Sen. Sanders writes: "This is a pivotal moment in American history. The rich and large corporations are doing phenomenally well while the middle class is collapsing and poverty is increasing. Now is the time to answer the question that the Woody Guthrie song poignantly asked, 'Which side are you on?' The Democrats must answer boldly that they are on the side of working families and the middle class and that they will fight to protect their interests."

Sen. Bernie Sanders addresses a rally in support of Social Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, 03/28/11. (photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Democrats, Stop Caving In

By Sen. Bernie Sanders, Reader Supported News

19 November 11

ere is something we all can agree on: Federal deficits are a serious problem.

Here is something no one seriously disputes: Today's big deficits were caused mainly by big tax cuts for the wealthy, two unpaid-for wars, a horrible recession caused by Wall Street greed, and an expensive prescription drug program rigged to favor pharmaceutical companies.

Here is something we should not agree to do: Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

There is surprisingly broad consensus among Americans (except inside the corporate-dominated D.C. beltway) on what to do about deficits. In poll after poll, strong majorities favor making the wealthiest Americans, who, in many cases, have never had it so good, share the sacrifice and pay a little more in taxes. Increasing taxes on the wealthy is overwhelmingly supported by Democrats and independents. A majority of Republicans and people in the Tea Party movement also support taxing millionaires to help bring down deficits. Even many millionaires say they should be paying higher taxes. At a time when many profitable corporations pay nothing in federal income taxes, there also is widespread support for closing corporate tax loopholes. Taking a hard look at mushrooming defense spending also enjoys widespread support.

For far too long, the Washington agenda has been set by powerful corporate interests and a right wing that do not represent the needs and aspirations of most Americans. For too long, the Democrats have gone along with Republican demands and caved in to these powerful special interests. The American people are frustrated and disgusted. They want Democrats to fight back.

As a Thanksgiving deadline nears for action by the powerful Super Committee on deficit reduction, I hope (but doubt) that Republicans will listen to the American people and support deficit reduction in a fair and responsible way. I hope (but doubt) that Democrats will not once again capitulate just for the sake of an agreement - but that's been the pattern.

In April - with a Democrat in the White House and Democrats still in the majority in the Senate - Republicans threatened to shut down the government and delay the processing of new Social Security benefits for senior citizens unless their demands were met. Democrats went along with $78 billion in cuts from the president's budget request.

In August, in an outrageous display of unprincipled gamesmanship, Republicans put the United States on the brink of bankruptcy. Instead of invoking clear 14th Amendment powers to honor our nation's debts, the president and most Democrats agreed to a $2.5 trillion deficit-reduction package.

That's how we got to where we are today.

Incredibly, throughout all of these negotiations - in December, in April, in August and again today - the wealthiest Americans and the country's major corporations have not yet been asked to contribute one penny toward deficit reduction. That is despite huge cuts in life-and-death programs for working families.

The American people have had it. The Occupy Wall Street movement is growing. A virtual popular uprising forced Bank of America to drop an unpopular $5 monthly debit card fee. On Election Day 2011, in Ohio and many other states the American people said NO to right-wing extremism and corporate greed.

The American people are very clear. They do not want Democrats to reach another 'grand bargain' with representatives of the rich and powerful that eviscerates the most successful and popular social programs in the history of this country. They want Democrats to stand up for the 99 percent, not the 1 percent.

If the president and Democrats on the super committee go along with cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, the three pillars of the New Deal and the Great Society, and permanently extend the Bush tax breaks for the wealthiest 2 percent, the American people will shake their heads in disbelief. They will arrive at the reasonably valid conclusion that there are no significant differences between the two parties controlled by corporate interests.

This is a pivotal moment in American history. The rich and large corporations are doing phenomenally well while the middle class is collapsing and poverty is increasing. Now is the time to answer the question that the Woody Guthrie song poignantly asked, "Which side are you on?" The Democrats must answer boldly that they are on the side of working families and the middle class and that they will fight to protect their interests.

What if the super committee ends in stalemate? Across-the-board, automatic cuts are set to kick in. That so-called sequestration wouldn't start, however, until 2013. That would make 2012 one of the most important election years in modern American history.

If Democrats stand with ordinary Americans and make it clear that they are prepared to take on the wealthy and the powerful, they could win both houses of Congress. They could give Obama a fresh infusion of boldness as he enters a second term in the White House.

