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When I checked my Facebook account this morning, this greeted me:
That photoshop mischief by Deer Ed, owner/operator of bigpinekey.com’s Coconut Telegraph gripe and praise blog, ended up on the front of my campaign T-shirt; the slogan was provided by the irascible three sheets to the wind poet “Mad Jack” Gunn, of Key West.
What ended up getting confounded was me, of course :-). That’s the angels way with me.
That aside, Jerry Weinstock, M.D., Psychiatry, retired, sometimes, replied to yesterday’s mental health and suicide statistics – Key West market research post at goodmorningkeywest.com:
SLOAN: It has progressively become a world of inhumanity—-harder for people
to adjust—harder to cope. the majority of the population suffering from the
effects of severe inequality . Your Mental health commentary is by and large accurate.
Most thinking people have a hard time of it but put on a facade.——a mask
there is no such entity as Normal
most everyone is addicted to something—-some addictions are lethal;-some are the opposite.
homelessness is the new slavery -killing may not matter very much-(-killing a homeless person or someone believed to be homeless.)
the quote by Jimmy Carter —-right on -excellent.
Hope Kari is doing alright —and you too—Jerry
I sent back to Jerry:
Christine Russell, who now lives only part time in Key West, continued our “state of America and humanity” email conversation reported in yesterday’s mental health and suicide statistics – Key West market research post at goodmorningkeywest.com:
Hello Sloan -
What you said in your response to me ‘I’m afraid what you have raised generally, and suicide specifically, are just some of the signs of the sad state of humanity in America and elsewhere‘ summed it all up very well!
I read your and Jerry Weinstock’s conversations on the Keys waters, the reef, cruise ships, the environment and world in general - it is a depressing place. I have not emailed you or jumped in to those conversations because I find it all far too depressing. Oh, it’s not that I don’t think about it, I don’t think there is a waking moment I don’t think about the sad state of America, the environment, and the world. Many nights I don’t sleep worrying about it. Of course you know my personal solution - don’t get mad, get out! There certainly is no utopia, but also are absolutely better places to live. 30 years ago I would never have believed that. 30 years ago it was a far different world. And 30 years ago I was not so disappointed and disgusted with my government. But now 30 years later I have discover wonderful places to live where the people are actually happy and healthy. You know stress will kill you in time. Maybe if you are a 1%er, or if you have no environmental or human conscience you can be happy here - not me. Leaving does not happen over night and with all my ‘stuff’ it takes a while to liquidate, but I look forward to doing good things for others with my assets down the road - way down….. the road
The mess of this world seems to be getting worse by the day. I don’t’ know if there is any human being that can lead us out of this (politically), but it’s worth a try - what choice do we have? I so respect Jerry’s wisdom and comments I read on your blog. He gets it. So do you. There are many people who are frustrated and angry with our governments. I have to wonder if all these theater shootings are by frustrated angry people? How much will and can people take as their lives crumble? When they become depressed some may seek help, others may take it out on others - some in drastic ways, and then there are those who sadly must feel there is no hope and nothing to live for - except more pain and rejection. Are the increased number of mass shootings and suicides the result of people not being able to cope with the world and its continuing decline? And personally I fear there are far worse times ahead for the economy and the U.S. What will happen then?
My friend, Mary Lou Hoover is organizing a community walk - Out of the Darkness - A walk to prevent suicide on Sept 10th You can see a flyer below. I hope the community will turn out and support this cause. The stigma attached to Suicide must be broken. There is no shame. The only shame is in sweeping the issue under the rug and failing to reach out and help those suffering from depression and mental illness? In these difficult times we must stand together and help each other. It must become an instinctual reaction if we are to survive. Be sure to contact Mary Lou with any questions.
[I, Sloan, was unable to copy and paste the Mary Lou flyer into this post today.]
