Robert Reich: The Bernie skeptics are wrong — here are 6 reasons why

[Snarkoleptic]

http://www.salon.com/2016/01/20/robert_reich_the_bernie_skeptics_are_wrong_here_are_6_reasons_why_partner/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

1. “He’d never beat Trump or Cruz in a general election.”

Wrong. According to the latest polls, Bernie is the strongest Democratic candidate in the general election, defeating both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz in hypothetical matchups. (The latest Real Clear Politics averages of all polls shows Bernie beating Trump by a larger margin than Hillary beats Trump, and Bernie beating Cruz while Hillary loses to Cruz.)

2. “He couldn’t get any of his ideas implemented because Congress would reject them.”

If both house of Congress remain in Republican hands, no Democrat will be able to get much legislation through Congress, and will have to rely instead on executive orders and regulations. But there’s a higher likelihood of kicking Republicans out if Bernie’s “political revolution” continues to surge around America, bringing with it millions of young people and other voters, and keeping them politically engaged.

3. “America would never elect a socialist.”

much more at the above link...

[PatrickforO]

1. I especially like reason 4:

"4. “His single-payer healthcare proposal would cost so much it would require raising taxes on the middle class.”

"This is a duplicitous argument. Studies show that a single-payer system would be far cheaper than our current system, which relies on private for-profit health insurers, because a single-payer system wouldn’t spend huge sums on advertising, marketing, executive pay, and billing. So even if the Sanders single-payer plan did require some higher taxes, Americans would come out way ahead because they’d save far more than that on health insurance."

Right now, my employer and I pay 18.5% of my gross for shitty, rationed healthcare by an HMO whose prime value is cutting costs, not treating me. Every year this firm raises its premiums by double digits for no other reason, I'm convinced, than to give it more earnings to retain.

Clinton says, 'no we can't' when it comes to single payer, because she 'doesn't think single payer is real' because there would be some corporate money lined up in opposition.

Sorry, Clinton - I WANT SINGLE PAYER and I'm not backing down this time.