Self-identified democratic socialist Bernie Sanders – a United States Senator from the state of Vermont – will pay a visit to Columbia, S.C. next month as part of a “Southern Town Hall” series sponsored by a liberal South Carolina-based advocacy group.
According to a news release from the group South Forward, Sanders will appear at the Eau Claire Print Building (3907 Ensor Avenue) on October 18 at 5:30 p.m. EDT.
While we disagree with Sanders on 99.9 percent of the issues, it’s hard to argue with his critique of the unsustainable fiscal policy of the Federal Reserve – the government’s secretive central bank.
Sanders called the Fed out not long ago for advancing “socialism for the rich and rugged, you’re-on-your-own individualism for everyone else.”
In fact he joined former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint in pushing for an audit of the agency.
Anyway … while we applaud Sanders for his efforts to hold the Fed accountable, that doesn’t change the fact he’s a disciple of the Nordic social welfare model (which is built around cradle-to-grave entitlement, widespread workforce unionization and wealth redistribution via oppressively high tax rates).
Oh well …
In addition to his South Carolina visit, Sanders is also appearing at events in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi next week.
For more information on his tour, click here.
50 comments
Whatever his politics, he is one of the few sane and thoughtful members of the senate!
The sane socialist US senator, that’s sure saying something in these days & times.
Willie left out that Sanders is against military intervention, domestic spying, indefinite detention, etc., and has voted many times with Ron Paul on those kinds of issues. Sanders is one of the few Congressmen who actually appear to vote according to what they think is in the best interests of Americans.
He’s “sane” alright – opposed to Obama’s budget priorities (though he’s opposed because they aren’t liberal enough)
He wants to raise the minimum wage to help employment and the working poor – apparently he doesn’t understand that as the cost of labor goes up, the incentive to hire goes down as the cost of the products being manufactured or sold rises.
He’s on record as saying that Wal-Mart is a major welfare recipient in the US – because poor people work and shop there?!? “…Because their wages and benefits are so low, they are the major welfare recipients in America, because many, many of their workers depend on Medicaid, depend on food stamps, depend on government subsidies for housing. So, if the minimum wage went up for Wal-Mart, would be a real cut in their profits, but it would be a real savings by the way for taxpayers, who would not having to subsidize Wal-Mart employees because of their low wages.”
Okay, do the math – if you forced Wal-Mart to give all their employees a $5 raise, what would happen? Wal-Mart would reduce employees and/or raise prices – period, end of story. So, the raise causes people to lose jobs and or pay more for the products they buy – and that helps exactly who?
I didn’t say he was a financial genius. I just said that he’s more sane than most in the US senate.
That’s not saying a whole lot.
That’s like saying, “He’s the smartest retard in the class.”
Much closer. I’ll change my thumb now.
Pretty sure this has been debunked. While true if you double the minimum wage, it would likely have this effect, but by and large, modest increases in minimum wage actually produce an increase in economic activities.
And WalMart is a terrible example. WalMart made $16 BILLION dollars in profit in 2012. They could add .01 to every product in the store to cover the measly cost of any raise and thereby give their employees more expendable income which they would then turn around and spend in a WalMart.
You’ll have to cite your debunking, every study I’ve seen and every management and economics course I’ve ever taken state affirmatively that as the cost of labor goes up, the cost of the product must by definition go up if the business is to stay in business.
Who care how much Wally World makes? Oh, while we’re on the subject of Wally World, they paid $7,000,000,000 in taxes in 2010 on a profit of $21,000,000,000 for an effective tax rate of 34%. President Obama’s friends at GE had a profit of $10,000,0000,000 and got a tax credit of %1,100,000,000 for a net tax rate of -10%. All those good paying jobs at GE really made a difference didn’t they?
Berserkly
That’s bull shite. Increase the cost of putting the product in the customers hand, you sell the product for more at retail. You might could show some product that didn’t increase in price sufficiently to offset those costs and thus decreased the overall price of the product, but those are going to be very few and far between and would likely have to include sales prices, coupons and rebates.
You know shite of economics.
If wal-mart raised their pay, they might actually be able to keep cashiers. From the stories I’ve heard, the reason they never have registers open is because they can’t keep people in those jobs. People don’t want to get paid minimum wage do deal with horrible wal-mart customers.
True dat – but Wal-Mart’s business model doesn’t depend on quality customer service. It depends on pricing and volume. Really, when was the last time you went to Wally World for their expert advice on anything? I already know what size bird shot I want, what kind of milk I like and what kind of battery my car needs.
