How to Talk to Your Kids About Bernie Sanders

[arcane1]

Sometimes it can be scary and confusing for kids when they’re faced with an unknown, like a politician who actually represents the regular people who voted for him. As you tuck them into bed don’t be surprised if you hear questions like, “But what about the billionaires? Who’s going to speak for them?” or “Why is he so angry all the time?” or “Mom, why did you hit him?” We’ll get to that last one in a minute.

I find that the best way to address kids’ valid concerns about politicians is to ease them into it. The last time we tried to explain a government shutdown to my 10-year-old he said, “Wow, sounds like they don’t know how to do their jobs. They should all be fired.” There’s no telling what sort of blood lust this whole Bernie situation could unleash in our household and I’m betting your family is struggling with the same sense of unease. I’ve put together some answers to use when fielding common questions from your kids. You’ve probably been asking yourself some of these questions too, so don’t feel shy about talking to yourself about Bernie Sanders. We all do. It’s completely natural.

What does it mean when a politician “doesn’t lie”?

Well, this means that he or she is telling “the truth”. This is the type of behavior that one might expect from, say, your teacher or a librarian. I understand it can be confusing, trust me, it’s definitely confusing to most adults. What we’re used to is a sort of non-truth-jargon-bite and we nod and think “Thank you politician for the nonsense that just came out of your face hole” and we get right back to eating our burrito(s) because that’s life, man. I think you know by now that adults don’t really expect the truth otherwise why would we ask you if you’ve brushed your teeth and then accept your answer without making you breathe directly into our faces “just to be sure”? We’re used to being lied to. We like it. It’s soothing. So this situation is uncomfortable for us too. Just know this: you are not alone. We will get through Truthmageddon-Honestypocalypse-2016 together.

-snip-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kimberly-harrington/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-bernie-sanders_b_7212596.html

[azmom]

1. That is awesome. Sharing this one.

[historylovr]

2. That's perfect!

[Divernan]

3. "What about the billionaires? Who will speak for them?"

We all know the answer to that one, for sure! And it ain't Benie.

What is he so angry about?

If your kids have only seen Bernie during Senate Budget Committee hearings (and let's face it, what kid hasn't?), they might think he's the angriest uncle in Angry Uncle Town. But we live in Vermont so we've seen Bernie all over the place, grocery shopping at our local market, walking down Church Street, or driving around town in his consistently-of-the-people car. He is our Jimmy Carter. He looks just like a regular guy doing regular guy things. In fact, not once have I ever seen him try to filibuster in the produce section or point at then flip out on someone at a 4th of July parade.

But turns out when you're in Washington, D.C. trying to do your job there's so. much. to be angry about. I'm guessing if any of us were blindfolded and dropped into Washington, D.C. and saw how the sausage is made, blood would probably shoot out of our ears like a human anger sprinkler. He hasn't learned to stuff all that outrage down and just pave it over with teeth and haircuts like other politicians have.

For some reason he takes his job seriously, believes that people shouldn't have to buy representation in their government and highlights issues most other politicians don't really care about like taking care of veterans and our senior citizens, equal pay for women, the importance of family farms and the unknowns of GMOs, or dental care (dental care?! Yes, dental care!).

To sum up: Bernie is angry -- but he's not angry at you. It's not your fault. This is just how Bernie and the establishment fight with each other. Maybe turn up your music when things get uncomfortable or we can go buy some headphones together?

[Divernan]

4. I'm breaking this link up into daily segments for my FB page.

As a scuba diver, I'm crazy about sharks and look forward to Shark Week like a kid to Christmas. This year I got a good response and developed a daily following with a FB count-down to Shark Week with daily posts combining humorous shark jokes and shark facts.

This OP link/piece is perfect for me to break into a week's worth of daily pro-Bernie posts - hard political truths with a sugar coating of wry humor. Mary Poppins was quite correct:
In ev'ry job that must be done
There is an element of fun
you find the fun and snap!
The job's a game

And ev'ry task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree!
It's very clear to see
That a...
Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

[arcane1]

7. That's a great idea!

I may steal it

[WillyT]

5. LOL !!!

[JDPriestly]

6. K&R.

[passiveporcupine]

8. Now I can go to bed happy.

[ion_theory]

9. This is actually how I talk

to my elders about Bernie Sanders. Most are so used to hearing nothing but windy politicians that when one comes and tells the truth they don't know how to handle it and just dismiss him/her. Shameful shit the way the GOP, and Dems who went along with it over the past few decades, have basically said if your a good businessman, your a good political leader.