Current Affairs General US politics (ie, not POTUS related)

[TN Toffee]

So let me get this completely right. Rich men can't campaign against poverty or wealth inequality because they themselves have money? So what is the maximum level of income someone should have before they are allowed to point out the gaping flaws in the US financial system that has left 40 million people below the poverty line? I'm not sure there's any politician poor enough to bring it up

Of course not, when at the Federal level they earn a minimum of $150k annually.

Wealthy people campaigning on behalf of the less fortunate is the only hope of anything changing. Actual poor people are likely too busy trying to scratch out a meager day to day existence and lack both the time/resources to have any meaningful effect on policy.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Bit of a hypocrite for me. Self proclaimed socialist who is a career politician and owns 3 homes, is worth over $3mil, and is also on record saying something like “If you write a book, you can be a millionaire too.” Pretty capitalist thing to say imo. He has a different message than some but he’s still a politician.

You can be rich and preach left wing values you know. Don’t think it’s fair to write someone’s message off because of that.
Don’t think he’s a self proclaimed socialist either. Could be wrong but he described himself as a social democrat which generally means in favour of a Nordic style mixed market model.(Who generally have the highest standards of living in the world)

 

[carolinablue232]

You can be rich and preach left wing values you know. Don’t think it’s fair to write someone’s message off because of that.
Don’t think he’s a self proclaimed socialist either. Could be wrong but he described himself as a social democrat which generally means in favour of a Nordic style mixed market model.(Who generally have the highest standards of living in the world)

You can preach whatever you want, but I have serious doubts about our politicians, Sanders included, actually being willing to sacrifice personally to make it a reality. Saying “You should do xyz” is the easiest thing in the world if you don’t have to actually back it up.

I’ll readily admit my view on our politics is pretty jaded and maybe I’m misdirecting those feelings.

The Nordic model argument is a whole other can of worms.

 

[verreauxi]

Oops, I was wrong about my post. [if this doesn't make sense to you, see here]

 

[verreauxi]

 

[verreauxi]

 

[Walken]

Bit of a hypocrite for me. Self proclaimed socialist who is a career politician and owns 3 homes, is worth over $3mil, and is also on record saying something like “If you write a book, you can be a millionaire too.” Pretty capitalist thing to say imo. He has a different message than some but he’s still a politician.

You can be complicit in a system and still be a legitimate critic, this is a very lazy analysis.

 

[Prevenger17]

You can be complicit in a system and still be a legitimate critic, this is a very lazy analysis.

Real this-comic-strip energy

 

[carolinablue232]

You can be complicit in a system and still be a legitimate critic, this is a very lazy analysis.

Yeah yeah I know. I really just don’t trust any politicians to actually put the people first because well, they’re politicians whose only motivation is to stay in office and in a position of power. As such, I tend to look for the negatives with them all probably misplaced that mindset here. Just frustrated with all of them and the political climate across the board.

 

[Walken]

Yeah yeah I know. I really just don’t trust any politicians to actually put the people first because well, they’re politicians whose only motivation is to stay in office and in a position of power. As such, I tend to look for the negatives with them all probably misplaced that mindset here. Just frustrated with all of them and the political climate across the board.

Understandable, but I would say there at least those who have ideologically consistent throughout their careers and voting records match with their rhetoric. It's unwise to treat any public figure as a deity, but there are ways of judging some semblance of sincerity

 

[Wizard]

 

[TN Toffee]

 

[summerisle]

lol

 

[LostLegend]

Is everything OK over there, America?

 

[Chewbacca]

The US does need to build a wall but should probably be on the Mason-Dixon Line.