When I want a TV, I go to HH Greg or Consumer Reports to determine the best model for my needs, then I shop around – If Wally World has the best price, they get my business because they have the best price. I don’t plan to make friends with the cretin running the cash register – I normally don’t even go to a
cretined“manned” register, I usually use the self check out.I’m aware of what their business model is. The question is, how long will that model be sustainable?
They’ve been around 50 years, wanna bet they’ll last at least 50 more? I suspect that automation (eliminating the majority of the “cretins” up front) will allow them to keep the edge and provide “the lowest prices anywhere, anytime”. I fully expect Wally World to last longer than I do and we’re about the same age.
“I suspect that automation (eliminating the majority of the “cretins” up front) will allow them to keep the edge”
True dat.
In Perpetuity if I’m shopping there. I hate talking to those people. Half the time you try to say something nice to them, they roll their eyes and ignore you.
Another real pisser is when I go to Taco Smell or Wendries. The people at the counter have all kinds of metal in their face and hair of every color can be found. Disgusting.
Walked into an establishment to make a purchase from another retailer. “Will that be all MAN.” WTF. Your 18 years old. You don’t have the decency to give me a simple will that be all without trying to bring me down to his (it’s) level. It’s degrading dealing with retailer’s these days.
I don’t give a crop what anyone else’s experience is or if you like to be spoken to in a derogatory manner by someone who is “Young, Dumb and full of Cum”. These people don’t deserve $3/hr let alone the minimum wage.
Just love self check-out. There’s no limit to which American business will go to demean labor and consumers. The end result of self-check-out is when you enter a Wal-Mart, one of the blue-smocked crones serving as greeters will hand you a broom and tell you to sweep before you can shop. Then, later they’ll expect you to stock the shelves–of 30-ounce jars of Hellman’s (no quarts anymore); 3-pint “half-gallons” of ice cream; and five ounce cans of pulverized tuna. Oh, did I mention the carbon monoxide filled tills of water-swollen beef? Just love self-check-out at Wal-Mart.
What happened you loss a job to self-check-out. Lowes is hiring, oops they have self-check-out too.
Hell yes. Try being nice to one of them and see what it gets you.
Colonel, if we can believe your next to last paragraph, I think you are on to something big there. All that needs to be done now is to get Walmart to reduce the wages it pays its employees. Then, according to your theory, with the money saved, Walmart could afford to hire even more workers and could reduce the prices for the products they sell even more. Who would have guessed that economics was so simple!
Gillion,
Picking on Wal-Mart is a favorite liberal ad hominem. The fact that the “great unwashed” shop and work there makes them feel superior I guess. Wal-Mart may not be the greatest employer in the country, they may not be the best citizen of the community but the are unequivocally a great American success story and an ass load of people have jobs because a guy named Sam Walton started selling with the philosophy that “…saving people money allowed them to live better…”.
I see the commies have come out in force to debate the validity of the supply & demand curve in labor markets.
My condolences.
I would normally help you out, “But I tired” to quote the great Johnny Lee Hooker/George Thorogood.
The experiment is already too far in to stop, let them do as they please.
It’s not just walmart trying to employee the unemployable. HufPo needs some write offs too.
Classic!
Costco in the State of Washington gives their employees really high wages, and as you can see they are thriving.
The Walton family is full of pigs who want it all. It is a myth perpetuated by the GOP that raising pay standards for the employees will irreparably harm big business. Many business do quite well by despite helping their employees and raising their standard of living.
and may I add that the average wage for a Microsoft worker is 110,000. Microsoft cares for its employees.
Costco? The CEO, Jim Senegal, makes 950,000 while the avergae worker makes 76,800. Not too shabby.
Wal Mart or should i say Pig Mart? Mike Duke makes 1.3 mill as CEO and the average employee their makes 22,100.
Duke is a pig. It would not hurt him to give him employees higher wages.
Socialism? the people in Europe say repeatedly in surveys that they are happy, and enjoy a high standard of living. Their countries are beautiful even elegant in places.
Microsquish employs less than 100,000 folks most of whom have at least a college degree. Net Income $21,000,000,000 (profit of $210,000 per employee)
Wally World employs 2,500,000 most of whom are high school graduates. Net Income $17,000,000,000 (profit of $6,800 per employee)
Who’s the unfair to labor, cheap bastard now?
