Is Bernie Sanders crazy or a genius: how do you think his policies would affect the economy

Frederick Foresight said:
I thought it was more polite than "STFU."

The very subject has been discussed at length right here at ET. Do a search here if Google is too far away for you. I'd hate for you to strain yourself.
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if the best you can come up with is STFU your usefulness to ET in particular and Society in general has become obsolete.
 
loyek590 said:
oh piezoe, I never know where to start with you. What do Finland, Norway, Sweden and what ever other country you mentioned have in common? They are all predominately protestant. As opposed to Italy and France and you know what they are. If you want to see pure socialism in operation go to Mali. There, whatever good luck befalls you belongs to the whole village. When we moved some family from socialist Mali to capitalist USA we had a little picnic by the lake and they said, "USA is so nice! We can actually have a pleasant picnic by this beautiful lake (there are no lakes in Mali), If this was Mali as soon as we showed up with food everybody would be demanding we share until it is all gone."
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You'll note that my comments with regard to modern nations were specific to "developed" nations where the governed were educated.

I know nothing of the government of Mali, such as it is. I take your word that it represents "pure socialism" It would be a country, judged in retrospect, where "pure socialism" does not seem to be working well, at least according to your judgement. I would likely think the same, had I any knowledge of the country.

It is not true however that there are no examples of successful socialist governments, judging by any reasonable criteria one might choose.
 
First that Bernie would try to do is his FTT proposal (already proposed to give free college to EVERYONE)....and then all the traders (even swing traders) are out of business.
 
Re Sanders. I want to know more about him. I don't agree with some of his positions. At least one in particular. But what I have learned so far would indicate to me that his policies would be good for the economy, and the GDP would likely pick up some if his policies were implemented. I would think, given the make-up of our Congress, that's a near impossibility.

What I am convinced of is that policies advocated by the establishment Democrats and Republicans are decidedly bad, when taken together, for the economy. In particular, the Republicans continued adherence to supply side economics is very damaging. They simply do not have a clue when it comes to macro economics.

Sanders seems to be somewhat more "Libertarian friendly" than other candidates. That much I like, but I have to learn much more about the specifics of what he is advocating.
 
piezoe said:
You'll note that my comments with regard to modern nations were specific to "developed" nations where the governed were educated.

I know nothing of the government of Mali, such as it is. I take your word that it represents "pure socialism" It would be a country, judged in retrospect, where "pure socialism" does not seem to be working well, at least according to your judgement. I would likely think the same, had I any knowledge of the country.

It is not true however that there are no examples of successful socialist governments, judging by any reasonable criteria one might choose.
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Let the circle be unbroken. Follow Sanders and you'll end up just like Mali. Start with Mali and you'll end up just like USA. Like the man (me) said, devote about 10% of your life and wealth to helping others like the true Christian, Pope, Protestant, Catholic, Democratic advocates. But devote about 90% of your life to capitalism so you can pay for it all. The Torah is very clear about this. It's not one or the other. There is a time for making money (and that is about 90%) and a time for giving money (and that is about 10%). To everything there is a season.
 
piezoe said:
Although all modern economies in industrialized nations are mixed economies,i.e., there are no examples of pure socialism or pure capitalism, the Northern lying countries of Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden have made a proportionately high socialism component work very well for them. I would think, going forward, civil tranquility and equality in Sweden may be threatened somewhat by the relatively high number of asylum seekers and political refugees they have admitted over the years. It may be true that no good deed goes unpunished.
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It is going to be interesting.

Firstly, describing the Scandinavian countries as ‘socialist’ in character is dubious. Whereas income taxes are notoriously “progressive”, with top rates in the 46 – 57% range, capitalistic qualities are incredibly prevalent. Indeed, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland have greater business freedom, monetary freedom, property right enforcement and financial freedom than the United States, the supposed embodiment of capitalism.

Furthermore, the Scandinavians comprise of corporate tax rates comparable to unashamedly capitalist countries, whilst also sitting considerably below the United States’ 40% rate. At 20%, Finland enjoys the same rate as the United Kingdom, whilst Norway, which has the highest rate of the five countries, enjoys only a 27% rate.