Somehow I recall a few years ago millions of Americans chanting, "Yes, We Can." Now is the time to hear their voices.

Comments

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+83 # Mouna 2011-11-19 10:02

Thank you, Senator Sanders, for laying it out so clearly and simply. As Paul Krugman said, the best thing that could happen now is that the Supercommittee fails to do the job it was created to do. Cuts to the programs that sustain the Middle Class make it even more evident that We, the 99%, MUST OVERCOME. To allow ourselves to be defeated by the 1% is contrary to everything this Nation has stood for. WE MUST STAND UP AND
DEMAND FAIRNESS IN ALL OUR ACTIONS, AND WE MUST DO IT NOW WITH NON-VIOLENCE.

+56 # Bill Clements 2011-11-19 10:04

Sadly, Bernie, I honestly believe, is wasting his breath and his time. After giving us a litany of Democratic cave-ins and capitulations, he entrusts them to do the right thing. Really? When nothing has changed? When you have the same people in office? When you have the same thoroughly corrupt system?

I'm sorry, but the only way things are going to change is when you and I collectively vote these clowns out of office and replace them with people like Elizabeth Warren, for example. It's up to us: we are not going to see the Democrats in Congress turn over a "new leaf" and suddenly stand up for their constituents. They're lost to us.

+19 # Harold R. Mencher 2011-11-19 20:17

How are you planning on voting these people out of office when our electoral system has been completely hijacked and stolen from us by the mandatory use now of these corrupt and fraudulent and unverifiable e-voting machines in all 50 states? No more paper ballots. They've gone the way of the Dinosaur. Winners and losers will be chosen not by how you voted, but by how the internal software voted.

The Repubs planned this out so well, all of it, ever since Bush stole the 2000 pres election by passing HAVA, the Help America Vote Act, one of Bush's first heinous Bills passed by Congress with the help & blind (& stupid) support by the Dems. The Dems literally cut their own throats, but they've been doing that for a long time now.

Many of these machines will be paperless, & even if you use a machine that supplies you with a piece of paper verifying your selections, getting a recount will be almost impossible. And mailing in a ballot to be used on one of these scanners will be no different. These electronic scanning machines are also run by internal software, software that will not be verified or tested by an independent agency prior to its use.

So, maybe someone can explain to me how you all plan on voting these jerks out of office. I would greatly appreciate any answer that makes any sense.

+8 # Bill Clements 2011-11-20 12:03

So, are you suggesting that our situation is hopeless? This is simply another component of a broken and corrupt system. This, too, needs to be taken up by the people in this country. Are you (we) powerless, as you suggest?

The only impediment to real and meaningful change is us, the people. If people can be convinced to stay home and merely blog in front of their computers, signing a plethora of petitions each day, then we deserve what we have now.

+4 # Harold R. Mencher 2011-11-20 18:07

I am not suggesting that people stay home & not vote. As far as being hopeless, I just can't tell you the answer to that. I am just stating what the facts are today, that virtually every vote that we submit will be determined by software, internal software, & that I personally wouldn't want to bet my life that my vote will be counted accurately and honestly. I guess my question to you is whether or not you would be willing to bet your own personal life that your vote was counted honestly and accurately after using one of these machines.

I watched a documentary 4 or 5 years ago concerning the use of these untested and unverifiable e-voting machines. Someone was interviewing an individual who was on the election commission in one of the states. This individual swore up and down that these machines were accurate and honest and he was being sincere in his belief, but that was all it was, a belief. The interviewer than asked him whether or not he would bet his own life that his vote would be counted honestly & accurately by the machine. The man hesitated for a moment before answering. He than responded by saying "No!"

I don't want to discourage anyone from voting, but that doesn't change the facts of the situation. What one can do about changing it, I don't know, but I would blame the Dems as much as the Repubs for passing HAVA.

0 # Bill Clements 2011-11-21 10:34

Harold,

I'm not arguing with you about unverifiable voting machines; I agree that it's a huge problem and that we should go back to paper! So, no, I would not bet my "own personal life" that my vote was/will be counted honestly and accurately.

