May 12, 2015

Earlier this month on ABC's This Week, host George Stephanopoulos asked Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) whether he actually believed a self-described socialist could be elected president of the United States. Sanders suggested that if more Americans were acquainted with the quality of life in countries in Scandinavia, they wouldn't be frightened by the label.

Knowing that Scandinavia is nothing short of h--- on earth, Stephanopoulos zeroed in on the absurdity of Sanders' point: "I can hear the Republican attack ad right now: 'He wants America to look more like Scandinavia.'"

"What's wrong with that?" Sanders replied.

Stephanopoulos was right to be skeptical that Sanders could get away with such a comparison. Scandinavian countries' social democratic policies of exceptionally high tax rates and heavy government involvement in the provision of services has been nothing short of catastrophic.

America should do whatever it takes to ensure it doesn't suffer the same fate. Take a look at the facts on what their policies would do to the U.S.

1. Access to quality health care would simply plummet.
Having the government step into services like health care would create massive public health challenges. Just look at how many people in Sweden lack access to affordable health care:



2. Health care costs would go through the roof.
Countries such as Norway believe that the government can manage some things better than the market. As you can see, this has resulted in loads of wasted money:

Source: Mic/World Bank
3. Our education system would be a joke.
Scandinavian countries have little interest in investing in their youth:

Source: Mic/NCES/Study in Norway
4. We would be overrun by violent crime.
With their gentle open-air prisons and their low ceilings for maximum sentencing, Scandinavian countries are havens for criminals:

Source: Mic/UNODC
5. America would just wallow in poverty.
The prosperity of Scandinavian countries — measured as a combination of wealth and well-being — captures just how bad their citizens have it:

Source: Legatum Prosperity Index
6. Unemployment would skyrocket.
Scandinavian governments have suffocated the labor market and encouraged joblessness:

Source: Mic/Eurostat
7. Everyone would be miserable.
Between the dark winters and the knowledge that any ambition will only be rewarded with more taxes, people aren't satisfied with life in Scandinavia:

Source: OECD Better Life Index
If Sanders thinks that he can win over the American people while touting these failed states as a model for the future, he can kiss the White House goodbye.

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2...llscape-america-would-be-under-bernie-sanders

 

May 12, 2015

no thx

 

May 12, 2015

in theory, sanders and his ideas are gr8. would never work

 

May 12, 2015

 

May 13, 2015

It works greatly for Scandinavia, I knew that before I read this article mind you. Even if Sanders doesn't make USA the haven it should be, then at least it'll be a little bit better.

Besides, he is the most desirable candidate to me. Unless you like someone else better?

 

May 13, 2015

Definitely plan on voting for him in the primary and I'll write him in the actual election, even if he doesn't win the primary

 

May 13, 2015

eh. but scandanavia isn't comprised of any nations which could really be comparable to the united states. this is a much larger scale.

it's not about me not liking bernie, haha. he's leagues above the current republican nominees

 

May 13, 2015

Why not? Who will you vote for instead?

 

May 13, 2015

Don't know why, but I thought this said Barry Sanders for president.

 

May 13, 2015

Why was the whole OP sarcastic?

 

May 13, 2015

This guy is going to get ~11% of the Democratic primary vote regardless of what he does. He will be interesting to watch, but that's about it.

 

May 13, 2015

Sanders is a socialist and very left-wing, which scares a lot of uninformed Americans. The article simply pokes fun at those people who act like Sanders is a bad choice, and counterattacks with facts and statistics.

 

May 13, 2015

Those who dont understand the views of Bernie dont need to be further challenged by double talk, honestly.

His voice will be almost entirely suppressed by the major media outlets, who cater to and are controlled by the billionaires, and his only chance of getting any where in this election would have to follow a complete meltdown by either party in the debates, which is likely not to happen. They would rather showcase him as a radical buffoon from Vermont who has lofty opinions, and his viewpoints will be squashed by tabloid-esque smear campaigns.

I watched the interview and it really upset me how it was titled "Bernie Sanders thinks America should be like Scandinavia" by NBC as if hes talking about Game of Thrones or Narnia. They covered so many important issues in that interview like Bernie, on multiple occasions, attacking the Billionaire Class and other subversive interests in Washington and stating that he wants to get away from the limitations that both the Democratic and Republican parties have put on meaningful legislation over the last 30 years..

Your charts are what America needs to see because not only do they show that countries from Northern Europe are extremely well governed, but it also shows how little America provides for its people in comparison. The sarcasm is just counterintuitive and could even seem snarky

 

May 20, 2015

I am Senator Bernie Sanders, Democratic candidate for President of the United States — AMA

 

Oct 29, 2015

Bump.

 

Oct 29, 2015

Yes of course. He's the only candidate who will not adhere to smear campaigns, refuses a super PAC, and has stood by his principles and ideas since day 1. He doesn't flip flop and is honest and blunt. We haven't had a politician like this since JFK.
#FeelTheBern2016

Also

For the people, not bought by wall street like every other candidate.

 

Oct 29, 2015

Rubio

 

Oct 29, 2015

Nah, I love Bernie but he's better fit for the Senate and more useful there. He has a lot of great progressive ideas which I do support but it's what he can actually get done that is worry some to me. With a Republican controlled congress, how exactly is he going to pass all these policies he speaks of? Not only that but I'm not totally convinced that he's fully knowledgable on foreign policy issues, he's been okay so far on that topic but I'm interested to hear more from him on that in upcoming debates.

Hillary said it best in the last debate, "I'm a progressive but I'm a progressive that likes to get things done." That's what I think separates the two so I'm voting Hillary.

 

Oct 29, 2015

I strongly recommend you to watch this. This is one example of why Bernie > Hillary.



Hillary isn't that trustworthy IMO.

 

Oct 29, 2015

Oh please. People saying that the "establishment" doesn't like Sanders are either A: assuming there's only 1 bad guy, and 2: Being incredibly naive.

The government would love nothing more than be able to tax you to death. As much as the Left (I consider myself a moderate who's slowly becoming a grumpy conservative) will tell you that it's a "LOL FOX NEWS" lie, if Bernie uses Wall Street as his bottom b----, as with corporations, they will simply tell Bernie to f--- off. They have America by the balls because without the money they generate we'd be f-----.

It's not like I want to s--- corporate c---, it's just...we, or, the people who aren't in the inner circle, have no leverage. I'd love to go all k--- people burn s--- f--- school on those who personify greed, but it is suicidal.