 2012. Can't wait to see you there.
This should be seen by every citizen of this country. Sanders clearly states exactly what the Republicans are about, the total distruction of the middle class and working poor.
@ivan5186 I respect you, whoever you are, but as it turns out, the numbers unambiguously show that foreign aid is less than 1% of the budget and as so would have absolutely no effect on the deficit. Now, if you're talking about cutting defense, that's a different story, but no Republicans like their guns and big toys.
by all means, folks, believe that Universal Healthcare is not a human right. Just don't ever call America a "Christian Nation" ever again.
Christ didn't walk around with a loaded weapon, or ANY kind, on His person.
Christ didn't defend not helping those in need.
Christ didn't give excuses for letting the poor and sick remain poor and sick.
the USA is not a Christian Nation in any way whatsoever - it's a country that does not care about the poor. And Americans should be ashamed of themselves.
@MOKandRIFF you realize that a person in the united states with no insurance is, by law, unable to be turned away for medical care at a hospital that isn't even available to 95% of the rest of the planet? Obamacare isnt about health CARE, its about health insurance. Giving that out to everyone that "needs" it while making the people that already have it pay for other people's as well is dumb Also, should we grant healthcare to mexico? sudan? they are all suffering too. think before you post
@tiggetty "Giving away health insurance?" What are you talking about? The Affordable Care Act (as originally proposed by REPUBLICANS in the early 90s, we're talking 94) requires people to contribute to their own health insurance because our health care costs were becoming too great a share of GDP. Health insurance isn't being "given away." The only people, for whom that claim might apply, are children, those terrible freeloaders. Also, Mexico and Sudan don't pay taxes, just like the wealthy
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
Just another damn thief, wanting to reach in one mans pocket and give it to another. True liberty and self-reliance are dead concepts in this country, and all the current freeloaders are going to be in a world of hurt when the dollar collapses, but who cares, let the ponzi schemes continue.
Just another damn theif, wanting to reach in one mans pocket and give it to another. True liberty and self-reliance are dead concepts in this country, and all the current freeloaders are going to be in a world of hurt when the dollar collapses, but who cares, let the ponzi schemes continue.
Correction: The thieves are on Wall St. who play games with people's money and when they lose it, they still pat themselves on the back with million dollar bonuses. Financial "engineers" come up with these complex derivatives and interest rates, which caused the world economy to collapse...This whole practice of these risky ventures was enabled by republican deregulation.
You think the CEO of AIG deserved his $100 million bonus after running his company into the ground?
@SechyoolarYOOESAY last time I checked the democrats supported the AIG bailouts just as much as the republicans did. This isn't capitalism, it's cronyism, and the government us the biggest thief around. Taxing the rich won't make them steal less, it just makes you an accomplice.
Yeah, they both supported the bailouts - but it has been the systematic deregulation of the financial sector since the Reagan administration by republicans that made us bail them out in the first place!
Taxing is not equal to stealing.....It's your patriotic duty to your country to contribute to the public welfare of our country. You want to live in an anarchy? How the fuck do you think we're gonna pave our roads, build our highways, pay for libraries, police, firemen?
@SechyoolarYOOESAY how did "deregulation" make us bail them out? That doesn't make any sense. Our politicians stole from us and gave to them when they should have let them fail. When a business makes bad decisions, they should suffer the consequences, that's true capitalism. And paying for someone elses medical care is not my "patriotic duty", defending my property and freedom is.
Watch the documentary "Inside Job" narrated by Matt Damon - it describes in detail why the financial sector collapsed. Deregulation of the financial sector allowed them to make very VERY risky business ventures, and they ended up losing hundreds of billions of dollars for it - in some case trillions. They encouraged people to accept these loans with only 0.03% capital down on the house. They actively bet against loans they KNEW would collapse but still sold to us.
@SechyoolarYOOESAY I don't disagree with anything you wrote, but none of that "required" us to bailout the companies that made those bad decisions. So what if Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, AIG, and the rest of them went out of businesses, the CEO's wouldn't be writing themselves fat bonus checks if our politicians hadn't stolen our money..
I have heard people suggest a conspiracy theory about the "culling of the excess population". Extreme, but such theorists might find evidence in the Republican proposals.
i am more than a little in love with this guy. I am a licensed professional counselor for the poor with mental health problems. It is horrific what all the cuts to health care are going to do to the poor while helping the richest.
The documents say it all as banker's whore Harry Reid articulated. IF you get sick, you are //supposed// to die. That is what austerity and the Death Pannels are for.
The insurance companies are going to KILL the population, that is forced by government into paying them for services that are NEVER going to be delivered.
You //must// pay in, but the moment you actually need it the insurance syndicate puts you to death via government force.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
A Dirty Socialist MORON! If you didn't EARN the money, you don't deserve it. If you are one of the weak-spined Americans who receive a monthly 'stupid check' from the Government, you are part of the problem. This guy simply approaches and promises moochers Other People's Money for their votes.
Look around, idiots. The money is not there anymore. You MUST STOP mooching. We MUST stop spending.
More class-warfare pabulum. Just give ole Bernie and his ilk more of your money and liberty and they’ll fix all our woes and protect us from ourselves. Government run utopia is just around the corner ladies and gentlemen. Come on Bernie…make us all equal. You can do it! BTW…did you pay your federal income taxes at the current rates, or the pre-Bush rates? Just asking.
@Tranacria: It is a common propaganda ploy to accuse the other side of what you yourself are doing. It is the conservatives who started the class warfare. Middle and lower income people are just trying to survive.
why cannot ALL SENATORS be like BERNIE SANDERS ?
