Senator Bernie Sanders: "The Speech"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-03-31/senator-bernie-sanders-speech
The economy, the federal budget, and the growing national deficit are touchstone issues defining politics in Washington today. Lawmakers are proposing cuts to programs that benefit middle class and working families. In December, President Obama signed into law an extension of tax cuts -- including cuts for the very wealthiest Americans. One Independent senator delivered an eight-hour speech on the Senate floor decrying the tax deal and what he believed it symbolized: corporate greed and the collapse of the middle class. U. S Senator Bernie Sanders talks about his appeal for a fundamental change in national priorities.
Guests
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Independent U. S. Senator from Vermont.
![Image of (THE SPEECH BY Sanders, Bernie(Author))The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class[Paperback]Nation Books(Publisher)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414gg9YQijL._SL75_.jpg "(THE SPEECH BY Sanders, Bernie(Author))The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class[Paperback]Nation Books(Publisher)")
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Senator Sanders,
We need to build a progressive movement as strong and as loud as the Tea Party. There are many progressive groups out there trying to do just that, but we need powerful leadership. Where are the leaders who can unite all these groups and COMMUNICATE to the general voting public well enough to persuade them of our positions?
Leigh in DC
I love what Senator Sanders is saying. It is hard to keep fighting the good fight. Regular families have to expend more and more time on just getting by; we are educating our own children because the education system is broken. We are working 2 and 3 jobs per family just to pay the mortgage, the utilities and insurance on everything. We are growing our own food because we don't want to feed our kids pesticides. We're exhausted, we don't have time to demonstrate and be active any more.
I concur w/the first caller. It's only getting worse in this country. I'm 40, a future teacher, I vote and, like many Democrats, I am disappointed (and becoming more and more discouraged) in how things are going in this country.
The "American Dream" of the 50s and 60s is dead, I believe. I'm seriously considering moving to Europe, perhaps England or Ireland. I want to live in a country that believes in taking care of its people. I want more quality of life. We live in a very irresponsible country that seems to becoming more and more corrupt and greedy. How much money do people need? Once you're a millionaire, how many millions (or billions) do you need?
Socialists Unite! :o)
Your message to not give up on our country is inspiring! Am trying to keep the faith and continue believing but the money, media and political giants seem all powerful and invincible......civil discussion, honesty and respect have almost completely disappeared. I could just cry.
Senator Bernie Sanders makes me seriously wish I lived in Vermont instead of Michigan, so I could vote for him!
Thank you so much for giving Senator Sanders a forum. Voices like his are sadly absent from so much of the main stream media.
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Remember: Any public corporation is not American, but rather, it is international. Those who have the strongest voice within a corporation may not be American, nor have any great love of America. They will trade the gains of their nation over the gains of the American people.
Wow!! Brian in the top one percent -- who wrote in to outline his own character flaws -- embodies the selfish, vengeful center of what's wrong with America!! It's amazing that he would admit such shameful values without concern for the embarrassment it brings to his entire family. Wow!!
If so many folks from the right want a Christian based government why don't they want a charitable government that helps care for those in need?
I'm going to go get this book today. What an articulate guest. I wish I lived in Vermont! Please know Senator Sanders that there are many of us out there who support your views.
I am not sure if Sen. Sanders is being dishonest to demonize Republicans on Social Security or if he is just financially illiterate. He says that Social Security has a huge surplus, so it does not need reform. But, this is just an accounting entry – there is not actual money that has been socked away somewhere (like the fictitious “Lock Box”). Money paid into SS was spent as general funds, with an IOU issued to SS. Social Security is only solvent if the government can pay these obligations out of new revenue.
If a private company operated their pension plan in this way, they would be fined or sanctioned. Only the government’s ability to tax and print money allows them to get away with this. All is not OK with Social Security.
John in KY
If the businessman from St Louis is concerned about maximizing profits for the benefit of his family why hold back on cutting benefits to employees, cutting staff, or streamlining his operation. He could do those things now and further maximize his family's position he doesn't need to hold back and just threaten those actions to retaliate for a tax increase.
Good point.
I notice that the right has now set their sight on AARP.
First they set out to discredit ACORN - and no one became outraged.
Then they began their attacks on NPR - and folks snickered about it.
Then they began to dismantle the union - and people began to wonder what is going on.
Then they changed the subject.
I see a concerted effort to destroy any outlet for truth, social responsibility, or genuine community.
If you can't be controlled - you are not welcome in the brave new world.
I notice that the right has now set their sight on AARP.
First they set out to discredit ACORN - and no one became outraged.
Then they began their attacks on NPR - and folks snickered about it.
Then they began to dismantle the union - and people began to wonder what is going on.
Then they changed the subject.
I see a concerted effort to destroy any outlet for truth, social responsibility, or genuine community.
If you can't be controlled - you are not welcome in the brave new world.
