Bernie Sanders 2016!

[Dejanic]

Switzerland has a universal healthcare system, but at the same time its insurance based. Pretty weird tbh.

Switzerland just forces everyone to buy insurance. It's a universal healthcare system, but not really what I'd call a national healthcare system.

Pretty much.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Switzerland has a universal healthcare system, but at the same time its insurance based. Pretty weird tbh.

Switzerland just forces everyone to buy insurance. It's a universal healthcare system, but not really what I'd call a national healthcare system.

I think that's a fair distinction, and appreciate the correction.

[AiliailiA]

Switzerland doesn't. I don't know if Monaco does, but I doubt it.

Switzerland has a universal healthcare system, but at the same time its insurance based. Pretty weird tbh.

The Netherlands too has compulsory private insurance.

[Ifreann]

Left wing insanity? We're to the right of every single Western European nation.

Except Switzerland and Monaco.

Switzerland isn't really a country, though. We just let them think they are because they have all our gold.

[Zurkerx]

Well this shakes things up a bit. Finally, there is more then one Democrat running. Of course, I don't see him winning but, at least there is a second voice out there.

[Arglorand]

Fuckin great. Would vote the shit out of this guy if he actually got chosen as candidate

[Atlanticatia]

Switzerland just forces everyone to buy insurance. It's a universal healthcare system, but not really what I'd call a national healthcare system.

Pretty much.

Switzerland also bans private insurance companies from making a profit on the compulsory benefits package. Also subsidies are means-tested, afaik. So it's kind of like a better version of Obamacare I guess.

If the US can't do single payer, then we should look towards the Swiss system, but provide a non-profit public option; make health insurance mandatory (i.e. don't allow people to opt out and pay a 'tax penalty), broaden the compulsory benefits package, and bring in a fee schedule to regulate prices of medical services and drugs.

[Atlanticatia]

Given your economic positions, I imagine you're talking about social issues when you say "new policies?"

Mainly, yes. But surely it would help if someone brought up an NIT or universal basic income. I don't think he will, but it would be heartening to hear it in the dialogue for the first time since 1972. It would help phase out the largest Federal entitlements.

I'm a member of MoveOn and it has been mentioned in emails I get from them, and Bernie has supported a 'basic income guarantee' so perhaps a UBI or NIT could be mentioned as a policy by him.

[Pope Joan]

I like everything about this guy.

Especially the fact that he is not beholden to the traditionally entrenched special interests of the left.

[Atlanticatia]

I like everything about this guy.

Especially the fact that he is not beholden to the traditionally entrenched special interests of the left.

What are those? (I'm just curious)

[Chestaan]

Nice to see such a candidate running. From what I have seen, the only reason anybody would vote for Clinton is that she's the alternative to the Republicans, but isn't she pretty right wing anyway? I may very well be wrong, but isn't she almost right-wing enough that she could probably fit in on the more liberal side of the GOP?

[New Genoa]

Yeah, might as well hand over the presidency to the republicans if he gets the nomination. Thank god he won't.

[Chestaan]

Yeah, might as well hand over the presidency to the republicans if he gets the nomination. Thank god he won't.

...is the sort of attitude that is causing the democrats to creep further and further to the right in order to capture more of the republican voters who are on the more liberal fringe of the party.

[Geilinor]

I don't know how I feel about this. On one hand, Bernie Sanders is an interesting candidate. On the other, I'm a moderate Democrat.

[Oceanic Vakiadia]

A trained dog would have a better shot at the White House than Sanders, who literally calls himself a democratic socialist.

[Bachmann America]

Good I hope he wins the nomination for the Democrat party. The Republicans would defeat this communist in a landslide in the national election!

[Kelinfort]

Good I hope he wins the nomination for the Democrat party. The Republicans would defeat this communist in a landslide in the national election!

Communist

Cute.

[New Genoa]

Yeah, might as well hand over the presidency to the republicans if he gets the nomination. Thank god he won't.