IDOLODORO2 4 months ago
@IDOLODORO2 YOU are th moron
IDOLODORO2 4 months ago
Bernie Sanders, a moron from Brooklyn that hasn't a single useful idea in his entire head. Always spouting off for the litttle guy, while his constituents and peers have have done everything in the last 40 years to run every manufacturing job out of the country. Protect the environment, safe the fish, fuck the jobs, fuck the taxpayer, fuck anyone that disagress with us.
rrhynes 5 months ago
@rrhynes If we follow the republican plan this country is doomed.... Bernie Sanders is not against jobs for god sake... Your taking it too far... What he's against is injustice within our system and encase you haven't notices there's been a helluva lot of injustice in America from our fascist way's....
funkyflights 1 month ago
@funkyflights Who said I was a REpublican? I'm not. Bernie Sanders isn't an independent either, he's a fucking progressive liberal. The only striking difference between Sanders and Schumer might be policy on gun ownership.
rrhynes 1 month ago
I'm trying to watch the Nyan Cat. Anyone know where to go?
dAVIDsonPROductionsi 7 months ago
Republicans are economic morons
Lightmane321 9 months ago 2
What I cant understand is why aren't there more people up in arms about the rich getting all the breaks. Bernie seems to be the only member of the Senate and the House who cares about the regular person.
burtburt69 10 months ago
@burtburt69 Could it be that they are Bought and Paid for??
CLAWSOMEful 10 months ago
@CLAWSOMEful That's EXACTLY what it is.
burtburt69 10 months ago
@burtburt69: Anthony Weiner also speaks out.
judyleasugar97 10 months ago
You go, Bernie!
bluesapphire48 10 months ago
As a Christian and a social conservative I've generally voted for the GOP all my life. But anyone with any type of sensitivity to social justice, fairness, supporting the least and vulnerable in society has to see the radical injustice and pain this budget would cause to those that have taken the brunt of the sacrifice in this recession and have no presence in Washington to voice their need.
rizdraver 10 months ago
can we clone Bernie Sanders?
arimeyer 11 months ago
Mara2Wild... I am sorry to heard about your dad, but the question is not "What will happen to my daddy?" As a 20 yr old, the question is what is going to happen to you (and all young americans) when we get to our golden years, without Medicare, social security and everything else!!! That should be the Question.
jpinzon 11 months ago
Im 20 my father is 75 and he now has to be on oxygen he has an open wound on his leg that has been there as long as i have been alive and longer broke his arm when i was three and has a metal plate in it now to replace an elbow and he is overweight and has diabetes high blood pressure but he is strong as an ox!...I dont have insurance but he is on medicare and it has already cut a little bit and he has to pay more out of pocket. If they cut medicare...What will happen to my daddy!
Mara2Wild 11 months ago
Although I agree that some entitlements should be cut or monitored more closely, I think it's immoral to tax the middle class, working people to give to the ultra wealthy and corporations. Personally, I have worked hard all my life and cannot get ahead for retirement due to heavy IRS taxation. What is to become of us? We pay high monthly charges to these companies and then support them further with our hard earned income, taxation. The wealthy need to pitch in here!! Amen, Sen. Sanders!
gailcruse 11 months ago
Thank God. It is about time someone in Washington is a patriot. Protects some of people’s rights… from “Wall Street embezzlers… Ponzi scammers”.
grandfoundation1 11 months ago
Thank God for Senator Sanders. It is nice to hear the truth for once in our lifetime by a congress person.
Vote independent. Neither the Republicans or Democrats can get anything done with out huge payout from corrupt corporations and their so called leaders....
Thank you! Senator Sanders
grandfoundation1 11 months ago
If you pay people more out of the profits rather than funneling them to the shareholders who are already rich - then people will begin consuming en mass. This in turn will put pressure on producers to produce more product. When they can't produce enough product fast enough to meet the demand, then they will have to hire. Not because the government is giving them a tax break but because of the organic demand. In contrast - giving more to the uppder 1% is not going to create market pull nor jobs.
JudieBoBoodie 11 months ago
If you give the rich tax breaks with the thought that they will use this money to build, create jobs, start new endeavors you are mistaken. Sorry, the trickle down theory has never worked. They see the rest of us suffering and they are scared, so they don't spend to re-build. Instead, if you make the rich pay their fair share or better, they will suddenly feel the need to make more money and will start new projects or expand to do so..
Grrrlfriend1313 11 months ago
This man should be President.
EthylRosenberg 11 months ago
well, the republicans weigh in on many hefty issues -- war, security, justice, peace, morality, economy... however, after looking at it for decades, i have come to a conclusion that all of this is just white noise, and in all and every issue they have one agenda, and one agenda only -- how to make the rich richer. any situation, crisis, disaster or outrage will be considered from this angle and no other. it helps to understand this clearly...
kalevraa 11 months ago 2
I'd love to see a camera view of the Republican Senators reacting to a Bernie Sander's senate speech.
RepublicanVampire 11 months ago 4
This is no longer a Party issue, Sanders is brave enough to tell it like it is. WE NEED TO FIGHT TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY! We need to do it now! join WE ARE ONE!
InfinitaGirl 11 months ago
I am not happy with either party, but the Republicans are much worse at this point. They want a country run by rich white christian men with no regard for women, gays, or people of different faiths. If you are not a billionaire, why would you vote Republican? Ignorance and religion drive people to vote for these tools.
vincemealfull 11 months ago 2
Lower corporate taxes while GE pays NOTHING? Brilliant Republicans?
tomkastle 11 months ago
It is time for the top 2% to participate in this 'Shared Sacrifice' that is being shoved down our throats right now by this administration and the teabaggers.
This country needs more like Bernie to stand up for the working class, the poor, disabled and the seniors.
Jilliansw 11 months ago 4
is that a mannequin behind him?
rahands 11 months ago
KEEP IT UP!!
Sasukelegend5 11 months ago
If I could I would move to Vermont just so I could vote for Bernie Sanders every time he is up for re-election.
