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Here's why Bernie could end up being better than even FDR

globinfo freexchange

In his speeches, Bernie Sanders frequently refers to the 32nd president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), and his New Deal program that helped millions of Americans after the 1929 Wall Street crash. Sanders and other progressives are proposing a similar program adjusted to the modern environmental challenges. The Green New Deal has now become a popular vision, especially among young Americans. Around it, the progressives are aiming to build a whole new model beyond destructive neoliberalism and even obsolete capitalism.

Many would argue that this is quite an extremely optimistic view. That Sanders is just an old-school moderate Social-Democrat who will only manage to revive some typical social policies of the past, and that's it. He will never manage to seriously challenge the current power structure, which, indeed, has grown enormously, controlling nearly every aspect of the political and economic life.

Yet Sanders already managed to achieve something that would be unthinkable, as close as ten, or even five years ago, in the corporate America. He is the first candidate for the US presidency who openly considers himself a Socialist and speaks about Democratic Socialism in his speeches.

We can argue that many progressives managed to boost the de-demonization of Socialism in the corporate America after the 2007-08 crush, but Sanders is responsible for making it part of the mainstream political discussion.

Going back to the FDR days, we may focus on a particular, very interesting statement he made: “A few timid people, who fear progress, will try to give you new and strange names for what we are doing. Sometimes they will call it 'Fascism,' sometimes 'Communism,' sometimes 'Regimentation,' sometimes 'Socialism.' But, in so doing, they are trying to make very complex and theoretical something that is really very simple and very practical.

One thing we can derive from this phrase is that - back then - the corporate machine was using pretty much the same arguments that is using today in order to smear anyone who wants to implement social policies. Obviously, Roosevelt was trying to repel corporate propaganda, as he knew this very well.

Yet, this phrase also reveals something else. That FDR indirectly renounced Socialism and he would never dare, at that time, to describe himself as a Socialist. Not only because he wasn't actually a Socialist, but also because the - heavily brainwashed by the corporate propaganda - American society wasn't ready at all for such a radical step.

Now, compare this situation with what's happening today. Bernie openly speaks about Democratic Socialism and he remains the most popular candidate for the US presidency. Such a thing would be impossible if the American youth wasn't ready for it.

Of course, the rhetoric is not the most important thing here. Real action is what matters most. Let's not forget that FDR had Henry Wallace behind him, who essentially was the architect of the New Deal. Apart from labels and rhetoric, we need radical action. Bernie shows that he is willing to do it.

So, in case of winning the presidency, Bernie needs to form a strong progressive cabinet. Luckily, there are now many popular progressives out there who proudly consider themselves Socialists ...

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