As I said, I find the world a terribly depressing place any more. Of course there are those who go about their merry way never giving it all a thought - boy are they in for a scary awakening!!! I tried very hard for a long time to make my local little community a better place. I got nowhere in 15 years. It got frustrating and depressing. My answer was to redirect my attention elsewhere Now I have living in Uruguay to look forward to, as well as spending time in Panama, but mostly I am excited to work with my Spay Panama. I just received an email from my friend, SP’s Founder asking if I could be there for their mega spay event that will last about 10 days late November. Spending the holidays in Panama, I will be there to celebrate their reaching 100,000 spay neuters! I am already excited and beginning to think about some kind of gala or event/fundraiser. Hoping we can get the President and First Lady to attend with my friend, a diplomat, ties. These new adventures, friends, and goals help me cope with the state of the world. I’m a little slow and stubborn - I finally realized there are things you can not change. Key West is what it is. As the economy and environment have changed so drastically in the last 20 years, our governments have failed to change and adapt to those changes - failing to change with the times will have drastic consequences. The U.S. has failed its citizens miserably, and with far worse times ahead, I can’t imagine what the future there will look like. I would love to think I am wrong, but what’s coming is inevitable without drastic, dramatic changes within our government. I hope you and Kari will escape. Often the path seems impossible - believe me I know…but moving forward with a plan is an adventure - and absolutely necessary.
On Jerry’s comments on Trump. Donald loves the limelight. The more outrageous his comments, the more attention he gets - and he loves it all - the good, bad and ugly! Many people seem surprised with his popularity, but I think he has tapped into their frustration and they like someone who is not afraid to speak his mind - the hell with being politically correct - what does that get you pussy footing around a topic! People are pissed off, angry, frustrated that their governments are so wasteful, dysfunctional, hypocritical…I could go on…. With the 16 clowns running in the Repub party. And Hillary with all her baggage - who is there for a rational person to support and vote for? BERNIE! To those who watch Fox News - turn off the damn tv, learn to think for yourself, and do a little reading with an OPEN mind about Bernie. At the end of this email read where he stands on the issues. He is amazing and SMART! And he cares deeply about the struggles of the middle class. I particularly like his thoughts on the Israel - Palestinian conflict. You know he is Jewish. He makes SO much sense! Something Washington has not seen in y-e-a-r-s! He has our vote and support. I will work with others to see him in the White House. I hope all your readers will take the time to read Bernie’s POLITICAL POSITIONS on the issues at the end of this email.
Good thoughts and hopeful wishes sent your way Sloan!
Christine
Sanders announced his intention to seek the Democratic Party‘s nomination for president on April 30, 2015, in an address on the Capitol lawn.[1][2][75]His campaign was officially launched on May 26 in Burlington.[4]
In his announcement, Sanders said, “I don’t believe that the men and women who defended American democracy fought to create a situation where billionaires own the political process.”[1][2] His entry into the race was welcomed by Senator Elizabeth Warren, saying “I’m glad to see him get out there and give his version of what leadership in this country should be.” Warren has resisted calls to become a candidate herself.[76]
Unlike the other presidential candidates, Sanders stated he will not pursue funding through a Super PAC, instead focusing on small individual donations.[77] Sanders’s presidential campaign raised $1.5 million within 24 hours of his official announcement.[78] After four days, Sanders’s campaign had raised $3 million from small donors, with an average of $43 per donation.[79] On July 2, the campaign announced it had raised $15 million from 250,000 donors. (By contrast, Barack Obama attracted only 180,000 donors during the first quarter of his presidential campaign in 2007.[80])
On June 25, 2015, The New York Times noted that Sanders was “running right alongside [Clinton] in a statistical dead heat for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination” in the New Hampshire primaries, citing a CNN/WMUR poll.[82] The Guardian pointed out that when Clinton and Sanders made public appearances within days of each other in Des Moines, Iowa, it was Sanders who drew larger crowds, although he had already made numerous stops around the state, while it was Clinton’s first visit of the year.[83]
Sanders’s campaign events in June 2015 drew “overflow crowds” around the country, to his surprise.[84][85][86] On July 1, 2015, Sanders’s campaign stop in Madison, Wisconsin, drew the largest crowd of any 2016 presidential candidate to that date, with an estimated turnout of 10,000.[87][88] On July 18, he drew an even larger crowd in Arizona, with an estimated turnout of over 11,000.[89] On Saturday, August 8, 2015 Sanders drew an estimated 15,000 in Seattle at the University of Washington’s arena (12,000 inside and 3,000 outside). [90] A day later, some 28,000 people attended a Sanders rally in Portland, Oregon (19,000 inside the Moda Center and 9,000 outside).[91]