He gets it.
scott4261 11 months ago
He is fantastic. Why is Obama not responding in this way? It's amazing to me.
msdanamueller 11 months ago
Great speech falling on deaf ears, The current GOP leadership, doesn't see the world as Senator Sanders does, and never will. After years of demonizing government, they now want to apply to apply the coup de grace and kill those programs that help the average American to the benefit of their corporate overlords. The conservative activist judges on the Supreme Court have already appointed a President, and overturned a century of precedence to allow corporations free rein. Keep fighting Bernie!
cavebear33 11 months ago 3
He said "OLIGARCHY". About time someone finally called them out on what they're trying to do.
desultorie 11 months ago 3
God bless you, Senator Sanders! Why can't Obama be more like you?
VoiceHunter 11 months ago 3
I want to be Bernie when I grow up. Give 'em hell, Bernie.
Republicans are the scourge of the earth.
TheLeftyGrove 11 months ago
"you have an income of 15k and you get cancer, how are you going to pay for that?"... How about deal with it, get a job, or roll over and die because you planned for elderly life poorly. Seriously.... Basically what he is saying is this: "WHEN OLD PEOPLE WHO DIDNT PLAN FOR OLD AGE GET SICK, WE ARE CONTINUING TO LEGALLY STEAL MONEY FROM SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE AND GIVE IT AWAY TO PEOPLE WHO NEVER EARNED IT.
tiggetty 11 months ago
@tiggetty The majority of bankruptcies in this country are from catastrophic healthcare costs, not from getting old. Even still, pulling the rug out from the elderly that paid into an insurance policy (Medicare & Social Security) is THIEVERY. MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY ARE NOT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS.
cizzymac1 11 months ago
@tiggetty I wonder how you define earn. The Koch brothers never "earned" their money in the conventional sense. They inherited it. Besides, you're completely ignoring men and women who did plan for their retired lives. Remember fraud that targeted seniors? Remember Enron, AIG, Bernie Maddoff? Remember the deregulation of this institutions during the Bush years? People who get screwed over are also in the unlucky camp. Taxes don't equal theft and the more you make the more your share. Damn
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@tiggetty ""you have an income of 15k and you get cancer, how are you going to pay for that?"... How about deal with it, get a job, or roll over and die because you planned for elderly life poorly."
Only a conservative would believe that you can bootstrap your way out of having cancer. That is priceless.
The difference between us is that you believe that healthcare should be earned, whereas I believe it is a basic human right. You are a deplorable human being.
Sloxx701 11 months ago 3
Joe Stalin said that no ruling class voluntarily leaves the stage of history. This one won't, either. Even when they are shoved aside, they will still be posturing and play-acting.
This is the same government that tells you it's okay to drink radioactive milk but dangerous to drink raw milk. Are y'all really going to miss 'em? Franklin Sanders.
victube0418 11 months ago
This is a load of crap,....because the democrats never passed a budget last year we are faced with a possible shut down.
Also tax money belongs to the people who earned it,its not government;s money to begin with,so you cant say it adds to the Nat'l debt.
Tax breaks let the people who earned the money hire poor people,...have you ever got a job from a poor person?,.....so bernie,you are full of crap,....stealing money from the productive people and giving it to the lazy is wrong
mrjericho5701 11 months ago
He speaks the dark truth of the GOP. Oligarchy (from Greek ὀλιγαρχία, oligarkhía[1]) is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, corporate, or military control. Sounds like the Rich SOBs controlling us. Republicans!
ROCKINJAZZMETAL 11 months ago
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL Uh, all the democrats in congress are incredibly wealthy too..and vote against their own tax increases. it is foolish to think the democrats are any different.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@ROCKINJAZZMETAL except that in an oligarchy there are typically no ways to ascend to a higher class. hereyou can become a millionaire coming from any background. The democrats idea of expanding the middle class is to steal money from successful people and distribute it to lazy people who dont deserve it. they pull people down into the middle class. whereas the conservative ideal is to allow money to create jobs and pull poor people up into the middle class. you have to be willing to work tho.
tiggetty 11 months ago
@tiggetty I'm SO lazy @ my $40k salary, for which I did 7 years of post-secondary ed. in order to be considered. It represents the laziest, poorest planning to fulfill the occupations of teacher, physician asst., secretary, billing specialist, etc. We're certainly not willing to work for our keep. I mean seriously, when 2/3 of our salary go to rent, groceries,&transportation, how could we possibly think of STEALING from rich ppl in order to pay med. costs that amount to 1/2 of our take-home??
profesorabecky 11 months ago
@profesorabecky I know, right. We're just so lazy. I mean, the very idea that we think the top 20% who control more than 90% of the country's wealth (UC Santa Cruz data) should be taxed is just crazy. After all, clearly during the Bush years, they're the ones responsible for all that economic growth and low unemployment that the Bush cuts made room for...oh wait, yeah, that's bull shit.
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@tiggetty This is just another classic conservative narrative. The reason people are poor is because they're lazy. Yeah that's it, or maybe it's becoming harder to become successful, because Republicans take strides in making it easier for financial firms to take advantage of unexperienced consumers, harder for students to go college (eliminating pell grants and reducing university funding), while refusing to address poverty that even without abundant studies to show for it, influence potential
Robbyguy 11 months ago
What the hell is up with the guy behind him?
Storgud 11 months ago
As I am disabled paid in the system for over 30 years made 80k a year an now I get 1500 a month for me and my family. There has been no raise for 2 years and we never got the $250.00 that they said se would get . Now they want to cut mediocre heap I know people that have to choose between food and Heating oil .
ncrdisabled 11 months ago 2
@ncrdisabled The guy behind him doesnt blink!
