What Is Sanders’s Endgame?

By Charles M. Blow

April 20, 2016

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/opinion/campaign-stops/what-is-sanderss-endgame.html?comments#permid=18276762

As a long time Social Democrat, I have a lot of sympathy for Bernie Sanders' critiques of the current US social, economic and political realities.

However, to implement real change it takes more that spouting slogans and making grandiose promises, which he, Sanders must know he cannot accomplish. Senator Sanders has a quarter century of experience in the US Congress, and thus must know the difficulties of effecting radical change, or any change at all, in a representative democracy.

Senator Sanders claimed for himself the title of King of Amendments. His record is OK, as far as it goes, but it gives absolutely no indication that he has the ability to enact "revolutionary change". His record as Chairman of the Veteran's Affairs Committee during a time when much of the scandalous situations within the VA where coming to light, is anything but revolutionary - in fact, he often acted as an apologist for the dismal state of the VA.

Sanders' latest health care proposal, although admirable in its objectives, is blatantly misleading in terms of the costs to individuals. His $450 PER YEAR contribution is complete nonsense, and the attempt to allude to other tax revenue to cover the costs is purposely obscure, so that he can tout the $450 annual individual contribution vs. $5000 annual savings in insurance premiums - complete nonsense.

Yes, Sanders was initially important in shaping the discussion, but has become increasingly non-credible, and a liability to his stated objectives.