A cornerstone of Sanders’s campaign is to fight the decreasing income of the middle class and the increase of wealth inequality:
In July 2015 Sanders introduced legislation that would incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by the year 2020.[92][93]
As of April 2015 Sanders’ net worth is $330,000, one of the lowest in the U.S. Senate.[94]
Sanders supports repeal of some of the tax deductions that benefit hedge funds and corporations, and would raise taxes oncapital gains and the wealthiest two percent of Americans. He would use some of the added revenues to lower the taxes of the middle and lower classes.[95][96]
Sanders has criticized offshore tax havens, saying “[Large corporations have] evaded at least $34.5 billion in taxes by setting up more than 600 subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands and other offshore tax havens since 2008. As a result, at least a dozen of the companies avoided paying any federal income taxes in recent years, and even received more than $6.4 billion in tax refunds from the IRS since 2008.”[97]
On May 6, 2015, Sanders introduced legislation to break up “too big to fail” financial institutions. With three of the four banks that were bailed out during the 2007–08 Global Financial Crisis now larger than they were then, Sanders believes that “no single financial institution should have holdings so extensive that its failure would send the world economy into crisis. If an institution is too big to fail, it is too big to exist.“[98][99]
Sanders is opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which he has called “a continuation of other disastrous trade agreements, like NAFTA, CAFTA, and permanent normal trade relations with China.” He has said he believes Americans need to rebuild their own manufacturing base by utilizing American factories and supporting decent-paying jobs for American labor rather than outsourcing to China and other countries.[95][100]
According to Sanders, “America once led the world in building and maintaining a nationwide network of safe and reliable bridges and roads. Today, nearly a quarter of the nation’s 600,000 bridges have been designated as structurally deficient or functionally obsolete….Almost one-third of America’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.” Sanders has introduced amendments to Senate bills (S.Amendt.323) that promote the creation of millions of middle-class jobs by investing in infrastructure, paid for by closing loopholes in the corporate and international tax system.[101][102] He also supports legislation that would make it easier for workers to join or form a union.[103]
Sanders supports the establishment of worker-owned cooperatives and introduced legislation in June 2014 that would aid workers who wanted to “form their own businesses or to set up worker-owned cooperatives”.[103][104][105] As early as 1976, Sanders was a proponent of workplace democracy, saying, “I believe that, in the long run, major industries in this state and nation should be publicly owned and controlled by the workers themselves.”[106]
Sanders considers global warming a serious problem.[13] Along with Senator Barbara Boxer, Sanders introduced the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007 on January 15, 2007.[107] In a July 26, 2012 speech on the Senate floor, Sanders addressed claims made by Senator Jim Inhofe: “The bottom line is when Senator Inhofe says global warming is a hoax, he is just dead wrong, according to the vast majority of climate scientists.”[108] He was Climate Hawks Vote‘s top-rated senator on climate leadership in the 113th Congress.[109]
Believing that “[we need to] transform our energy system away from fossil fuel,” Sanders voted against the Keystone Pipelinebill, saying, “Unless we get our act together, the planet that we’re going to be leaving to our kids and grandchildren will be significantly less habitable than the planet we have right now…I think it’s a good idea for the president, Congress, and the American people to listen to the overwhelming amount of scientists who tell us loudly and clearly that climate change is one of the great planetary crises that we face.”[110]
In a letter addressed to President Obama following the 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents, Sanders called for a halt to new nuclear plant licensing and a review of existing licenses.[111] In the letter, he urges creation of a new nuclear safety review commission[111] and suggests that current federal law would put too much of the cost of a major nuclear accident on taxpayers.[111]
Sanders has gone on record against the government financial backing of the nuclear industry, which he calls “nuclear welfare”.[112] Additionally, he expresses concern over the logistics and fiscal challenges of nuclear waste.[112] He has spoken in favor of sustainable alternatives and cites Vermont as a state leading such endeavors, saying in regard to opposition of theNuclear Regulatory Commission‘s 2011 extension (just one week after the Japanese accidents) of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant‘s operating license, “In my state there is a strong feeling that we want to go forward with energy efficiency and sustainable energy. I believe that we have that right. I believe that every other state in the country has that right. If we want to move to sustainable energy and not maintain an aging, trouble-plagued nuclear power plant, I think we should be allowed to do that.“[113]