ROCKINJAZZMETAL 11 months ago
A giant moth has descended
Upon the unconscious horizon
Of those who have comprehended
What power-starve gluttons feast on
Falsely a pretense protects those
Who sleep in propogandic sedation
Soulful rest escapes those who know
The cancerous growth of destruction
JudieBoBoodie 11 months ago
Keep up the good work your doing Thanks.
bestwayusa1 11 months ago
Americans 93 % none union and our 7% union work force we must all unite for liveable wages and healthcare. Don’t be spellbound by the talking media heads of the unscrupulous companies and Gov officials who indirectly work for them. And are trying to put a wedge between us None of them are hurting are they. Support only fair trade! And USA products. Lets fill our coffers again. With taxes made by product's made here. Go on line to Made in USA.
bestwayusa1 11 months ago
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Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (NIV, 1 Timothy 6:17-19)
bestwayusa1 11 months ago
Dump the Obamarator. Bernie Sanders for President in 2012. Let's stop waiting for truth and justice. Throw off those "Chains We Can Believe In." No more being forced to buy lottery tickets to have a good retirement because that is currently the only way for the average person to "Win the Future"!
beautyseer 11 months ago
@beautyseer The same Bernie Sanders that blocked all attempts by the Republicans in 2003 to reign in fanny mae and freddy mac? And then years later took credit for "fixing" the problem he created? No thanks.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
Dump the Obamarator. Bernie Sanders for President in 2012. Let's stop waiting for truth and justice. Throw off those "Chains We Can Believe In." No more being forced to buy lottery tickets to have a good retirement because that is currently the only way for the average person to "Win the Future"!
beautyseer 11 months ago
ah yes the old class warfare cannard... the tried and true tool of all socialists to seize power and turn the working class into chattel.
You know of course that we generate more tax revenue by lowering rates and encouraging economic growth than what we do by increasing the tax rates and crushing economic activity ? It works everytime it's used...just like it did when JFK slashed the tax rates... but then again this isn't really about generating revenue, it's about social justice isn't it ?
violentlogic 11 months ago
@violentlogic: And yet, lowering taxes on the wealthy has not produced jobs. I don't know how you people keep on spouting this nonsense.
judyleasugar97 11 months ago 2
@judyleasugar97 extending the Bush tax cuts by a pawltry 2 years isn't going to spur investors who think in the long term. That is what we are experiencing now. If the Bush tax cuts were made permanent and investors felt that is was safe to gamble in the market place and make a profit that wasn't going to be subject to confiscatory tax rates in 2 years, we would be out of this economic malaise by now. When will you people stop thinking you have a right to other people's money?
violentlogic 11 months ago
@violentlogic: You didn't really answer what I said. The rich have had low taxes for ten years and yet jobs dwindle, they send many overseas. In the fifties taxes on the wealthy were 80 percent and yet industry flourished, creating a vibrant middle class, It's clear: Republican methods DON'T WORK.
judyleasugar97 11 months ago
@violentlogic You need to take a look at job growth and GDP growth when top marginal tax rates on the rich were higher, specifically the times between 1940 and 1970. Then take a look at 1985-2009. As these tax rates on the rich dropped, private sector job growth plummeted.
Some of you people need to put down the Ayn Rand books, you're in a fantasy world.
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 Explain exactly how an employer having less money to spend allows them to employ more people? The down trend you are referring to is due to an increase in automation, globalization, and outsourcing due to the enormous jumps in the corporate tax. The high you are referring to was due to post-war economic and industrial advances fueled by a population explosion and consumer demand. It slowly normalized after that. You have to read many books in order to not be a brainwashed idiot.
tiggetty 11 months ago
@tiggetty No, how about you explain to me why the only two times in history marginal tax rates on the rich were at their lowest just so happened to coincide with the two largest economical crashes of this century. The only idiot is you. Because as you can see, some of the lowest tax rates on corporations and the rich in this same time span just so happen to have been in the last 10 years. Where are these jobs at again?
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@tiggetty I'm just going to go out on a limb here. During the Clinton years, the wealthy, the so-called job creators did phenomenally well. Our economy also grew. How exactly does an employer with less money allow him/her to employ more people? I don't know, but why then over the 6-8 years during which we had the Bush tax cuts did we lose over 1 million jobs, when they had more money? Jumps in corporate tax huh, why then did our top corps pay nothing in taxes and still lay off tons?
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@violentlogic: The wealthy have enjoyed low taxes for years. Where are the jobs? When does this "investment" kick in exactly?
judyleasugar97 11 months ago
@violentlogic This argument is so tiresome. The bush tax cuts were in effect for at least 6 years before there was ever a possibility of getting rid of them and investors over that period of time didn't seem to take much interest. Worse, jobs were lost, over a million jobs were lost. Taxation, that's in the constitution. So long as it's right to tax to provide for the defense, it should be right to provide to make room for a quality standard of life in this country, SOMETHING worth defending.
Robbyguy 11 months ago 3
@Robbyguy "Don't go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing; it was here first." Mark Twain
violentlogic 11 months ago
@violentlogic "To befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day." -- President Theodore Roosevelt
Sloxx701 11 months ago 6
@violentlogic Tell that to the richest 2% and the corporations. They are the ones cashing the biggest welfare checks.
semisweeet 11 months ago
@violentlogic When all the bricklayers, machinists, miners, blacksmiths, printers, hod-carriers, stevedores, house-painters, brakemen, engineers, conductors, factory hands, horse-car drivers, shop-girls, sewing-women, and all the telegraph operators; in a word all the myriads of toilers in whom is slumbering the reality of that thing which you call Power, when these rise, call the vast spectacle by any deluding name that will please your ear, but the fact remains a Nation has risen. - Mark Twain
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@violentlogic oh and by the way, I don't think he was referring to your beloved millionaires and billionaires who are trying to get out of paying Clinton-era taxes
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@violentlogic: In the fifties we had 80 percent taxation of the wealthy and yet industry flourished. Raising taxes on the wealthy to where it was under Clinton would actually end the defecit.
judyleasugar97 11 months ago 16
@violentlogic Because that's precisely what we did during the Clinton years and those years were so badly off to show for it. Seriously, the Bush years and their tax cuts are the easiest and clearest contradiction to your claim.