My point to you was addressing your perceived helplessness/despair over our current situation. I agree with you that it's a huge problem, but believe our only fix to it is us, the people. We have to make it a national issue and put pressure on those responsible to return us to paper ballots!

0 # Harold R. Mencher 2011-11-21 13:03

Bill, this is like a cat chasing its own tail. I agree with you that we have to force change to our electoral system, to outlaw e-voting machines & to return to paper ballots counted by human hands & eyes, but, hypothetically speaking, 2012 is a very critical election & if these e-voting machines are set in critical swing states to guarantee a Republican win in both houses of Congress & a Republican takeover of the White House (Godforbid), then how do you propose to force change?

The point that I'm trying to make here, and what concerns me so about these Republicans like Wisconsin governor, Scott Walker, for example, is there calm, cool & collected attitude, as if they don't seem too worried about winning their next election even after screwing over their own constituents.

If corrupt politicians can be guaranteed to win their elections by corrupt and fraudulent e-voting machines, then all the pressure in the world put upon them by their constituents is not going to change their attitudes, is it?

Just look what happened in that special election in Wisconsin in determining who would control the Wisconsin state supreme court, how magically those thousands of additional votes turned up by accident to make sure that Scott Walker got his way, and how the Democratic candidate for the court didn't put up much of a fight to investigate the matter?

+5 # RLF 2011-11-20 05:10

With the likes of T. geithner having the prez's ear...I think there is little hope for any place but Holiwood and Greenich conn.

+39 # CreepingSocialist 2011-11-19 10:12

When the Democrats repeatedly compromise with the Repuglicans, who themselves always refuse to compromise, it ends up making the Democrats appear weak. A better class of people, true, but still weak.

+38 # Virginia 2011-11-19 10:15

The problem is that the Democrats in Washington are like a herd of sheep following the lead wolf wrapped in in sheep's clothing. Along as the Obama administration refuses to acknowledge the Wall Street fraud (and BTW - purposely inflated property appraisals and intentionally failing to assign the mortgages to the securities trusts causing the REMIC tax shelters to fail - is fraud) we cannot begin to stabilize our economy. See "The REMICs Have Failed" at www.deadlyclear.com

+29 # mrgrtmorris 2011-11-19 10:57

Bernie is my hero.

It would be nice to know where and when and to whom this address was given.

+31 # Mermaid19 2011-11-19 10:58

In my opinion they are not caving in, they are all part of the same club - dominated by their need for money which they think leads to power.
We should be ashamed of ourselves as the world watches what we are doing to our young people, it is their future and you would think those in power would protect their future in lieu of throwing it away. And Pepper Spraying an 84 year old woman, we all need to be ashamed of our country as this goes across the globe, we who are supposed to be bringing Democracy to the world, SHAME ON US, SHAME ON ALL YOU DEMOCRATS and REPUBLICANS.

+26 # Mermaid19 2011-11-19 11:02

In Listening to these people speak I feel like they are begging our representatives to do the right thing. My question is, why do we have to beg them, why do we have to tell them to wake up - are they all asleep at the wheel. Very sad to me. When the woman cried I cried with her. SHAME ON YOU who would cut services for our citizens. Thank you to all the women who have spoken up, Yes, Dignity and Fairness - why is that not happening?

+23 # Bill Clements 2011-11-19 11:35

I liken many of them to soulless zombies. They're dead to us and feel nothing. They're part of the corporate hive mind.

+38 # noitall 2011-11-19 11:02

Having voted for the 'best' of the worst at each election since I began voting, we have come to the point in this democracy where we, the majority, have NO CHOICE that represents our opinion...ON ANYTHING! How else do you explain it other than a coup, a take-over of the Republic. DO we continue to vote for one or the other of these two homogeneous parties to watch our blood pressure rise as they play good cop bad cop over and over? The election process is a sham that we cannot win as long as cash rather than the vote is the determining factor to who is the "decider". WE ARE THE DECIDER! They have done to our Democracy what they have done to democracies all over the world; they've stripped them from the people and run them with traitors to the true meaning of this country. We have no choice other than peaceful disobedience. To react to their violence with violence is to be labeled terrorists and our "homeland security" moves in with billions upon billions of our tax dollars to put us down and our leaders in the ground. This is where we are today. Obviously this is not a common held belief otherwise the police would have no effect on the crowds that would be in the streets. Assemble, Occupy, stand in peace. Peace is our only weapon but it is more powerful than what they have because WE ARE RIGHT!