Sanders supports the DISCLOSE Act, which would make campaign finances more transparent and ban U.S. corporations controlled by foreign interests from making political expenditures.[114] He has been outspoken in calling for an overturn ofCitizens United v. Federal Election Commission, in which the Supreme Court overturned McCain-Feingold restrictions on political spending by corporations and unions as a violation of the First Amendment.[14] Saying that he believes that the Citizens United decision is “one of the Supreme Court’s worst decisions ever” and that it has allowed big money to “deflect attention from the real issues” facing voters,[115] he has proposed a constitutional amendment to undo the ruling.[116] He warns: “We now have a political situation where billionaires are literally able to buy elections and candidates.“[117]
In 2007, Sanders testified to the Vermont Senate Government Operations Committee that he “strongly supports Instant-Runoff Voting” because it “allows people to vote for what they really want without worrying about the possibility of them getting what they really don’t want.”[118] The committee and legislature ultimately passed legislation that would have enacted instant runoff voting for U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators, but the governor vetoed it.[119]
Sanders has been a leader in calling for media reform and opposes increased concentration of ownership of media outlets,[120]as well as being a contributing author for OpEdNews.[121] He appeared in Orwell Rolls in His Grave and Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism, two documentaries on the subject.[122]
In response to questions at a 2014 Vermont town-hall meeting, Sanders said that Israel had “overreacted” in its response to Palestinian missile attacks, but at the same time noted that Hamas was firing missiles into Israel from “populated areas”. He concluded: “This is a very depressing and difficult issue. This has gone on for 60 bloody years. If you’re asking me, do I have a magical solution? I don’t. And you know what, I doubt very much that you do.”[123] Sanders did not sign on to the Senate Resolution in support of Operation Protective Edge, a military operation Israel launched on July 8, 2014.[123] A statement published on his Senate website read in part: “Sanders believes the Israeli attacks that killed hundreds of innocent people – including many women and children – in bombings of civilian neighborhoods and UN controlled schools, hospitals, and refugee camps were disproportionate, and the widespread killing of civilians is completely unacceptable. Israel’s actions took an enormous human toll, and appeared to strengthen support for Hamas and may well be sowing the seeds for even more hatred, war and destruction in future years.”[124]
On March 3, 2015, Sanders was the first senator to decline to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s speech to Congress.[125] He said that the address, arranged without consultation with President Obama, improperly interfered with the President’s role. He also argued that it was inappropriate for Netanyahu to use the U.S. Congress for his own political purposes so close to the Israeli legislative election.[126] After the speech, Sanders released a statement supporting the Obama administration’s diplomatic effort to address Iran’s nuclear program and regretting that Netanyahu’s speech did not offer “any serious alternatives” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.[126] Sanders has said, “I am not a great fan of President [sic] Netanyahu” and “I think in that region, sadly, on both sides, I don’t think we hae the kind of leadership that we need.”[127]
Keep in mind that Bernie is Jewish but seems to be able to look at the situation objectively - CR
Sanders strongly opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and voted against the 2002 resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq. In a 2002 speech, he said, “I am opposed to giving the President a blank check to launch a unilateral invasion and occupation of Iraq” and “I will vote against this resolution. One, I have not heard any estimates of how many young American men and women might die in such a war or how many tens of thousands of women and children in Iraq might also be killed. As a caring Nation, we should do everything we can to prevent the horrible suffering that a war will cause. War must be the last recourse in international relations, not the first. Second, I am deeply concerned about the precedent that a unilateral invasion of Iraq could establish in terms of international law and the role of the United Nations.“[128]
Sanders has called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) “a barbaric organization” and “a growing threat,” but does not believe that the U.S. should lead the fight against it. Sanders believes that “the United States should be supportive, along with other countries, but we cannot and we should not be involved in perpetual warfare in the Middle East-the Muslim Countries themselves must lead the effort.”[129]
Sanders supports the agreement with Iran reached by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. While calling it less than a perfect agreement, he believes that the United States needs to negotiate with Iran rather than enter in yet another war in the Middle East.[130]
Sanders has long been critical of U.S. government surveillance policies. He voted against the USA PATRIOT Act and all of its renewals and has characterized the National Security Agency as “out of control.” He has frequently criticized warrantless wiretapping and the collection of the phone, email, library, and internet browsing records of American citizens without due process:[18]