Robbyguy 11 months ago
This has all been tried before; it was called Naziism. We crushed it then; we'll crush it again.
crocfme 11 months ago
Taking money from one group and giving to another by force is morality? Really? The fact is unless spending is slashed dramatically, *no* amount of taxing will do a damn freaking thing. We could confiscate everything owned by every billionaire in the country and not even balance this years budget..how is a few % of tax increase going to help?
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks
Every time things are going smoothly with the rich paying higher taxes, the US as a whole prospers. Unfortunately, whenever things are alright, republicans want their billionaire friends to have just a little bit more so they can finance their next elections.
Yes, taking money from the middle class who are struggling for jobs and livelihood right now, while companies like GE and Exxon make billion dollar profits, PAY NO TAXES, and get a tax rebate of millions IS MORALLY WRONG.
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago 23
@SechyoolarYOOESAY You do realize that the democrats in congress are among the richest of them all, right? Diane Fienstien alone is worth over $100 million and voted AGAINST tax increases.
so it isn't an issue of republicans vs democrats, It's an issue of corporatism and cronyism among all members of congress, with party affiliation meaning nothing!! Wake up, if you honestly think democrats are any different then republicans you're a fool.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago 9
@Da40kOrks amen
neokase 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks Do you have any conception of what it takes to run for congress? Wealth doesn't make you a bad person and Democrats don't argue that it does. There are wealthy democrats just like there are wealthy republicans and very few, if any, congressmen/women, US or state reps are less than high middle class. If you honestly can't recognize a difference in social policy, you're negligent and if you can't recognize a clear trend in fiscal agenda, you're incompetent...calling the kettle black
Robbyguy 11 months ago
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@Da40kOrks "You do realize that the democrats in congress are among the richest of them all, right?"
I do realize that - and the majority of them are FOR tax increases. Dems are always the ones pushing for tax increases. You pick one and try to smear them all.
DEMS ARE DIFFERENT THAN REPUBLICANS!
Dems are for social programs like medicare, medicaid, and social security!
Dems are for funding public education and healthcare for all!
Dems are for increased taxes on the rich!
WTF u thinking?
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks What does that have to do with what Sen. Sanders is saying? The majority of the congressional freshmen are millionaires. They are proposing a major tax cut for themselves while putting the burden of funding this country on the people who go to work every day for less buying power when they get their paychecks. If every member of Congress was doing their job, like Sen. Sanders is, representing the people that elected them, this could once again be a great nation.
God Bless America!
oopsieeee 11 months ago
@oopsieeee We will NEVER be a great nation as long as we are borrowing 1 TRILLION dollars or more a year. Raising taxes will never make any difference in the amount of deficit incurred by the federal, any state or local government until the spending is controlled. This means sacrifices for ALL, not just people you hate.
When you say "representing the people that elected him" what you mean is "pay off people with free government money so they will re-elect him".
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks That is true to an extant. The republicans are far more rank and file in favor of tax breaks for the wealthy, with a few (and sadly growing number) of democrats following suit. But I agree that corporatism is THE issue. So I am with you in the end.
maulhoik 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks "if you honestly think democrats are any different then republicans you're a fool."
Oh really? So Bernie Sanders is the same as republicans? He votes Democrat 99% of the time and supports Harry Reid. Sure there's a lot of rich people who are democrats....but the democrats BY LARGE are not the fools trying to lower taxes for the rich. The Democrats historically always want to raise taxes...but you say they are the same as republicans? You're the fool here...
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks
If I had to choose between the two, I'd put a Democrat in the driver's seat everytime.... they don't try to impose morality on people and try to define what people can do in their social lives. Democrats aren't the ones pushing for intelligent design in our classrooms....how are they the same as republicans other than the fact that they help sustain the status quo? Explain...
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
@SechyoolarYOOESAY LOL that's the point! They maintain the status quo instead of actually fixing anything. They put on a big dog and pony show, pretending to be for the people, and you fall for it! They are just the same..well paid for bought and sold tools of the rich and corporations.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks "The fact is unless spending is slashed dramatically, *no* amount of taxing will do a damn freaking thing"
Oh really? Do you propose cutting public education funding as well as community health organizations? That is Rep. Ryan's plan. Republicans see funding for public education as "expendable" and then wonder how we're falling behind in the world.
You asked a question, now it's my turn...Why should we give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires? They aren't creating jobs.
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
@SechyoolarYOOESAY Why should the government take money from anyone, at all, ever? Why is the government the ONLY solution you support to issues like poverty, education, health care or anything else?
I propose cutting everything: End all wars, close all 700+ military bases around the world, end the drug war, close the dept of education (return 100% education control to local authorities), close the dept of homeland security and a whole lot more. We don't NEED any of it!!!!
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks "Why is the government the ONLY solution you support to issues like poverty, education, health care or anything else" Because people, especially those who tend to self-identify as conservative or republican, cannot be trusted to do humane and reasonable things for the common good. I am not talking massive welfare. I am talking smart, efficient programs that reduce suffering and help people in times of need. Charity and volunteerism doesn't cover the needs.
donbearwilkinson 11 months ago
@donbearwilkinson I'm sorry you have such a low opinion of humanity. There are also free-market ways to deal with some of these issues, but of course no one is willing to actually have a free market because that would mean corporations and their cronies in congress would have to compete fairly instead of buying whatever kind of favorable regulations, tax breaks and laws they want.