+11 # futhark 2011-11-19 16:25

You do have a choice. And that choice is to transcend the "two party system" paradigm that is drummed into American skulls from elementary school. Register with the party that represents the best policies in regard to peace, justice, equity, and environmental sustainability. Historically, the Federalists and the Whigs both collapsed as organized parties when their constituencies found they weren't serving any useful purpose. I submit that the Republicans committed a kind of political suicide when they gave themselves over to neocon leadership and the Democrats have been hollowed out as a viable alternative to the Republicans by continuing to sell out the same military, industrial, and business interests that motivate the Republicans. Barack Obama the compromiser-in-chief is not going to advance the interests of the American people or protect the environment. He has shown time and again that he aligns his interests with those who abuse and exploit the environment, who pursue warfare against technologically primitive peoples, and who compromise our Constitutional and inherent liberties.

Both establishment parties are houses built on sand and should be washed out with the next tide. As far as I can tell, only the Greens present an enlightened and just program of political advancement and preservation of what we value.

-4 # jky1291 2011-11-19 23:22

While I agree with your sentiment concerning the 2 corrupt corporate political parties and appreciate your desire for a viable alternative, personally I find that the Green Party platform is a laundry list pandering to too many special interests with too many negatives for broad enough support to defeat the most powerful forces of money and corruption this world has ever seen. Alternatively, I would encourage every intelligent citizen wishing to save our nation to identify, recruit, and elect a 3rd Party presidential candidate who supports the limited, but essential for success, goals presented in the Contract for the American Dream upon which nearly everyone can agree, with opposition from only those supporting the status quo of the wealthy 1%.

http://contract.rebuildthedream.com/?rc=rtd_home

We cannot afford to diminish a unified sentiment that the status quo is unsustainable by overreaching with a pie in the sky platform that peals away critical support with every additional plank beyond the bare essentials we require to achieve fundamental changes in our political and economic systems to reestablish "government of the people, by the people, for the people".

0 # CL38 2011-11-21 07:46

Realistically, how are people not to vote for either party and name someone they support on the ballot, and still expect that everyone is going to vote for the same person and get that one elected in a two party system????

+17 # oldfolkie 2011-11-19 11:06

Sorry Bernie,,,,,
That wasn't a song by Woody.
"Which Side Are You On" was written by Florence Reece, the wife of a UMW organizer, in 1931 during the Coal Strikes in Halan County, KY.
She recorded the song and it can be heard on the CD, "Coal Mining Women" which is still available for purchase...

0 # greenerpastures21212@yahoo.com 2011-11-21 15:34

As I recall, Florence Reece sang the song at an AFL-CIO convention . She was also a member of the Communist Party and counted among her closest friends Art Shields, our greatest ever labor reporter (for the Daily Worker) and George A. Meyers, chairman of the CPUSA Labor Commission and the former President of the Maryland-DC CIO.

+25 # lin96 2011-11-19 11:10

The Democrats have made millions off of a corrupt system and they're unwilling to support the people or change for their own self-serving purposes. We have to get them all out and the only way is to expose their corruption, one by one. If they're sufficently humiliated and faced with actual jail time they may leave volunteerily, however, they too will run to the corporations to get positions as lobbyists. Newt Gingrich is a perfect example of a criminal who now has the unmidigated guts to think it's acceptable that he run for President. This is an indication of the low expectations he believes is now America.

+25 # angelfish 2011-11-19 11:11

As usual, Bernie, you are SO right! The "Fat Cats" on the Beltway have had their heads so far up their rectums over the past 30+ years that they're unable to pull them out and REALLY see reality! The Country is collapsing while the rich get richer and the poor are going homeless, hungry and more helpless than EVER! Their inability to see, is what prevents them from doing anything tangible to FIX it. Justice MUST and WILL be served if this Country is to recover. No more Free Rides for Corporations. If they are PEOPLE, then INDICT them like People! TRY them like People! Imprison and FINE them like People! Until these Crimes against Humanity are addressed we will remain slaves, held down by the Corporations and the SCOTUS that they OWN lock, stock and barrel! Let Freedom RING, Fellow Citizens. Stand up, Occupy, Make your voices heard and, by ALL means, VOTE in 2012! It is CRUCIAL if we are to achieve the JUSTICE we Need, Want and Deserve! The People, UNITED, will NEVER be defeated!