Moreover, since 2006, in which time the UK has seen a 30% corporate tax rate, the rate in Scandinavia has never been above 28%. It is remarkably clear to the casual observer that vibrant capitalism is not just present in the Nordic model, rather integral to it. Low interference in markets by the government, scarce nationalisation, almost no protectionism and a low level of regulation embody capitalist features.
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http://thescepticisle.com/2015/06/27/the-myth-of-the-scandinavian-socialist-utopia/

You are right, there are no examples of pure socialism and the only place a component of it can succeed is in tightly knit deeply capitalist society's and that's the problem with sanders or any other raving socialist lunatic in the never ending search of "social justice". They destroy the business, they destroy the freedom, they destroy everything needed to make their ideas even half sustainable. Sanders and his uk equivalent are jokes.
 
I'm waiting for Sanders to finally come out with a definitive statement as to how he would treat currency conversions and pot, since those are the only two issues that affect me directly. Otherwise, it is all just for show like some Hollywood Red Carpet televised event. The President is just a figure head who represents peoples hopes and dreams. What was that Archie Bunker said about Herbert Hoover? "Man we could use a guy like that again."
 
sheda said:
It is going to be interesting.



http://thescepticisle.com/2015/06/27/the-myth-of-the-scandinavian-socialist-utopia/

You are right, there are no examples of pure socialism and the only place a component of it can succeed is in tightly knit deeply capitalist society's and that's the problem with sanders or any other raving socialist lunatic in the never ending search of "social justice". They destroy the business, they destroy the freedom, they destroy everything needed to make their ideas even half sustainable. Sanders and his uk equivalent are jokes.
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I fully agree with regard to the Scandinavian countries, which all have strong capitalist components in their economies, but are nevertheless, far more socialistic overall than the U.S. -- the most striking differences being in education and healthcare. In Sweden both of these major economic sectors are tightly controlled and funded by the national government. Healthcare and education quality and access is relatively uniform throughout the country. In the U.S. these major segments of the economy are a mishmash of control and funding between Federal, State, local and private parties. Naturally both education and health care are very uneven in quality and access between one location and another. Most people, I think, in describing the economies of the Scandinavian countries, would describe them as "socialist" in comparison with the U.S. But of course we acknowledge that among the developed and industrialized countries their is no such thing as pure socialism nor pure capitalism.

With regard to Sanders, I need to learn much more. Mixed economies are best, but what is the optimum mix?

I am absolutely convinced that a thoroughly capitalist Medical care system would be best if only it were achievable. Regulatory capture has made competitive medicine in the U.S. a pipe dream, and now, the out of control costs of the U.S. Medical Cartel threaten the collapse of the entire U.S. economy. When the continuing crisis gets bad enough, something will be done. But what?

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Cost for identical dosage and product of Albuterol, the world standard rescue drug for asthma; (called salmeterol in all other countries). Barbados (OTC) $8 ; England (by prescription) 28$; U.S., copay only, $50-60! (assuming you have insurance that pays a portion of drug cost.) This can not go on!!!
 
what's the big deal? Everybody in their right mind knows every citizen of a healthy country should get an annual checkup and vaccines if desired. It's going to cost you one way or the other so we are no longer even talking about money. It's not like you need Ben Carson to perform the check up. Nowadays anybody that can operate a computer can give you a checkup. And we can't even do that?

That's the thing. We all agree that no American should go hungry or be deprived of routine medical care. Who in congress would ever vote against that? I mean, we're not talking about socialists taking over the world. All we are asking for is basic human compassion that you were born with and your mother taught you. Nothing earth shattering. And we can't even do that?

A lot of us baby boomers are getting ready to meet our maker. What do we have to show for ourselves? Our parents were the greatest generation, and all we did was spend spend spend. It's about time we make some small gesture towards a better world. Nothing big. No war on poverty, no war on drugs, just the simple things we all know in our heart are good. And we're not even talking about that much money.
 
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