From the perspective of my 88 year old mother on the TPP, Bernie Sanders, and Hillary Clinton

[Triana]

Talking to her on the phone in the past few days, she related that she was alarmed by the TPP, which she has just recently heard any detail at all about since she's not on the internet. She had seen Bernie Sanders on The Ed Show where Ed showed Hillary Clinton's comments about the TPP as well as a long explanation by President Obama during a presser. Then, Ed had Bernie Sanders on, who explained the realities of the TPP more clearly and in a different way than Hillary or Obama. You know, he told the truth of what the so-called "trade" agreement would likely mean for America's workers, wages, and the environment.

I had told her about the TPP before and about Bernie Sanders - a man whom I felt was truly the only (or one of the few) real Democrats left in Washington, the rest being DLC types. I told her that I knew the Democratic Party had moved center and the Republicans have gone off-the-rails batshit crazy - back to the old John Birch Society days. She understood that since she remembers JBS well from the 1950s - 1960s or thereabouts.

But she had not heard of the TPP or Bernie Sanders - or didn't remember who he was really - she believed me when I told her about Bernie and the TPP, but was unfamiliar. Remind that she's 88, blind, and has no internet access - only television. So, her unfamiliarity is understandable.

But when she saw Bernie on The Ed Show and heard more about this TPP, she was shocked. She said Bernie was a real Democrat. She knows he's an Independent but she says Bernie is what Democrats USED to be when they were actual Dems.

Mom lived through the great depression, FDR, World War II, Nixon, Reagan, Carter, Clinton, Bush, Obama and two major financial collapses since the depression, the last one being in 2008. She has always been political, always paid attention to what's going on, just as her dad did. Neither she or her father (my grandfather) ever failed to vote. They were involved politically and she still is, as much as an 88-year-old can be when blind and not on the internet. She knows "where the bear shit in the buckwheat", so-to-speak, no matter what lies are told on network TV which she also knows is controlled by the same big corporations who are controlling our government and for whom our government works (not for us).

Mom is no dummy. She never has been. Even in her old age with no internet and hardly being able to see, she's no dummy.

After watching The Ed Show on Friday, she told me that she felt that capitalism was eating us alive as it continues almost completely unregulated (Capitalism - if it works at all, must be strictly regulated so as to work for all and not just for itself) The TPP scares the living bejeezus out of her and she stated flatly that given a choice between Hillary and Sanders she'd vote for Sanders. She didn't understand how or why Obama or Hillary would support the TPP.

Another thing about my Mom is that she is a staunch feminist. She has always supported Hillary and will vote for her if Hillary is the nominee. But she prefers Bernie Sanders.

Given her knowledge and her history - all that she's lived through in the US in the past 88 years, that's her take after fully realizing who Bernie Sanders is and what the TPP is.

Her sister - my aunt - was married to a man whose parents were John Birchers. My uncle's mother - the John Bircher - was the meanest old witch you can imagine. She abused my aunt the entire time they were married. She berated her, insulted her and turned my uncle against her and with him, colluded behind my aunt's back. She sold their house out from under them with my uncle's help and unbeknownst to my aunt. These were N A S T Y people, these John Birchers. So I have that perspective to rely on as well. My aunt is 89, and she has told me in detail how awful and wicked the John Birchers were. She experienced it first hand.

I just thought DUers might be interested in this perspective, since perspective is so easily lost on several generations who have not lived through all that she (and my aunt) has. I expect these two women won't be around too much longer and when they're gone, so is the history and the perspective and knowledge of US history from those who actually lived through it. They are living snapshots of where we've been and what used to be - living history.

So here we are. Now what?

[Bluenorthwest]

1. I like hearing the truth about Republicans of the past, who are really the same Republicans we have

today. Many people on DU like to propose that Republicans 'used to be moderate' and yet history and even simple recollection tells us that John Birch Society Republicans were just like today's Tea Party. Fred Koch, founder of Koch Industries and father of the Koch Bros was a founder of the John Birch Society.

[DrKZ]

2. My 88 year old mother in law

My 88 year old mother in law who is an old school feminist and went to law school as a single mom with 3 children said to me yesterday she would love to see a woman become President in her lifetime but she would rather see someone become president who is against fracking and the TPP ... and her candidate which surprised me was Bernie Sanders who she felt had the sort of policies which were important and were Democratic policies.
She was very concerned about the Clinton email's and felt that we should not dismiss them lightly. She does not think we can afford to have another candidate who accepts money from lobbyists ... She also recalls NAFTA and finds that disparaging to American workers and feels TPP is worse. But, her fear is for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the environment and she said she could not vote for someone who supports fracking
She is uncomfortable with some of the language that Clinton has used in terms of abortion (which is something I have felt and I was surprised she articulated anything about it) she said the use of the word rare is something she feels can close abortion clinics and continue to demonize poor women (same feeling I have) ... she also remembered something I did not and when I looked it up it was correct that she has attended the services of the group the Family a sort of semi secret Christian group that is somehow aligned with Congress (also known as the Family). She thinks groups like that help erode the separation of church and state ... There were other things she said but I don't want to make it too long ...
My mother-in-law is a bit different than your mom she still practices law, she has a computer, she reads voraciously, watches and dvr's everything and is still highly analytical and has always been and I suspect will always be active politically

[freshwest]

3. Agree with your mom on the candidates. We're a dying breed, though, it appears. n/t

[JEB]

4. So much insight and wisdom

and it didn't come from fiddling on a "smart" phone or Facebook. Thanks for posting.

[MissDeeds]

5. Spot on

Last edited Sun Apr 19, 2015, 12:56 PM - Edit history (1)

"Bernie is what Democrats USED to be when they were actual Dems." So much truth there.

Give your mom a hug for me, Triana.

K&R



Edit to add: I lost my 88 year old mom in October. She was a good Democrat too.

[MBS]

7. . . .. n/t

[MissDeeds]

8. ...

[pnwmom]

6. I hope she's still voting. She can, with assistance. nt

[Triana]

9. She votes absentee - gets help filling out her ballot - but she does still vote!

Her dad (our grandpa) voted until he died. Never missed a chance.

[BeanMusical]

10. Kick and R.