Sanders won the 2014 Col. Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award from the Military Officers Association of America for his leadership in support of veterans.[131] Sanders introduced the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013 (S. 893; 113th Congress) into the Senate on May 8, 2013.[132] The bill would increase the disabilitycompensation rate for American veterans and their families.[133] Sanders co-wrote, with Senator John McCain, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, a bill intended to reform the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in response to the Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014.[134]
Drawing figures from a recent report that ranks the U.S. 33rd out of 36 nations in reading literacy, 27th in mathematical literacy, 22nd in science literacy, and 18th overall in secondary education, Sanders has said, “In a society with our resources, it is unconscionable to that we do not properly invest in our children from the very first stages of their lives”. He has introduced legislation to provide child care and early education to all children six weeks old through kindergarten. Sanders believes that “the Foundations for Success Act would provide preschool children with a full range of services, leading to success in school and critical support for hard-pressed families nationwide.”[135][136][137]
Sanders has long been an advocate of making college more affordable. He has spoken out against the high interest rates on federal student loans, noting that in the next ten years, the federal government will profit by as much as $127 billion from them. He has also criticized President Obama for signing legislation that temporarily froze student loan interest rates in exchange for allowing the rates to reach historic highs over the next two years. Sanders believes tax reform is the solution, and has developed a plan to bring matching grants from the federal and state governments to cut tuition at public universities by more than half. He has criticized both Republicans and Democrats for failing to institute reforms that will stop predatory lending practices in the student loan market.[138]
Sanders is in favor of public funding for college students. He believes “we live in a highly competitive global economy and, if our economy is to be strong, we need the best-educated work force in the world.” He further maintains that many other developed nations in Western Europe have long taken this approach to higher education. Sanders expects his plan to meet strong opposition from the Republican Party, but says it is ultimately “the American people” who will determine its failure or success.[139]
On May 19, 2015, Sanders introduced the College for All Act (S.1373), which would use a Robin Hood tax of 50 cents on every “$100 of stock trades on stock sales” to fund tuition at four-year public colleges and universities for students who meet admission standards.[140][141][142] In addition, the Robin Hood tax would include a .5% speculation fee to be charged on investment houses, hedge funds, and other stock trades, while a .1% fee would be charged on bonds, and a .005% fee on derivatives.[143]
Sanders is a staunch supporter of a universal health care system, and has said, “If you are serious about real healthcare reform, the only way to go is single-payer.”[144] He advocates lowering the cost of drugs that are high because they remain under patent for years; some drugs that cost thousands of dollars per year in the U.S. are available for hundreds, or less, in countries where they can be obtained as generics.[145]
As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, Sanders has introduced legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Older Americans Act, which supports Meals on Wheels and other programs for seniors. Sanders believes that supporting seniors “is not only the right thing to do, it is the financially smart thing to do”, because it decreases expensive hospitalizations and allows seniors to remain in their homes.[146]
NARAL Pro-Choice America has given Sanders a 100% score on his pro-choice voting record.[147]
In an effort to counter Republicans’ use of the term, Sanders offers several proposals as his “family values” agenda:[135]
Sanders points to statistics that show that the United States is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee its workers some form of paid family, paid sick, or vacation time, and that there are significant disparities among the types of workers who have access to paid sick and paid vacation time. As an example, he notes that over 77 percent of management, business, and financial operations workers have access to paid leave, while just 36 percent of construction workers and only 50 percent of employees who earn $540 per week do, as opposed to 83 percent of workers earning more than $1,200 per week.[135][136]
Sanders’s Guaranteed Paid Vacation Act (S.1564) would provide 10 days of paid vacation for employees who have worked for an employer for at least one year. He is cosponsoring a Senate bill that would give mothers and fathers 12 weeks of paid family leave to care for a baby. It would also allow workers to take the same amount of paid time off if they are diagnosed with cancer or have other serious medical conditions or to take care of family members who are seriously ill. And Sanders has cosponsored a bill that would guarantee workers at least seven paid sick days per year for short-term illness, routine medical care, or to care for a sick family member.[135][136]