My point remains: The belief that taxing alone will fix anything is simple-minded and myopic.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks No one is suggesting that raises taxes alone is enough!!!!! The argument is that there should be a balance between both spending cuts and raising taxes. I don't think you have to have a low opinion of humanity to be cognizant of what our fellow human beings are capable of, whether you're looking at the brash selfishness within the financial markets that almost drove the US over a cliff or you're looking at insurance companies that cast children off their plans to protect profit.
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks "Why should the government take money from anyone, at all, ever?"
It's called taxing, not taking. It's your patriotic duty to pay taxes that support the welfare of our country. It's not all about you - we're all in this together.
"return 100% education control to local authorities"
WOWOWOWOWOW - so you're gonna let the bible-thumping idiots in the south teach creationism to our kids, as well as try to round up enough money to pay teachers minimum wage...RIGHT.....
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
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@Da40kOrks "Taking money from one group and giving to another by force is morality? Really? " In a word - Yes. If rich people (as a generalization) had any soul, there would be no need for taxing them. They would naturally find ways to share their wealth for the betterment of fellow humans. But, as is often the case, greed, selfishness, racism and other moral defects stop them from being decent.
donbearwilkinson 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks You do realize that the top 400 richest people in the US have more wealth than the bottom 50% of the entire population combined? And that many of them bypass paying taxes at all because of loopholes in the law provided by their butt buddy republican pals in office? Or did that slip your mind... Nah a little taxing/ capital gains tax on the rich just wont help at all... It's not going to solve our problem tomorrow, but that doesn't make it right.
Sloxx701 11 months ago
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@Sloxx701 "And that many of them bypass paying taxes at all because of loopholes in the law provided by their butt buddy republican pals in office?"
If you think this was only the republicans, you're a moron.
"Nah a little taxing/ capital gains tax on the rich just wont help at all"
It won't. at. all. It's at best a drop in the ocean..just like the so-called cuts being proposed. a $50 billion cut from the budget is like you or I finding 1/10th of a penny on the street. It's nothing.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks Yes, $50 billion is certainly nothing. Raising the estate tax exemption level will cost an additional $68 billion for us over two years. Also certainly nothing. And this is just by removing the Bush tax cuts, not actually returning tax rates to what they once were before this happened.
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 The estate tax is probably the most immoral of them all..you're taxing money that has already has taxes paid on it. Sorry I just don't subscribe to class warfare. You might say "the rich don't care about us". My response would be "So what, I don't care about them either" up to the point where they buy laws.
The top 25% of income earners already pay 87% of all federal income taxes...so the characterization that rich people don't pay taxes is, at best, a lie if not just a mistake.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrk I never said the rich don't pay taxes. I also have to pay tax money that I've already payed taxes on, yet I'm not complaining. It's hard to take you seriously if you honestly think that free market will fix our problems. Please explain to me how you think that work. I am liberal, but I can occasionally agree with libertarians. I'm not being sarcastic.
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 We can fix health care with free-market principles. First, allow any insurance company licensed in one state to provide services in all states. Second, remove the monopoly of the AMA to grant licenses. These are both examples of government cronyism under the guise of "regulation" stifling competition leading to higher prices, less service and rampant greed. Health insurance companies need to compete fairly in an open market instead of having income/territory protected by law.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks Although I agree with allowing insurance competition across state lines, I do not believe it will solve our health care problem. I realize you are libertarian (which is basically code for anarchy), and there's not really enough room here to say what I wish, but I find it ironic that you think deregulation (of any industry) would actually prevent greed and recklessness. Been paying attention much since the Reagan administration? Crash of 2008 ring a bell?
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 I didn't say deregulation. I said returning competition where now there is none due to government cronyism and protectionism.
I'm not an anarchist nor do I support pure laze-faire capitalism.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks Then I misinterpreted you, your responses seem to show a different ideology. I will ask you this - Why is it that we are the only first-world country on the planet to not have a form of single-payer or universal healthcare? And yet our average life expectancy is among the lowest (lower than Cubas actually) and our healthcare costs, per individual, are 10 times higher than the next highest country. Our system is far from a problem with just competition.
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 Government run health care isn't perfect. It's ok for basic needs and common problems, but has issues with anything specialized..from long wants to requiring approval for new advances. So to answer your question, because no one has tried anything else. They assume government is the best way to do things.
We don't have a health care crisis, we have a "can't pay for it crisis" which is completely different. the care itself is fine. Government is the problem, not the solution.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks Since you say it's the governments fault, just an example, but have you ever heard of the Prescription Drug Marketing Act? How about Medicare Part D? Do you know that under the law, Part D forbids the government from negotiating prices of pharmaceuticals that it buys from Big pharma, and it is by far their biggest customer? And take a guess at who wrote this legislation. The best part? People turn around and blame the gov for this. This is just ONE example.
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 You're so close but can't quite make the leap. The example you give is perfect demonstration of the cronyism and corporatism I've been saying is the problem all along. You're fully able to blame the company for that law, but the law wouldn't be in place if the companies couldn't buy whatever favorable laws they want from our corrupt government!!! Until we can divorce power from money, nothing we do will fix anything
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks You are attacking a SYMPTOM of the problem (corrupt government) and not the CAUSE (corporations that can buy whatever laws they want). I don't understand how this is difficult...
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 No, you're wrong. That is not the cause, but the result of the system put in place by those very same people who benefit from it. The so-called "two party system" itself is corrupt, where so-called anti-election fraud laws are really protectionism to keep anyone else from having a chance. This is because the people in power are actually just as greedy as anyone else, they pretend to represent everyone but only represent themselves. Blaming JUST corporations is myopic and false.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks I never said I was JUST blaming corporations, still putting words in my mouth I see.. I can only agree with you on the fact that both the government AND corporations are corrupt. As such, they BOTH need to be dealt with. I also never said that democrats weren't just as corrupt as the GOP.