+31 # lin96 2011-11-19 11:13

I think the people should begin to investigate Congress by demanding background checks on every member of the Super Committee to see how much money they've received from corporate America and if they're qualified on the basis of that to suggest cuts and make decisions that will benefit ALL the people.

+31 # Patch 2011-11-19 11:13

I am old enough to remember when America still had its humanity. Now we only have a handful of people in Congress - Bernie Sanders, Dennis Kucinich and a few others - who still have their sense of humanity. I'm not sure what our hope is to gain it back again but the Occupy movement is a good start.

May the next election vote in more people like Bernie Sanders.

+26 # Riley1 2011-11-19 11:37

I totally agree with Bill Clements .. This is in the hands of the people to select the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders to represent them. We need many like them. The old brigade corporate supporting clowns are in the Supreme Court and in congress controlling all. A wide broom is needed to sweep them all away. However you need an educated electorate to understand that and vote accordingly for this revolution to take place peacefully. The alternative bears not thinking about. One can envision the protest movement in its infancy taking place in many states and the forces of the state in all its malevolent violent ugliness reined against them as we have seen already. I hope they can hold together in Ghandian spirit to win this final battle to set the people free of the shackles of the 1% and the corporate state. We live in interesting times watching and waiting for this mighty battle to come. God help us all.

+14 # Michael_K 2011-11-19 11:44

Bernie, I believe you're aware that Mr O'Bama has his feet firmly planted on the side of Goldman Sachs. With that kind of leadership, don't be too surprised if the Democrats keep on caving in.

+23 # jwb110 2011-11-19 11:49

The Super Committee may be un-Constitutional and that should be addressed before any decisions are made about anything.

+7 # warrior woman 2011-11-19 12:08

We must start calling on corporatists for their obligations of patriotic duty. Liberals are time and again accused of being unpatriotic, rather, it is the corporatists who are unpatriotic.

Please read: U.S. needs to make progress on deficit, IMF warns
1/27/11 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012707000.html
“The IMF warning comes as federal officials grapple with a congressional projection this week that the annual deficit will reach a historic $1.5 trillion this year. ..."The U.S. has a lot of credibility. This does not imply their credibility can last forever," IMF fiscal affairs director Carlo Cottarelli said as he released the IMF study. It concluded that the United States is falling behind on a promise it made to other top economic countries to halve its budget deficit by 2013.
"This is a problem many years in the making and will take a concerted effort by Democrats and Republicans working together to find a solution," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in answer to a question about the IMF report.
He noted that President Obama called for a freeze on discretionary spending during this week's State of the Union address. IMF officials have welcomed the step but said that spending cuts in pension and health entitlement programs are also needed.”

+23 # giraffee2012 2011-11-19 12:11

Never give up. If the USA crashes - so do the 1% - without a middle class - there is NO DEMOCRACY.

The OWS have brought the subject up in politics and media -- even the creep Cantor announced "we have to look at the big divide between the 1% and us"

But, never have the GOP been so afraid of not being re-elected in 2012. Their agenda has been exposed.

And a few OWS cross the fence and get arrested but the bankers who "collect" houses on ROBO signed ... don't go to jail....

We have a year to expose and demand. Women didn't get the vote by giving up and neither did the voting age from 21 -18 go without a struggle. We got out of Vietnam by protests.

The military is now going allover the East while we argue about the banks -- and that means another drain on "no assets and no revenue" ---- etc.

NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN.

Call ur Congress people and tell them "you will not vote for them if they don't .... give up their cult association with guber Norquist -- ok use your own words. But they took an oath to serve the people and not a cult.

Bernie is not wasting his breath - -he summarizes the POINTS -- There are so many the problems become a BLUR to most.

+2 # guywithactualbrain 2011-11-19 16:26

NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN.
ALSO NEVER VOTE INCUMBENT

There may be an incumbent or two who has value - Paul and Kucinich come to mind. But mostly, look at the record of any incumbent or ex- you are considering. It's not hard to find the zionist and corporate puppets - yet something like 80% of those elected ar RE-elected! If it's working - for them - why would they fix it?
WAKEUP infowars.com! whatreallyhappe ned.com
the list boggles...