Speaking on abortion, Sanders says, “[Republicans believe] that [a woman] cannot control her own body. I disagree. Let’s say it loud and clear: Women control their own bodies — not the government.”[129]
Sanders supports a ban of semi-automatic weapons and the closing of loopholes existing at gun shows that allow buyers to get around some regulations. He is in favor of instant background checks for gun owners.[148]
In the House of Representatives, Sanders voted for the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.[149] Speaking toCNN‘s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union“, Sanders said, “If somebody has a gun and it falls into the hands of a murderer and the murderer kills somebody with a gun, do you hold the gun manufacturer responsible? Not any more than you would hold a hammer company responsible if somebody beats somebody over the head with a hammer.” Sanders has said, “we have millions of people who are gun owners in this country — 99.9% of those people obey the law. I want to see real, serious debate and action on guns, but it is not going to take place if we simply have extreme positions on both sides. I think I can bring us to the middle.”[148]
Sanders has called for reforms to sentencing guidelines, drug policy, and police departments’ use of force. Noting that there are more people incarcerated in the U.S. than any country in the world, at an annual cost to taxpayers of $70 billion, Sanders argues that the money would be better spent on education and jobs. He has spoken out against police brutalityand the uneven rates of arrest of African-Americans and other minorities: “From Ferguson to Baltimore and across this nation, too many African-Americans and other minorities find themselves subjected to a system that treats citizens who have not committed crimes as if they were criminals and that is unacceptable.“[150] After the release a video depicting the arrest of African American Sandra Bland for a minor traffic violation, Sanders strongly condemned the “totally outrageous police behavior” it showed: “This video highlights once again why we need real police reform. People should not die for a minor traffic infraction. This type of police abuse has become an all-too-common occurrence for people of color and it must stop.“[151]
Sanders has also spoken out against the privatization of prisons throughout the United States, stating:
In a letter he published in the early 1970s while running for governor of Vermont, Sanders called for the abolition of all laws against homosexuality.[153]
In the House, Sanders voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.[154] The bill was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 21, 1996.
Vermont was the first state to legalize same-sex unions in 2000 and in 2009 was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by statute. When the Supreme Court took up the issue in 2015, Sanders issued a statement reaffirming his support, saying gay Americans in every state should be allowed to marry: “Of course all citizens deserve equal rights. It’s time for the Supreme Court to catch up to the American people and legalize gay marriage.”[155]
Sanders voted for the comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013,[156] saying “It does not make a lot of sense to me to bring hundreds of thousands of [foreign] workers into this country to work for minimum wage and compete with American kids.” Sanders opposes guest worker programs[157] and is also skeptical about skilled immigrant (H-1B) visas, saying “Last year, the top 10 employers of H-1B guest workers were all offshore outsourcing companies. These firms are responsible for shipping large numbers of American information technology jobs to India and other countries.”[158] Sanders believes open borders will drive down wages and constitute a threat to American jobs. He believes a path to citizenship should be created for new immigrants.[159]
Sanders is rated by Americans United for Separation of Church and State as strongly in favor of the separation of church and state.[160]
Sanders married his “college sweetheart” Deborah Shiling in Baltimore in 1964. They had no children and divorced in 1966. His son, Levi Sanders, was born in 1969 to Susan Campbell Mott. In 1988 Sanders married Jane (O’Meara) Driscoll, a former president of Burlington College, in Burlington, Vermont.[161] With her he has three stepchildren, which he considers as his own.[26][162] Sanders’s brother, Larry Sanders, was a Green Party County Councillor representing the East Oxford division onOxfordshire County Council, in England, until his retirement in 2013.[163][164][165] Larry Sanders ran as a Green Party candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon in the 2015 British general election and came in fifth.[166][167]
Sanders has said he is “proud to be Jewish”, but “not particularly religious.”[168] Sanders credits his Jewish identity with teaching him “in a very deep way what politics is about,” explaining that “a guy named Adolf Hitler won an election in 1932. He won an election, and 50 million people died as a result of that election in World War II, including 6 million Jews. So what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important.”[168]
Sanders has frequently expressed admiration for Pope Francis, saying: “the leader of the Catholic Church is raising profound issues. It is important that we listen to what he has said.” Sanders often quotes Francis on economic issues and has described him as “incredibly smart and brave.