Not everyone has the ability to program computers, nor do they have the mental faculties to learn to do so – liberal assertions to the contrary. My brother in law who manages the Costco in South Charlotte would challenge you assessment of the working conditions at Costco.
By the way, Costco employs about 170,000 and made about $1,700,000,000 for a profit of $100,000 per employee. If you think customer service in Wally World is bad, shop at a Costco.
Absolutely correct that high wages help some businesses thrive. If the model requires a high level of customer service then tips or commissions are essential. I know plenty of people who sell stuff like drugs (reps, not dealers) or who are involved in entertainment that make a killing based on the quality of their service. I know another group who make a killing based on the abilities they have garnered through education or experience. My PE Engineers friends who do “big stuff” make a killing because they have both training and experience – conversely, recent grads with EITs don’t because their contribution is worth only so much.
Wally World’s front end staff are examples of a job where their contribution is frankly worth only so much – much like the burger doodle guys and the guys who wash your car.
” I know another group who make a killing based on the abilities they have garnered through education or experience.”
I guess it could be considered ‘education and experience’.
Pole dancers make a killing. I know they hung my butt out to dry. :)
Wal-Mart has employees?
Compare how the citizens of Vermont compare with the citizens of South Carolina in health, wealth and education status. The credit for this Vermont advantage does not go to Sen. Sanders, but the other way around.
The voters in Vermont are better off and smarter, so instead of electing doofuses like DeMint and Graham, they elect people like Sanders and Leahy.
A school of thought is that the “Nordic social welfare model” works only for northern Europeans and their descent. To an extent this is pretty evident.
Ol’ Gloom & Doom TBG points to East and West Germany”s experiences as examples that Socialism eventually fails even among Northern Europeans.
Marc Faber plans on suing you.
:)
…at least it won’t be for “liable”….
So get on your motorcyle and take your ass to Vermont. Douchebag.
Once Vermont’s dreams are realized everyone there will also get to ride Tom’s motorcycle, without even having to pay to refill his gas tank.
My motorcycle has taken my ass to all the lower 48 states. That includes Vermont, for those who may be confused.
Here’s a quote from the only person I know who’s confused about the states: “It is just wonderful to be back in Oregon. And over the last 15 months we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states; I think one left to go.”
That’s funny. I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.
With Sen. Bernie Sanders everyone knows what they are getting.You can at least have an honest debate with Sanders. TBG would only favor him over Miss Lindsey on days that end in “Y”.
Brilliant point.
Say what you want about socialism,but unbridled capitalism isn’t working;it has corrupted and bankrupted the USA.
One small detail, it’s not unbridled. Carry on.
Dang 9″, why don’t people just go to socialist countries to live? Can’t you just walk across their borders and start partaking of all that is great with socialism?
You’re mistaking government sponsored corporatism & cronyism for capitalism. It’s a common misconception.
If capitalism were truly “unbridled”, you wouldn’t need a license to cut hair.
Exactly correct.
Repuklitards are famous for screaming this line at every level of gubmint. Demlicans have certainly jumped on board as well with there protectionist licensing programs. It’s cronyism, not capitalism that is mucking up the fine name of doing business.
Please note I did not say the fine name of businesses. (Not that your stupid mash, just saying for all the commies that are gonna thumb me down. At least I didn’t give ’em a reason.)
You wouldn’t need one to be a doctor, nurse, pharmacist either.
The old boy does not have his feet on the ground
The great myth of “high paying salaries” is dependent on its ignorant proponents. When the average population makes an average wage which is considered “high,” what is usually happening is that there is an unnatural restraint on the equilibrium between earned wages and natural pricing mechanisms. In the current case, unreal “quantitative easing,” coupled with market pumping, is the unnatural constraint. The resulting inflation pressure from foreign markets will explode the bubble, causing a collapse of markets and the ability of companies to pay as they compete with an inflating dollar which is simultaneously fighting harder currencies backed by real assets. That has already begun, hence, the recognition that people who do jobs which require no invention or imagination are feeling the failure of the Obama economy first. To keep them from revolting, liberals are trying to further restrain the economy, unnaturally, by demanding a higher minimum wage. If allowed, we will have created an ever increasing cycle until all wages are worthless in an economy backed by, basically, nothing. At that point, Sanders will be up against the wall, attacked by the very people whom he thought he was helping.
You’re so clueless on virtually every issue of public policy. Sanders is a dope, but the Federal Reserve doesn’t engage in fiscal policy — it engages in monetary policy. There’s an enormous difference and anyone with half a brain understands that.
OMG! Run! Run!