+23 # motamanx 2011-11-19 12:18

The headline says it all. Democrats: Stop Caving In.
The reason the country is in trouble is that Democrats failed to counter the stonewall tactics from the not-so-loyal opposition.

+18 # motamanx 2011-11-19 12:34

"In December - when Democrats controlled the Senate, the House and the White House - Congress and President Obama not only extended Bush-era tax breaks for the wealthy but also gave new breaks to heirs of the super-rich."
--Bernie Sanders

If that's not caving in, what is?

+11 # Carolyn 2011-11-19 12:53

Wouldn't it be helpful to hear someone like Bernie addess the deeper issues, what was seeded into the American culture when it came to earth. In addition to screaming about what everybody knows has been done and is still, under Obama, going on here at home, while he's extending military presence in the Pacific region?
It may be hugely masculine but what about the creative giving of planet earth? What about playing a completely a different game from war -- a new game? What about playing that we're all one human family -- like the idea that started with OWS?

+8 # wrodwell 2011-11-19 14:04

Is anyone in their right mind still expecting Democrats to do the right thing by fighting back against the fascist Republicans? Even when they were in the majority they still caved in. The current group of Democrats are spineless by nature and circumstance. The only in kind difference between the two parties is that Republicans are corrupt loud mouths while the Dems hide in the shadows hoping no one will notice that they are as equally corrupt as their Republican cohorts. Clearly, another election will have little effect thanks to a hopelessly broken political system. If there is a "March on Washington" in the near future let's hope "We, The People" do not engage in half-measures by expecting representatives of a rotten political system to do the right thing. The goal of the march should be to cleanse the Augean Stables completely and start anew. It's Revolution time!

+8 # Jumpstart 2011-11-19 14:19

In December - when Democrats controlled the Senate, the House and the White House - Congress and President Obama not only extended Bush-era tax breaks for the wealthy but also gave new breaks to heirs of the super-rich. The President was the gatekeeper and he caved after promising that "Yes, we can", I guess he meant the "We" of the rich corporate Republican Tea Party. Still he remains silent to the suffering of people. We need a leader, not a negotiator for less. What should have been said is "Negotiations Are Over"!! No more money for the fat cats, no more money for useless corporate wars for controlling oil wells and gas lines, no more tax breaks for the super rich and the luxury liners now set to become prisons for immigrants, no more money for Huge Health Insurance Companies that control Medicare, no more workforce dollars to big businesses or workforce boards who siphon it off to their friends and leave low paying jobs to the public, no more private military prisons or training secret militia to overthrow governments. This country is a union of states-a UNION of people--the word that most TEA parties and Republicans hate because UNION means people power. President Obama needs to remember who elected him and what standing up means--not just at election time and not just when EGOs need to be fed.

+12 # pernsey 2011-11-19 14:25

YES!!! Bernie Sanders hit the nail on the head...Go Bernie Go!!!

OCCUPY, OCCUPY, OCCYPY!!

+13 # Tippitc 2011-11-19 14:29

god bless Bernie Sanders - a lone voice of sanity in the wilderness - AKA Washington DC. The fact that there has been no legal action against the greedy 1% who created this economic mess, I believe speaks volumes about the ethics in Washington. There might have been a token 'slap on the wrist' in a couple of totally egregious cases, but that means nothing!! Has Congress, the Supreme Court and even the president sold their souls to the highest bidder - it certainly seems so. I wonder what it feels like to sell your soul?!

+6 # B-Aware 2011-11-19 14:33

While we are dreaming and venting about fundamentally changing the system (and it DOES need changing), how about doing what we can, here and now, to bring about incremental change?

One thing we can do is to bring pressure on the significant number of phony Democrats in Congress who vote with the Republicans.