...is the sort of attitude that is causing the democrats to creep further and further to the right in order to capture more of the republican voters who are on the more liberal fringe of the party.

Obama is further right than Bill Clinton?

Edit: it's not really about picking up more gop voters, but gaining support of more moderate and right leaning democrats.

[Insaeldor]

While respect Bernie Sanders he's simply to far to the left for my taste as a presidential candidate. I'll continue to support O'Malley until Hillary Clinton win the Nominations.

[Mollary]

See the link I posted, where he said he agreed with the ideals of Noam Chomsky.

IMO he seems like an old school social democrat, i.e. reformist but looking to eventually abolish capitalism.

Noam Chomsky is extremely moderate for an "Anarchist" though, most people in the Anarchist community call him an "Anarcho Liberal" because he really doesn't speak much specifics.

Now, I think using that question as evidence for him being a full on Socialist is jumping the gun a bit, I mean he say's in his answer that he supports co-ops, but that doesn't mean he's a full on Democratic Socialist, it might just mean he's a Social Democrat who believes that voluntary co-ops are good for people and good for the economy.

I do agree that he comes off as a bit of an old school Social Democrat though, in that he sees Socialism as a very long term aim to be achieved gradually and voluntarily.

Like us in the good ol' days ;p.

As an observer from afar, I guess I'd vote for him in the primaries, but only because Clinton often comes across as ideologically similar to orange book lib dems here, but less socially liberal.

[Geilinor]

See the link I posted, where he said he agreed with the ideals of Noam Chomsky.

IMO he seems like an old school social democrat, i.e. reformist but looking to eventually abolish capitalism.

Noam Chomsky is extremely moderate for an "Anarchist" though, most people in the Anarchist community call him an "Anarcho Liberal" because he really doesn't speak much specifics.

Now, I think using that question as evidence for him being a full on Socialist is jumping the gun a bit, I mean he say's in his answer that he supports co-ops, but that doesn't mean he's a full on Democratic Socialist, it might just mean he's a Social Democrat who believes that voluntary co-ops are good for people and good for the economy.

I do agree that he comes off as a bit of an old school Social Democrat though, in that he sees Socialism as a very long term aim to be achieved gradually and voluntarily.

Noam Chomsky is moderate?

[Willamette Valley]

I will support him so that Hillary Clinton has to take further left positions during the primaries. I don't expect him to win though.

Hell, I'd venture to say that's why he's running. He doesn't expect to win any more than people voting for him.

[Willamette Valley]

Noam Chomsky is extremely moderate for an "Anarchist" though, most people in the Anarchist community call him an "Anarcho Liberal" because he really doesn't speak much specifics.

Now, I think using that question as evidence for him being a full on Socialist is jumping the gun a bit, I mean he say's in his answer that he supports co-ops, but that doesn't mean he's a full on Democratic Socialist, it might just mean he's a Social Democrat who believes that voluntary co-ops are good for people and good for the economy.

I do agree that he comes off as a bit of an old school Social Democrat though, in that he sees Socialism as a very long term aim to be achieved gradually and voluntarily.

Noam Chomsky is moderate?

Welcome to the wonderful world of the american radical left, where anyone not adhering to your specific ideology is obviously just a reformist in disguise.

[Arglorand]

Noam Chomsky is extremely moderate for an "Anarchist" though, most people in the Anarchist community call him an "Anarcho Liberal" because he really doesn't speak much specifics.

Now, I think using that question as evidence for him being a full on Socialist is jumping the gun a bit, I mean he say's in his answer that he supports co-ops, but that doesn't mean he's a full on Democratic Socialist, it might just mean he's a Social Democrat who believes that voluntary co-ops are good for people and good for the economy.

I do agree that he comes off as a bit of an old school Social Democrat though, in that he sees Socialism as a very long term aim to be achieved gradually and voluntarily.

Noam Chomsky is moderate?

You would be surprised, but compared to most anarchists, especially American anarchists, the answer is yes.

[Olthar]

Awesome. The only politician I'm willing to vote for. That's nice.