Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumHello! I've changed my mind about who I'd vote for if I could vote in the US elections...
Up till now I felt like I was on my own at DU in my support of the Metric Guy, and while I still think it's a worthy cause for the US to catch up with the rest of the world and go metric, I just watched Bernie Sanders give a speech and he's now got the vote I'd cast if I could cast a vote. btw, I should mention for anyone who doesn't know me and is going 'wtf is she talking about with the not being able to vote thing?' that I'm Australian and I hope foreign DUers are welcome here...
What I like about Bernie Sanders is he comes across as being real and genuine, and not plastic and manufactured like so many other US politicians are. I have the attention span of a gnat when politicians start talking, but when I listened to him speak he held my attention and he's spot on with everything he said.
I work with a guy who's got dual US/Australian citizenship. I've known him for years and he's only voted twice before in the US elections. The first was a vote against Bush, and the second was for Obama the first time round. I don't think he can vote in the primaries, but he told me he likes Bernie Sanders and if he gets to run for President, he's going to vote for him...
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)A good first step would simply be to teach it in tandem with the US measurements in the early years in school, rather than waiting until science classes start bringing it in a half dozen years later in the education process.
merrily
(45,251 posts)That's when kids are desperate to learn, when they love learning.
mopinko
(70,388 posts)laying down as many neural pathways in early childhood should be a major goal of us education. cuz science.
when my kids were little i used to get the spanish versions of the disney movies. my oldest son easily learned japanese and german later in life.
primary grades should be about exposure, exposure, exposure.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)IronLionZion
(45,667 posts)but 5 dollar 30.48 centimeters doesn't have the same ring to it as 5 dollar foot long sandwiches for those who want to get "American-sized" cheaply and quickly.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)And even though you can't vote in the US, your support of Sanders is welcome, and you can still "vote" by talking to your American friends.
And who knows, maybe a strong Progressive movement will arise in Oz...it's a universal platform of Fairness.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Bernie's is not running as the candidate his advisors wish to present us with, as they cross their fingers that their concoction will sell well to the American public.
Bernie's campaign speeches are not campaign speak. He is not saying things massaged to death by scores, even hundreds of advisors whom we can never hold accountable in any way. He is simply saying things in which he has always believed, things he has always wanted for Americans, things he has worked toward for ALL his adult life.
That's what sets his speeches apart.
azmom
(5,208 posts)The applause and the recognition, that he has always deserved.
merrily
(45,251 posts)applause and recognition he needed, from his family and his success in Vermont. He has really done something remarkable in modern politics, running as an Indie for almost 40 years and winning election after election.
I don't think he would have run for President. They say he was waiting to see if Warren would run, as many here also were. When she didn't, he felt he had to, because he believes the middle class will be gone in another generation, unless things change.
But sure, when you walk into an arena with 10,000 people applauding and cheering and chanting your name, what's not to like? I just hope it doesn't change him.
Autumn
(45,120 posts)this movement builds until it's unstoppable. We can assign you Australia. It's a small world you know.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)We need more input from abroad not less.
And as far as the metric system goes we should have adopted it long ago, and I can't figure out why we did not.
Besides we like the way you run words together and say g'day
TBF
(32,153 posts)is not that he's just some older guy - he's an experienced politician who has been in Congress 20+ years. When folks talk about the experience of other candidates and say they are more "qualified" you really have to wonder where they get that. Maybe they have famous family members, for example, but I don't think they really have as much hands on experience as Bernie. When he says "don't underestimate me" he has some clout behind that statement.
smokey nj
(43,853 posts)in Washington - a completely honest person. I would post a link to the article, but I'm posting from my phone.
Teacheral
(33 posts)I was a science teacher.Metrics were de-emphasized in the 80's due to Reagan being opposed to it."If inches, feet, quarts and gallons were good enough for Jesus they're good enough for the USA".
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)a metric tape measure all the time. Faster, easier, and far more accurate. I think America will get there, but first we have to put "education" back into our "education system". Currently we're turning out graduates many of whom still can't read or write or find America on a map. We'll fix that after we get a true progressive in the White House, and maybe the metric system will be a part of that. Hopefully.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)He has been saying the same things as long as he has been in the public eye. His views and ideals do not change. He is for and always has been for the ordinary people, not the special interests.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)politician and for the first time in my life when I listen to him speak, I know I am listening to a person of true integrity and we are starved of that, it brings tears to my eyes and I worry about him. We don't like honesty in our politicians here. I hope he gets enough support that it will protect him.
Thank you for your post, much appreciated
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)pacalo
(24,721 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)He is absolutely WYSIWyG. Always has been, always will be.