Democrats -- some Democrats, that is -- make up the only political party that shows any concern for the 99 percent. There is an online petition we can sign that requires a pledge by the House and Senate campaign committees to stop giving financial support to those Democrats who oppose the President’s American Jobs Act. Chief among these is Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who votes against the 99 percent most of the time and is up for reelection next year. I hope you will join me in signing this petition. It needs your support, and it needs for you to send it to as many friends as possible. You will find it at
http://signon.org/sign/democrats-must-support?source=c.fwd&r_by=226791

+7 # objectiveobserver 2011-11-19 14:58

I would like to point out that when Obama extended the Bush era tax cuts, he said that dealing with Republicans was like dealing with hostage takers. He was totally stong armed into those cuts. I do agree that Democrats are also sold out to corporate interests and have been chronic and pathetic apologists ever since the Republicans pulled off the incredibly stupid Ken Starr/impeach Clinton folly. However, I think they take more heat than they actually deserve. This is one example. The extended Bush era tax cuts were a perfect example of Republican bullying and abuse of the law to exercise and consolidate their power. The blame for that should not be on Obama and the Democrats. However, I strongly agree with Bernie Sanders. The Democrats must come out clearly on the side of the protestors now.

+6 # wwway 2011-11-19 16:32

Democrats have been in a quandry. Over the last 40 years they've had to shift to the right just to keep their foot in the doors of power. Every time Democrats warned of the consequences of going along with the republican agenda they got booted out of office. Stupid voters did that. The people get the government they deserve and it's time to stop expecting politics to be "entertaining" and start paying attention to real issues. It's also time to end coporate personhood with a consitutional amendment that negates Citizens United and identify public servants who will support such an amendment and restor protections that keep the rich from stealing from us.

+6 # seeuingoa 2011-11-19 17:04

As said before Bernie, please
get on a ticket with Elizabeth we
need you two desperately.
You won´t need campaign money you have
already all the votes of the 99%.

-1 # tswhiskers 2011-11-20 09:44

Remember, Bernie is in his '70's or '80's. How can he manage a campaign, let alone at least 4 years in office? He has the votes and that is the tragedy for this country.

0 # wfalco 2011-11-19 17:24

I think many Democrats would like to stop "caving in." In fact I believe they may have chosen to be a Dem as a result of a core belief system predisposing them to be on the side of the working and middle classes. That is the essence of being a liberal/progressive.
So it is all about choosing sides and that is the easy part.

I am quite certain the "core beliefs" of our elected Democrats have always been empathetic with the working/middle class. The problem is that many middle class folks(most of them are not us-they don't read RSN)will almost always classify themselves as somewhat moderate or even conservative on numerous issues, particularly matters of fiscal discipline. Fiscal conservativism (or at least the idea of it)is deeply ingrained in the American psyche. To this degree liberalism is still a bad word as it is code for "big spending Democrats." This is very difficult to overcome and is why so many more Democrats (as opposed to our Republican "friends")will vote for the "other side" more often than we care to admit. The easy example is to poll all the blue collar white males-sometimes union men-who vote Republican in presidential elections. How many Republicans "switch sides" during the big elections? Not nearly as many and that is why so many Democrats feel they have to play it safe and be seen as willing to compromise on matters of fiscal discipline.

0 # Rick Levy 2011-11-19 18:06

With Obama as their leader I've given up on expecting the Demos to collectively stand up to the Rethugs.

+5 # Lute 2011-11-19 19:19

Bernie is a truly decent human being. But I would have thought he could read the tea leaves more accurately. The Democrats are feckless, yes, but they too have been bought and paid for. Feckless Obama, The Great Compromiser and Capitulator, is -- to use Cornel West's words -- a "black mascot" for Wall Street, other vested interests. Almost to a man, the treasonous Republicans are traitors who should be taken out and hanged. The challenge is to replace the whole lot of them but for the likes of Bernie Sanders.

+4 # Brewsir 2011-11-19 20:39

Dems without backbones, when caved in will be perfectly suited for their habitat following that Tuesday in November 2012. There will be a lot of their colleagues there from all parties. Name calling and other puerile attempts do not seem to have altered this Senator's forthrightness. The support from his base has been solid and he does not seem to live in fear of disagreement with anyone. I wish that I would see more of this from others who share his governing address. There are multiples of OWS numbers who sit around away form parks and bridges waiting on November 2012 to send a message to Congress. I hope that it is one that will be heard around the world and bring smiles to those of us who grimace and gripe in the grasp of the greedy.

