Discussion for article #245518
Yes, let’s discuss all the things you did to reduce income inequality while on Wal-Mart’s board.
I don’t think Sanders really has any chance to win the general – so I would encourage young people to consider their vote carefully, and not just go with Sanders because they think its the hip think to do. The future for them and all of us living under the reign of President Cruz, Trump or Rubio – or any of the GOP jokers will be pretty damned bad. Need proof? Look at the 2000 election. Lots of promises from progressives about that one – and they miscalculated. They are doing it again.
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You are absolutely right, because you should withdraw from the world, pretend Walmart and the entire financial system doesn’t exist, and just shake your first in purity and anger. THAT will fix the problem.
Actually being on the board of a major corporation and advocating for change is just plain dumb. Its much better to stand outside on the street outside of one Walmart and bask in you own smugness…
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Does it count what she did for kids? They were too young to vote but they could learn about it now. And the work she did right out of law school on behalf of kids.
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epirali wins the thread.
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Oddly enough, it’s sort of the nature of the beast we call “youth.” Very conservative youngsters are the same way. I’ve mellowed as I’ve aged … more willing to discuss “the middle.” Do I really want to be in “the middle?” – Hell, no. I want to be much more progressive – but as you seem well aware, that’s not how we get things done most of the time … because, pragmatics, a willingness to meet the others somewhere in “the middle” is ultimately what gets others to consider for themselves just what their “middle” might be. Nader and his attitude did cost this nation – it caused us to go through a horrible eight Bush/Cheney years and eight more to somewhat recover. Never again. I voted for Gore that year, but I must admit that I am less ideological now compared to those years.
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Wal-Mart was a very different company in the 1980s. When Sam Walton and his brother were alive and running it, Wal-Mart prided itself on selling a lot of products made in America.
And as a board member, Clinton did take an activist stance on some issues.
Under the Walton heirs, Wal-Mart is now a pipeline for Chinese-made stuff.
Also, it’s not so insidious when you consider the First Lady of Arkansas served on the Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart
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Ugh, that reminds me – in the 2000 general a TV reporter asked a Nader supporter if he (the supporter) didn’t think his vote for Nader would effectively be a vote for Bush. And the guy said with full of zeal something like “I don’t care! Voting with conscience is more important to me!”
And I almost screamed at the TV screen, the polling booth is NOT where you satisfy your emotion dammit! Elections have goddamn consequences, and the guy said “I don’t care.” And what followed that election we all know full well.
I don’t think I can ever forget that horror. And I always fear if history repeats itself.
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Yep, all you young people have to settle because Democrats are settlers. We settle for whatever the billionaires tell their lackeys in Congress we can have.
If we don’t demand better treatment we will never achieve squat. Being pragmatic in today’s world is just a DLC way of surrendering.
‘Largely silent on anti-unionism.’ Yeah, that was effective.
In truth, presidents have limited oprions here. Neither candidate is veing honest about that
I call putting forward a candidate that can’t win is the ultimate settling – its worse than settling – its begging to get screwed.
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I was one of those young idiots who listened to the bullshit and voted for Anderson. I learned my lesson – and a painful, shameful one at that. When Nader came around, I begged people to be smart. But they wouldn’t listen. No one, even the people who voted for him thought he would win. They just wanted to make a point – reality be damned and as a result, delivered us the worst GOP administration imaginable. Does this same lesson have to be relearned again and again?
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She will work hard for young people and the many issues they will face. I swear some of these 18 year olds have no idea at this point what they will face and how hard it will be. It’s easy to say we want a “revolution” … but what results would we end up. Change is hard and takes a long time. Also, some of the young women do not realize what a long, hard road it has been for women - we don’t want to go backward!!
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Me too. Just the way it is in this country – we are fighting against reactionary forces now on both left and right.
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They are inspired by the vision Sanders presents. I do get it. If I thought he had a chance in hell of first winning the general, and then getting his policies enacted, I would volunteer for him tomorrow. But I see, that while he is a fine honest man, this country is just not going to elect a “socialist.” I know he wants to reclaim the word to define his benevolent brand of socialism – but he will not be able to stop the GOP from putting forth their own definition. I anticipate it will fall somewhere between Stalin and Mao. Miserable to say it, but we can count on it happening.
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Exactly. I am a progressive who is also pragmatic. I would love a President Warren or a President Sanders – but they would inspire so much egg-throwing animosity from today’s “middle” and “conservatives.” Is that fair? Eff, no – but it’s reality.
This Progressive will be really proud to cast his vote for Hillary – a second time for me because she was my choice back in 2008, as I knew very little of this new guy Barack Obama.
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Nader knew exactly what he was doing. He meant to throw the election to the GOP – to create conditions of social and economic havoc so the revolution would come. He is an arrogant old fool – and while I idolized him as a fighter for consumer rights when I was a kid, after 2000 his name has been mud. And then he had the racist gall to call Obama an “Uncle Tom.” That really got me.
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Yes, I’d be on the phone banks and working for Sanders, too. He’s a fine man with integrity. However, he’s been in Congress for 25 years and has been pretty much ignored. He has a deeply held philosophy, but how would any of it really get enacted. The GOP would destroy him overnight!
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I took a chance on Obama starting in 2007 – but it was a wide open election – we did not have a democratic administration’s achievements to protect. Also, he was really unique. He has an astounding intellect and a message of healing I thought would really resonate with the public. I recall fighting with my father who was a Hillary devote – he insisted a black man could never be elected. I just knew he was wrong – so maybe I was as impractical as I see the Sanders voters today. And I had a hard time coming to terms with Hillary after 2008 election – but Obama made his peace with her and so have i. I think she will be as transformational a president as Obama if given the opportunity.
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