Headline from the New Jersey Star Ledger: Like it or not, Sanders' socialism is mainstream

[PatrickforO]

Apparently socialism isn't such a bad word anymore. Here's a couple of paragraphs from this June 15 editorial:

On Thursday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), said that "in virtually every instance, what I'm saying is supported by a significant majority of the American people," which is a bold claim for someone who has been broadly labeled a "socialist" candidate in Democratic camouflage.

But it makes this a good time to consider whether that term is being applied accurately in the early innings of this 2016 campaign, rather than as a pejorative to dismiss Sanders' ideas.

Because so far, the Senator is showing the electorate that a rejection of this "socialism" – the concept, not the brainless epithet – is something that most voters would probably find unthinkable.

<snip>

There! Isn't that fun? You can read more at http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/06/like_it_or_not_sanders_socialism_is_mainstream_edi.html

I've always been amused at how we are supposed to gasp and shudder when someone gets accused of being a socialist. Now we're watching the mainstream media struggle unsuccessfully to ignore Bernie because, well (gasp) he is a socialist (shudder!) but people are flocking to his events because his views are MAIN STREAM.

[Betty Karlson]

1. Sanders has a certain Teflon layer for that kind of accusations:

He ignores them and gets on with the issues he was discussing. Quite a strong performance.

[Trajan]

2. Yay ...

[RobertEarl]

3. Call it the "S" word

What 'some' don't get is that socialism is what the government does.

Government works for the social well-being of all the people, rich or poor.

Socialism is not a dirty word... it is our government.

[brentspeak]

4. Bernie calls himself a "democratic socialist"

But in many ways, on economic issues, he's simply an old-fashioned Eisenhower Republican.

I think that more and more Americans understand that Sanders is actually a throwback to a time when most politicians weren't puppets to Wall Street, when they weren't out to nickel-and-dime or outright plunder the middle class to death.

For decades, both parties agreed with the sound principles of high marginal tax rates (with loophole incentives designed to grow the domestic economy, not offshore it to China, Malaysia, and Mexico), effective and vitally necessary financial sector regulation, strong domestic manufacturing industries, and strong unions.

The result? A very large, prosperous middle class -- and no large deficits and very little national debt. And we were still the epitome of a capitalist economy.

That's all gone to hell now after 40 years of corporate capture of DC.

[madfloridian]

5. Impressed. That is from the editorial staff. I like it.

He's weathering the storm well. Go Bernie.