I like that Bernie is equally critical of the Democrats and the Republicans, the Israeli’s and the Pasestinian’s - he is an independent man and thinker. If any one can get these numbnut politicians in Washington to work together - Bernie may be our only chance. I hope everyone will give Bernie serious consideration. I hope those out there that have always voted strict party lines will consider a different strategy this time and VOTE FOR THE MAN and NOT for a PARTY! Things in the U.S. have not been working so well for too many years. As Dr Phil would say - and how’s that workin’ for you? Time for a new strategy and a totally new kind of politican in D.C.
I am hoping Bernie will partner with Elizabeth Warren on the ticket - WHAT A TEAM THAT WOULD BE 
Christine
I replied:
Morning, Christine -
Me, personally, I think the tide has run far too long in the wrong direction in America, let’s leave the rest of the world alone for a moment. I like what I read about Bernie, but I see no mention of how he voted on the American invasion of Afghanistan, which was a grave mistake for lots of reasons, and we are still fighting that war, and I don’t see in what you sent Bernie calling for US to get the hell out of there. I read somewhere recently, that he was for the invasion of Afghanistan. His view of Israel is refreshing, especially since he is Jewish. But my view is, America should let Israel find its own way without American help. That also was the angels’ view right after 911, and, I think it’s still their view. And that America should pull its military out of the Middle East altogether, and its civilian contractors, and its spies, and probably even its embassies and consulates. America being in that region in any way inflames radical Islam, which the rest of Islam should be dealing with, like, say, America dealt with the KKK and racial segregation, and that war is far from over.
I think Bernie is a far better candidate than Hillary Clinton. Hillary is not a real person. She is a composite of whatever she hopes people will see at any given moment, very much like President Obama in that regard. And she’s a man in woman’s garb. Against any Republican candidates for President and Vice-President, Bernie and Elizabeth Warren would be a far better choice for America. Alas, if Bernie and Elizabeth team up and are elected, do you really think it will go much different in America, with the Republicans and the Tea Party still around? Look at how they spent the last eight years attacking President Obama in countless ways, instead of trying to deal with the many troubles this country truly has. The Republicans did much the same against Bill Clinton. They backed two incredibly stupid, ruinous wars under George W. Bush, for which they even today have zero remorse. I think the Republicans could care less about America, if they are not running it the way they want it run. Sadly, I have about zip confidence in the Democrats, after watching them over the last eight years. Despite Monica Lewenski, Bill Clinton was a far better president than George W. Bush. Far better. And, he did the unthinkable: he made a national US apology to Vietnam.
Will Bernie Sanders make a national apology to Afghanistan, and to Iraq, now? Even if he is only a candidate for President? I’d love to see him do that. And for him to hang himself in effigy for backing the invasion of Afghanistan. That proved to me, he, and America, had learned nothing about Vietnam. Nor about Afghanistan, which the Soviets kindly tried to teach America. Whether Americans like it or not, America’s first step toward “salvation” is to get out of the foreign war business. Until that happens, all the rest is diversion, politics, lying, stuffing the head where the sun never shines. The next step is to let Israel make its own way. Then, American needs to turn and look hard in the mirror at itself, for a very long time. Perhaps Bernie can lead that jihad, if he first stops the foreign wars and sheds Israel. He thinks Adolph Hitler was horrible. He was. But he was a saint compared to Joseph Stalin. I hope America isn’t head toward something like what happened in Russia, after the communists prevailed there.
Meanwhile, I’m still inclined on election day 2016, to write on my ballot, my own name for President, and Kari’s name for Vice President. She and I have been places and done things Bernie Sanders cannot begin to imagine, much less comprehend. We both hear from angels, who are whole lot smarter than we are. The Democrats and the Republicans have had many chances to get America headed in a better direction, and, as you have so well told it in your email, look at the mess America is now in. The Democrats and the Republicans should be given another chance? Right now, I can’t see me voting for them to have another chance. Maybe the angels will change my mind. If not, there’s the first sentence in this paragraph :-).
Sloan
a couple of vagrants …
sloanbashinsky@outlook.com
