In spite of how the feel-good-entertain-us-with-drama media spins it, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have only one dynamic in common: They are benefiting from the breakdown in the structure of the two main parties. This was well put in the Sunday Herald’s Viewpoint commentary.
Thanks to the media, Trump has been successfully building a fan base that has many elements in common with Stalin’s cult of personality. People inside these cults usually feel they are making sense. This no doubt has something to do with the herd mentality. People outside the cults usually want to laugh at them. But they also find them very scary. Definitely a pattern here.
Bernie Sanders is pointing out ridiculous policies our government has adopted that we are becoming accustomed to. For instance, a small percentage have gained amazing wealth while many work multiple jobs and still can’t afford decent health care or college. This situation could easily be fixed by taxing this new wealth and providing health care for all. Medicare and Medicaid are far more efficient than any private provider. Free community college could also easily be paid for with these fair and common sense taxes. (Paid for, what a concept.) Other problems could be easily helped by increasing the earned income tax credit. Kind of a no-brainer, actually. The criminal justice system and the reckless way we go to war are much more complicated.
Either way, these two candidates are succeeding because of very wildly different movements in America today.
Rick Walker
Snohomish
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