Senator Sanders - this is less about getting the information out there and more about overcoming the emotional state that corporations are able to create in the populace. Do you recall how many Americans were up in arms about an Estate Tax that had absolutely nothing to do with them? Why? Because the rich started calling it the "Death" Tax.
What I think we need is an outlet that shows Americans how they will be affected by laws and regulations based on income. This will give many the opportunity to see graphically who will benefit and perhaps by how much and who will be unaffected or lose.
Unfortunately, corporate America is much more savvy and media-literate than Joe Six-Pack. Is there anyway to teach young kids media-literacy? Of course, with education cutbacks, that's extremely unlikely to happen. How do we combat the Frank Luntzes of the world?
It was sooooooo refreshing to hear someone articulate liberal ideas, without apologizing or trying to rationalize it to some economic policy. I thought I was the only liberal left in America! We are military and so live in a pretty conservative society, and we are from AZ - where liberals have to keep their views quiet! And liberal democrats are branded with whatever new label the Republicans have come up with. Name-calling - that playground bullying technique - is alive and well! Anyway, thank you for having the courage to articulate non-Tea Party ideas, and to remind us what the words "social responsibility" mean. Sometimes I think we have lost are humanity in our frenzied worship of "free markets!"
Can you imagine Jesus as President? Man, he'd get crucified all over again.
It is alright to default to the people who invested in Social Security - but it is not alright to hold those accountable who are undermining the system?
Stop corporate welfare! Make them pay their share. We can't afford to keep subsidizing GE, big oil, big coal, etc
And so, "Government of the people, by the people, for the people," of which Lincoln so eloquently spoke so long ago is indeed perishing before our eyes, being replaced instead by government of, by and for the corporations - and the fabulously wealthy.
Imagine what Abraham Lincoln would almost certainly express over what this nation - and in particular his party - have become. What a pity we no longer teach much actual American history (nor much other history, for that matter), for were one to read Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, they would encounter its last paragraph:
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
How quaint.
Great show Diane, I've always suspected and now thank you for reinforcing the Sanders Socialist Agenda. I will be doing my best to send monies and support in the opposition of most anything he endorses now and in the future. Scary guy.
Dialed in John in KY. There is much the Senator conveniently left out in his explanations throughout the hour. Very enlightening interview.
Wonderful program. Thank you!
I am Linda from the show today. Middle class, self employed artist, volunteer in my community, not a college graduate. I have worked hard for everything I have and do believe every American can do the same without handouts we can not afford. Everyone is entitled to health care, college education, day care, and food just not for free at the expense of others. What we need is more self respect and pride of accomplishment.
I am so excited to hear you interview Bernie Sanders (Bernie, you are my hero!) We have recently moved from AZ to NC, and I have been enjoying your show so much. It is wonderful that you have offered the opportunity of listening to Senator Sanders to the people of NC - so many people need to be inspired by this gentleman who has stood for and fights for preservation of the American dream for ALL of us! Thank you, Diane
Bernie Sanders certainly does not speak to the culture of this country, our we would have more of his ilk in the Congress. He calls himself an Independent but is an obvious avowed socialist. I wonder where his children and grandchildren go to school. I for one don't want a guy like Bernie Sanders re-distributing my tax money. As for saying Social Security ain't broke, he obviously hasen't seen the report the SS disability fund will run out of $$ in about 7 years. And Diane, your slobbering over Bernie wasn't becoming.
Thank you so much for having Bernie on. His point about how far the political field has drifted to the right, is, unfortunately reflected in the guests that are heard on this show.
We always are exposed to spokespersons for the elite; Club For Growth, US Chamber of Commerce, AEI, John Locke....but rarely anyone expressing the views of the millions of Americans who have no voice in Washington.
Obviously Obama and most Dems have given up on the vision espoused by TR, FDR, Truman or Sanders, of a society that works for everyone, not just a dog-eat-dog jungle.
Diane, please enlarge your guest list to include more of those fighting for the people. Folks like Doug Henwood, Barbara Ehrenreich, Salim Muwakkil, Bob McIntyre on taxes.... I know your staff can come up with a long list of people who will give the Right a REAL reason to hate NPR.
Thank you for having Bernie Sanders. Please invite him more often. He expresses a common sense point of view that we simply rarely hear on mainstream or cable news. I'm 64 and wonder what's happening in this country. Who wants to live in a country where everyone doesn't have access to an excellent public education? We need to be concerned about not only our own children's education, but our society as a whole. If we gut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, it will just put a greater financial burden on those families who have to care for their elderly and disabled -- at a time when wages are declining or stagnant (and future prospects looking poor, at best) How will these families be able to save for their own retirement? Raising the retirement age is only easy for the talking heads on TV. You don't have to be working in a coal mine -- just be on your feet all day, doing physically demanding work 12 hrs/day, sometimes 7 days a week for months on end, sometimes rotating shifts. I see a 3rd world future for a substantial portion of our current middle class citizens.