+3 # Peace Anonymous 2011-11-19 23:32

Democrats stop caving in??? Not likely. Most of them, like the Republicans, have their campaigns bought and paid for by corporations. The only eay this system will ever work for the people is to completely overhaul the electoral and campaign process. The political right wants the government out of busines. But to be effective the people need business out of government! Period!

+3 # Bruce Gruber 2011-11-20 06:10

If the Presidential 'process' sustains its current impetus, Barack and Mitt will compete for the opportunity to nuance concern and leadership vision for economic productivity (or different shades of Wall Street continuity). Neither will have full commitment or enthusiastic support from their 'base', but they will both represent acceptability to the 1%. Personally I would like to see their "debates" moderated on MSNBC by Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Rush Limbaugh. That would be instructive AND entertaining.

+1 # Lou17 2011-11-20 08:58

Corporate money dominating lobbying and electoral campaigns is the main cause of both parties voting generally against the public interest. Reform of the political process should begin by passing one or more constitutional amendments specifying that corporations are not natural persons and Congress and the states may regulate spending for campaigns and lobbying. H.J.Res. 88 and H.J.Res. 90, both findable at http://www.senate.gov/ by clicking on Legislation & Records, do so in the case of campaigns only.

+3 # tswhiskers 2011-11-20 09:42

Bernie, I love you. I wish there were 534 more Congressmen just like you. I used to think the Dems were badly frightened by the Reps and found it easier to be yesmen than to do anything. Now I am forced to the conclusion that as everyone says, they are bought and paid for just like the Reps. The media are bought and paid for. The Europeans are amazed at our politics. Except for a few millionaires who think they and their ilk should be appropriately taxed, everyone with any power or influence seems to live by their checkbooks. A friend says there is no point in taking an interest in politics since nothing can be done and the stress it causes me is very unhealthy. The Occupy movement seems the only hope left to this country, but in the end will it have the power to wake up the politicians to a feeling of love and pride in this country? I haven't much hope left.

+2 # GeneRitchings 2011-11-20 10:54

The Democrats won't serve anything but their own careers until they no longer have to worry about pleasing their campaign contributors. Money is what skews the whole political process to the right, since the GOP is the money and business party. The Democrats, once the people and justice party, sold their souls for corporate and special interest money decades ago. It is time for the Democratic party to come back home, but so long as their opponents can outspend them on elections they won't take the chance.
We urgently need a constitutional amendment to get private money out of the political process and publicly finance campaigns. Let this be a battle of ideas, not dollars.

+2 # David Starr 2011-11-20 11:50

Both the Repubs & the Dems are ideologically the same-they are both capitalist parties; two tendencies of one party. Thus, I could take the angle that we have had in the U.S. a one party state for over 100 years. And not surprisingly, because of the ideological ties, the private corporate monolith has supported the two parties; although, yes, the Dems have historically shown some concern w/ the rights & interests of the working class & poor. But this is still w/in the confines of the U.S.'s particular, current ideology; thus, the rights & interests of the working class & poor will potentially & literally be threatened indefinately, even despite helpful social programs; & thus the need for ideological change. As Sanders shows, the danger now is more apparent. The Repubs, like a bully, are emboldened. The Dems, largely, cave in. But there is still a sliver of difference between the two (still, that's not encouraging): There is, e.g., no evidence of an equivalent of a Christian Right & a Tea Party in their ranks. And, although few, there is evidence of Progressives. Still, years of voting for "the lesser of two evils" is ultimately a dead end. For now, though, since we can't realistically remove the two capitalist parties from power, I will echo Barbara K's slogan: NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN. I add: Vote Dem, then go off somewhere private & throw up. How sickening.

0 # greenerpastures21212@yahoo.com 2011-11-21 15:45

I think Democrat-bashing is a simplistic answer to a complex problem. The Democrats are profoundly different from the Republicans because of their social base: most people in the organized labor movement and center to left working class people in general, the African American people, working class Latinos, progressive-minded women, the environmental movement, etc. These masses have elected more Black and Latino members of Congress, more progressive women, than ever before so that the Progressive Caucus has more than 70 members, the largest caucus in the U.S. House of Reps. These folks also elected the first African American President of the U.S. Every progressive political reform in the past 100 years was the result of a Democratic majority in the House and Senate and almost always a Democratic president. Do we need a new progressive political party? Yes. But it won't happen until these masses decide to break away from the Democratic Party.

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