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Sloxx701 LOL then it looks like we have nothing to argue about ;)
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks Not really. We can't convince each other of anything, but I still enjoy it. =P
Sloxx701 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks
The truth is not reserved for you clown....if you put Bernie on the same levels as everyone else, then you're delusional.
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks The reason blaming corporations is popular is because voters don't want to blame themselves for the abominations they've elected. However, that doesn't make it false. We live in a capitalist society where money is power. Corporations have money; they have power. The goal of any corporation is to make more money and gain more power. Most corporations put their interests first above those lower than it. This is why no one likes them. It really isn't as complicated as you think.
aznlalaland 10 months ago 2
@aznlalaland You do realize I've said that exact thing over and over in these comments, right?
Da40kOrks 10 months ago
@aznlalaland: Get off the immoral Ayn Rand propaganda. The corporations are the new aristocracy.
judyleasugar97 10 months ago 3
@Da40kOrks and if you look at the wealth distribution in this country, the same 20-25% control up to 90% of the wealth! You can check that statistic with UC Santa Cruz. I take very little issue with taxing a small group of people who control so much of the wealth in this country in the first place, as if the rest of the country works less or is lazy. I'm sure we can quite a few teachers who work harder than many of those people have or ever will, but I digress
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@Robbyguy and? Are you saying that it's ok to take money from people until everyone has the exact same? Again the disparity of wealth isn't the problem, it's the disparity of *power* created by the immoral marriage of business and government we have called "corporatism". If a rich person had the exact same influence over law making as you do, then there would be no laws favoring the rich and protecting them from competition and loss of profits.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
@Da40kOrks I didn't say that "it's ok to take money from people until everyone has the exact same." Although, you know what's really funny? I don't sincerely disagree with you that much, something I find quite frankly, surprising. The difference, from the little survey available from your views and mine displayed here is that I see "corporatism" as being connected to that disparity of wealth. If you have that much control over a nation's wealth, you're bound to have influence on its legislators
Robbyguy 11 months ago
@Robbyguy I agree, and that is what we have. My points are: 1. The influence is the problem, not the disparity itself. and 2. Taxing won't help in any way, shape, or form until spending is under control.
Cutting spending is hard, because people have been indoctrinated for so long that they think they are "entitled" to other people's money. raising taxes are easy because they have also be indoctrinated with class warfare.
Da40kOrks 11 months ago
What is guy behind starring at?!
wrj100 11 months ago
What's YOUR solution, Sanders? Do you even know there's a problem? Do you even know what the real problem IS?
You're out of other people's money. Out. See you at the polls in 2012.
Baelzar 11 months ago
@Baelzar
Rmmm Hrmmm 290 likes, 10 dislikes. See you at the polls in 2012 is right!
EuphoricDan 11 months ago
@Baelzar and given Republicans' records and the public's general disapproval of a wide range of Republican efforts, like focusing on abortion the first 18 months in office as opposed to jobs, stripping workers of the rights to collectively bargain, getting rid of Sesame Street (seriously?). yeah, we're really looking forward to 2012. Can't wait to see you there.
Robbyguy 11 months ago
This should be seen by every citizen of this country. Sanders clearly states exactly what the Republicans are about, the total distruction of the middle class and working poor.
DickMann859 11 months ago
Stop spending money on Foriegn Aide. We stop all that for the next four years then we can recoup money here and then we can start helping others.
ivan5186 11 months ago
@ivan5186 I respect you, whoever you are, but as it turns out, the numbers unambiguously show that foreign aid is less than 1% of the budget and as so would have absolutely no effect on the deficit. Now, if you're talking about cutting defense, that's a different story, but no Republicans like their guns and big toys.
Robbyguy 11 months ago
Senator, I demand you run for President.
If you love America, you must do this.
79merkus 11 months ago 2
@79merkus
damn right
MsSanetta 11 months ago
The neofeudalism agenda, is proceeding on track.
rollsthepaul 11 months ago
Someone please make this go viral. Hack the account and edit the tags so it has "kittens, cats, Rebecca Black, Friday, Justin Beiber"
Kurokikaze268 11 months ago
When the rich are fat and plump, we will eat them.
--
ThunderDog97 11 months ago
by all means, folks, believe that Universal Healthcare is not a human right. Just don't ever call America a "Christian Nation" ever again.
Christ didn't walk around with a loaded weapon, or ANY kind, on His person.
Christ didn't defend not helping those in need.
Christ didn't give excuses for letting the poor and sick remain poor and sick.
the USA is not a Christian Nation in any way whatsoever - it's a country that does not care about the poor. And Americans should be ashamed of themselves.
MOKandRIFF 11 months ago 4
@MOKandRIFF you realize that a person in the united states with no insurance is, by law, unable to be turned away for medical care at a hospital that isn't even available to 95% of the rest of the planet? Obamacare isnt about health CARE, its about health insurance. Giving that out to everyone that "needs" it while making the people that already have it pay for other people's as well is dumb Also, should we grant healthcare to mexico? sudan? they are all suffering too. think before you post
tiggetty 11 months ago
@tiggetty i realize that people in the United States dont' want to help out their fellow Americans with their healthcare costs through taxes.
Yes, I understand it. And it's sad.
Canada, baby.
MOKandRIFF 11 months ago 3
@tiggetty "Giving away health insurance?" What are you talking about? The Affordable Care Act (as originally proposed by REPUBLICANS in the early 90s, we're talking 94) requires people to contribute to their own health insurance because our health care costs were becoming too great a share of GDP. Health insurance isn't being "given away." The only people, for whom that claim might apply, are children, those terrible freeloaders. Also, Mexico and Sudan don't pay taxes, just like the wealthy
Robbyguy 11 months ago
"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness."
