I gotta say it -- I am THRILLED that Bernie's issues are finally....

[Armstead]

actually being discussed in a national political campaign -- and in the mainstream media. I have been waiting for decades for a night like last night to happen -- but never thought it would. The whole truth being laid out on a national debate stage in a presidential campaign.

They're not just Bernie's issues and message.

Not too long ago a period like the last two weeks would have been inconceivable to me.

I'm not alone in this. But for decades I have seen the inexorable destructive process that Sanders talks about move forward and KICK AMERICA IN THE GUT repeatedly, while the Democratic mainstream politicians ignored it and refused to mention it.

Instead, they have used the weasel words and silly little code in morally neutral tones in referring to the atrocious systematic destruction of the middle class, the corruption, the flaunting of social responsibility -- and trashing of common decency -- by corporate America, and the inevitable results.

I felt like "Jeesus. Why is nobody talking about this? Why are the Democrats letting the bastards get away with this without leading a fight?" and worse yet "Why the hell are the Democrats so complicit in this systemic corruption?"

I wasn't alone. There were some great people out there trying to shine the light on this, like Bill Moyers in the media, Paul Wellstone in the Senate AND BERNIE SANDERS, among others. But they were ignored or dismissed by the likes of The Clintons and too many other Democrats who said "There, there. Stop whining and let us adults handle it. WE know what to do."

Little did I ever believe that what Bernie and other progressives were trying to warn people about, and what they were trying to stop and what they were trying to improve, would EVER actually be discussed on a widespread basis.

Little did I ever picture Bernie standing on a presidential debate stage telling the UNVARNISHED TRUTH and generating so much agreement and support among so many Americans. And to add a cherry, seeing the smug and shallow purveyors of conventional wisdom in the media being forced to actually discuss the core issues in America's ,living rooms.

So regardless of what happens, I am ABSOLUTELY THRILLED at what Bernie -- and all who support him and have stood beside him in the Progressive Vanguard -- have accomplished already.

[juxtaposed]

1. not many of us expected this to ever happen in our life time.

[farleftlib]

2. We truly owe Bernie a debt of gratitude

for speaking truth to power. No matter the outcome, these issues are out in the open now and people are clamoring for change.

The deliberate third-worldization of the US of A is now on the record. We've been sold out by both parties.

[Live and Learn]

3. Me too. K&R nt

[99th_Monkey]

4. I'm right with you on that. I've been waiting for this, since the late 1980s

When during my graduate work at Univ. of Oregon I ran across some research by a
James Lardner, who conducted an extensive international analysis re:income/wealth
inequality, and his findings were stunning. These trends were well underway back
then, and what was striking about this particular study was that it also looked
at the incidents of "Cancer and Heart Disease" nation-by-nation, alongside the
income inequality findings.

Turns out, that there is a strong correlation between the highest inequality and the
highest rates of heart disease & cancer. It floored me, so i've been keenly interested
in this issue now for nearly 30 years. Lardner soon thereafter I think founded the
website: http://inequality.org and apparently wrote a few articles for the Nation in 2012:
http://www.thenation.com/authors/james-lardner/

[highprincipleswork]

5. This is so very true for me as well!

[stillwaiting]

7. You are most definitely not alone in feeling this way. There are a lot of us.

If those voting for Hillary but like Bernie's policies would wake up and realize that Bernie has a much better chance to get elected President he will beat Hillary AND the Republican.

To get elected President we'll need the independents and youth vote and Bernie provides that. We can't elect Hillary President with Democratic votes alone.

[yodermon]

8. He's moving the Overton Window to the left

and planting single payer smack dab in the middle of it.
It's awesome.

[Duval]

9. As am I! K&R!