Yeah basically anywhere you see someone who supports Bernie Sanders, they are someone who either washed out and blew their opportunity, so they blame the system, or some nutty professor who thinks that because they work for 3 hours a week and get paid six figures thats the way the world should work. The one common theme with them is that it is never their fault when they fail, its always someone or something else, basically their world view is the antithesis of anyone ive ever seen who is successful.
At least Bernie is consistent and I respect that, but his plan won't work anymore than Trump will build a wall on Mexico's dime. Both he and Trump are born out of the same type dis-satisfaction and anger with the status quo. The Bern is right in the fact that the Boardroom Boyz have fucked everyone out of every nickel they could get their hands on, but his solution is a none starter. Trump is right in pointing out the failings of our open border, our piss poor ME policy, and ass kissing PC mentality. They both serve a purpose, but seems unlikely that either will be a player come November.
What's funny about the whole "Bernie: Not for Sale" shit is that we heard the exact same thing back in 2008 with Obama. "Oh yeah, he's not for sale. He's going to clean up wall street, Washington, and all the lobbyists. He'll even the playing field for the middle class. The Great Uniter. He'll be the most transparent administration in history." Change you can mother-fucking-believe in. What a load of shit. What we got was just another sell out that got the rich, richer, the poor, poorer, and no one went to jail for any wrong doing at all. And now the Democrats are back selling us the same shit sandwich, pretending that we didn't spend the last 8 years eating it.
Actually, there is no problem at all with the old age pension and survivor benefits parts of social security other than the one congress has created by delaying action on the Trustees recommendations. If congress will act and pass a 2.36 cent per dollar (1.18 cents employee, 1.18 cents employer) increase in the contribution rate, Social Security will be fine as far as anyone can project. Naturally, changes in the contribution rate are needed from time to time to adjust for changing demographics. Hoping to get their hands on the 2.6 trillion dollar Trust Fund, Wall Street has waged an unrelenting smear campaign of disinformation on social security . There is, however, a somewhat more serious problem with the separate disability Trust. If the contribution salary cap were to be is raised , Social security benefits could actually be increased. Social Security is a brilliantly conceived, defined benefit, basic retirement plan that takes advantage of shared risk. Compared to individual retirement plans, to receive the same monthly benefit, Social Security trades a significantly lower contribution rate and a retirement benefit that can't be out lived, for lack of any residual when you die to leave to your heirs. Social Security contributions also include some protection against disability, whereas private plans do not. That must be separately purchased separately in the case of a private plan. With private retirement plans you lose the risk sharing benefit and therefore you can run out of money, and most importantly for those with low incomes, you must contribute quite a bit more per month for the same monthly benefit that Social Security gives you, but you will leave to your heirs any unspent residual left in your retirement account when you die. Wages in the United States are so low that It would be literally impossible for low wage workers to fund their own private retirement program! We, in the United States, are very fortunate to have the best of both worlds when it comes to retirement plans. We have Social Security for all, and for those of greater means we have a wide choice of private retirement plan options that can be built on top of Social Security. Social Security benefits are based on your 35 highest earning years. Earlier contributions are weighted more heavily than newer contributions in the formula. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/fundFAQ.html#&a0=8 There is a big problem with Medicare -- medical care costs in the U.S. have for many years risen faster than the overall inflation rate. Because Social Security has only easily remedied problems, whereas Medicare's problems will be far more difficult to fix as long as the U.S. Medical Care Delivery Cartel is left in tact, it makes no sense to lump these two entitlement programs together when discussing entitlements. They are two completely different kettles of fish. One is Pompano the other Carp.
speaking strictly about our budget. SS and Medicare are the two largest items. So to say socialism is ok, just look at ss and medicare isn't very comforting.
Doubling the size of the Federal Government isn't the best idea when debt-to-GDP >100%. Anyone trade for a living here?
Where I live my vote in the general election , no matter who I vote for, won't matter. I am effectively disenfranchised. Some Democracy this is! But should Bernie be on the ballot, I think I might drag myself out and vote for him even though it won't count. I like to cheer for the underdog. And in his case it is easy to get rather enthused. He makes more sense than any of the other candidates. Even if I don't agree with him on all points, at least he doesn't sound like a blithering idiot.