Definitely going to check these out. Thank you!

I can't thank you enough. I appreciate you taking the time to share that with me. I've got some reading to do.

Got any good recommendations or videos for actual economists who are fairly far left? I'm from the business world where everyone is convinced the invisible hand will guide everyone to the promised land but they conveniently ignore what Smith also said is the idea that such a concept, if it can work at all, only will if there's not much in terms of barriers to entry, no monopolies or corruption pulling strings, etc. Y'know, American capitalism at its core. Thanks in advance.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying. And yes, he's been more progressive than Obama on a lot of things, not that that's saying much.

I'll have to look into him getting the rail workers what they wanted after the dust settled, I hadn't heard about that.

I'm not sure how his loss would push the Dems further right, care to elaborate? In 2016 just having Bernie debating with the other candidates pushed the conversation a little left. And I think the loss he's about to face might help wake up the Dems in terms of pushing that Overton window. I share your concerns about Christo fascism etc but I feel like him winning would only make Dems more complacent in giving zero shits about anyone but the donor class. And I also see the Republican party fracturing so I'm not as convinced that the country will instantly begin to burn if Trump wins again. It won't be better for it for four years, but I'm not compelled by the democracy is on the line and everyone is going to go into handmaid's tale territory argument. That's putting words in your mouth I just don't have time to reword it right now.

To that point, and I'm not saying you agree with their approach, the Dems betrayed their "party of democracy" rhetoric the minute they decided to conduct this campaign the way they did by rigging the primary and refusing to let Señor Senile debate. The reason he's the only one who can beat Trump (which at this point is true) isn't necessarily because he would've won in the primary or that he's someone people genuinely believe is the most fit for the job. I'd bet my balls to a barn dance that if one of the other candidates would have won in the primary against Biden, this election would be a shoe in for Dems. And I could say that about more than one of the candidates who wanted to debate in the primaries. Edit: or even be allowed on the damn ballot.

And then there's well, the fact that I just can't bring myself to vote for a guy who's enabled this genocide the way he has. I've heard people say that no matter what he does at this point, that one issue is why they refuse to vote for him under any circumstances, and I don't blame them. I don't know how I'll feel when the time actually comes, but my heart physically hurts at the thought of helping him in any way.

Edit: Bernie in 2020 debates. And a word.

Thanks for the forgiveness. That's not sarcasm. To be honest I'm conflicted about my own decision not to vote for him, but I genuinely do feel that not voting for him will move that party more toward not being a "slightly better than conservative" one. I had a conversation with a female coworker years ago revolving around the concept of "How convenient that you can ignore this presidency and not feel the effects, whereas we (Latina woman) cannot take that chance." To me, it's more advantageous to force the party to the left than to acquiesce and make them feel like they can get away with ... Not giving a shit about anyone" Just my take and I'm honestly interested in your counterpoint. In any case, thanks for the conversation. Edit: autocorrect.

I misunderstood you. I apologize. I read the "your grievances" as being toward everyone hesitant to vote for him, rather than to OP's specific issues. Big picture, I do think his issues are more to do with what I said in my response to my other interlocutor. I also think him bending the rail workers over the barrel is also a factor. Again, I apologize for insulting you.

It was a dodge not answering whether you're American. Where the hell are you getting your news if you don't believe this is the main reason Biden is losing to Trump in a lot of states? The polls are pretty clear. And seeing some of the top Democrats flip (Pelosi was one I believe) on the Israel protests and/or Gaza is evidence enough for me.

Nice dodge there chief. I'm guessing either you're not American or you don't follow our politics too closely. And to be clear, I'm not a Trump fan. I don't even consider myself a Democrat because I'm too far to the left to be on board with a lot of them.

Are you American? If so do you not have any connection to what's going on in this country? A lot of representatives can't go anywhere in public without being overwhelmed by protestors about this very issue.

My response was to your final paragraph. People resent Biden because of Gaza and because of the idiotic way the Democratic brass look down their noses at, and gaslight, the American people. This administration has essentially tried to tell us things aren't that bad when people who should have a solid middle class life are watching their credit card debt pile up. For another example, Hilary Clinton was on I think Seth Myers' show and when he mentioned people being hesitant to vote for Biden again, her response was a condescending "get over yourselves". That is the aspect of the top democratic leadership that not only liberals despise, but conservatives see as evidence of how the left is a bunch of elites with no regard for the common folk. There's a better descriptor that I can't think of at this early hour, but yeah. Those things are the cause of the resentment toward this administration, and I'd wager toward the Democratic party itself.

To be clear, I don't think you're wrong on your other points for the most part, but that last paragraph is missing the point IMO. Edit: I apologized.

I love the morons coming to attack this post. It did make a difference if you pay attention to anything the burden administration has done recently. Is it what we wanted i.e. not sending weaponry to this country? No. Does it get their attention? Absolutely. Does it affect change? Absolutely.

It's telling that you left Gaza out of your comment. That is the #1 reason this president is facing a loss. If he would stop sending arms today, he would win in a landslide. You disingenuous shill. Edit: I was wrong to insult OP.