John Kenneth Galbraith
rmscheffler1 11 months ago
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Just another damn thief, wanting to reach in one mans pocket and give it to another. True liberty and self-reliance are dead concepts in this country, and all the current freeloaders are going to be in a world of hurt when the dollar collapses, but who cares, let the ponzi schemes continue.
jasonleehudgins 11 months ago
Just another damn theif, wanting to reach in one mans pocket and give it to another. True liberty and self-reliance are dead concepts in this country, and all the current freeloaders are going to be in a world of hurt when the dollar collapses, but who cares, let the ponzi schemes continue.
jasonleehudgins 11 months ago
@jasonleehudgins
Correction: The thieves are on Wall St. who play games with people's money and when they lose it, they still pat themselves on the back with million dollar bonuses. Financial "engineers" come up with these complex derivatives and interest rates, which caused the world economy to collapse...This whole practice of these risky ventures was enabled by republican deregulation.
You think the CEO of AIG deserved his $100 million bonus after running his company into the ground?
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
@SechyoolarYOOESAY last time I checked the democrats supported the AIG bailouts just as much as the republicans did. This isn't capitalism, it's cronyism, and the government us the biggest thief around. Taxing the rich won't make them steal less, it just makes you an accomplice.
jasonleehudgins 11 months ago
@jasonleehudgins
Yeah, they both supported the bailouts - but it has been the systematic deregulation of the financial sector since the Reagan administration by republicans that made us bail them out in the first place!
Taxing is not equal to stealing.....It's your patriotic duty to your country to contribute to the public welfare of our country. You want to live in an anarchy? How the fuck do you think we're gonna pave our roads, build our highways, pay for libraries, police, firemen?
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago 3
@SechyoolarYOOESAY how did "deregulation" make us bail them out? That doesn't make any sense. Our politicians stole from us and gave to them when they should have let them fail. When a business makes bad decisions, they should suffer the consequences, that's true capitalism. And paying for someone elses medical care is not my "patriotic duty", defending my property and freedom is.
jasonleehudgins 11 months ago
@jasonleehudgins
Watch the documentary "Inside Job" narrated by Matt Damon - it describes in detail why the financial sector collapsed. Deregulation of the financial sector allowed them to make very VERY risky business ventures, and they ended up losing hundreds of billions of dollars for it - in some case trillions. They encouraged people to accept these loans with only 0.03% capital down on the house. They actively bet against loans they KNEW would collapse but still sold to us.
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago 2
@SechyoolarYOOESAY I don't disagree with anything you wrote, but none of that "required" us to bailout the companies that made those bad decisions. So what if Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, AIG, and the rest of them went out of businesses, the CEO's wouldn't be writing themselves fat bonus checks if our politicians hadn't stolen our money..
jasonleehudgins 11 months ago
If this guy is wrong, I don't want to be right....
SechyoolarYOOESAY 11 months ago
Go Bernie!
ashxf 11 months ago
I have heard people suggest a conspiracy theory about the "culling of the excess population". Extreme, but such theorists might find evidence in the Republican proposals.
seafins 11 months ago
Bernie in the Senate and Dennis K and Maurice Hinchey in the House are among the few who tell it as it is and CARE!
seafins 11 months ago
i am more than a little in love with this guy. I am a licensed professional counselor for the poor with mental health problems. It is horrific what all the cuts to health care are going to do to the poor while helping the richest.
ClareC67 11 months ago
feed the uber-rich
starve the poor, blame the workers
the republican playbook
Sparkletc 11 months ago
Bernie Sanders is a true hero fighting for the people.
fiorentina5 11 months ago
The documents say it all as banker's whore Harry Reid articulated. IF you get sick, you are //supposed// to die. That is what austerity and the Death Pannels are for.
The insurance companies are going to KILL the population, that is forced by government into paying them for services that are NEVER going to be delivered.
You //must// pay in, but the moment you actually need it the insurance syndicate puts you to death via government force.
It is a perfect scam. Dead can't complain.
centurion180ad 11 months ago
Thank you Bernie Sanders
TheMargaretti 11 months ago
Its time for Democrats to JUST SAY NO to the GREEDY Republicans, and their IMMORAL budget plan! Thank you. Thank you! THANK YOU!! for Bernie Sanders!
SteveJustino 11 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
A Dirty Socialist MORON! If you didn't EARN the money, you don't deserve it. If you are one of the weak-spined Americans who receive a monthly 'stupid check' from the Government, you are part of the problem. This guy simply approaches and promises moochers Other People's Money for their votes.
Look around, idiots. The money is not there anymore. You MUST STOP mooching. We MUST stop spending.
Dirty Socialists SUCK!
Serr8d 11 months ago
I am so proud that you are my Senator...keep up the good fight Bernie! Let all Vermonters support this extraordinary man!
mlkelly1832 11 months ago
More class-warfare pabulum. Just give ole Bernie and his ilk more of your money and liberty and they’ll fix all our woes and protect us from ourselves. Government run utopia is just around the corner ladies and gentlemen. Come on Bernie…make us all equal. You can do it! BTW…did you pay your federal income taxes at the current rates, or the pre-Bush rates? Just asking.
Tranacria 11 months ago
@Tranacria: It is a common propaganda ploy to accuse the other side of what you yourself are doing. It is the conservatives who started the class warfare. Middle and lower income people are just trying to survive.
judyleasugar97 11 months ago
@judyleasugar97 Thank you for the psychoanalysis doctor. Is that gratis or will you bill me?
You must have minored in History at the same university that bestowed your Psychiatry degree.
Why don’t you just cede all your earnings to sweet Bernie and he’ll ensure your survival. But odds are you’re already on the dole.
Tranacria 11 months ago
@Tranacria: I own a business. No heavy analysis needed; the conservatives are pretty transparent.
judyleasugar97 11 months ago