Clinton/Sanders: How the Other Half Lives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A key question that must be asked about any presidential candidate, is can we trust them? In the recent revelations about Hillary Clinton regarding her sloppy e-mail practices, one must indeed pause and think. Hillary had a private e-mail server on which she transacted governmental business while Secretary of State. Did she disclose classified materials on an unclassified site? What does this say about her leadership abilities? When her server was finally turned over to the FBI, it had been wiped clean. This smacks of the 17 minutes of erased Nixon tapes as part of the Watergate scandal. Should we demand more from our politicians? We are giving them the power to transact our business and hold the fate of the free world in their hands.

Unfortunately, this is not the first rodeo for Hillary regarding questionable documents practices. She used her private e-mail to thwart Congress in getting documents regarding Benghazi Libya terror attack in 2012. It has been estimate that this amounts to 1.8 million e-mails. To say the least, this is troubling. In 1996, Whitewater documents had gone “missing for 2 years”. She claimed she did not know how these documents found their way into the White House residence. One must indeed wonder how and why.

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders (the other candidate on the Democratic side) is still in the race. He has a 12 tier platform which has raises eyebrows as much as possibilities. He wants to rebuild our infrastructure (bridges, water systems, waste water plants, airports, railroads and schools). This sounds like a laudable goal. How do we do it? He estimates that a $1 trillion investment (one third of the Iraq war) could create 13 million decent jobs. He wants to reverse climate change. This is a difference from some Republicans who do not even believe this exists. Once again, how do we do it? What are the costs?

Sanders wants to create worker co-ops. What does this do and mean?  We know that Sanders is a Socialist. Do we want to go to this extreme? This concept did not work in the former USSR, would it work her? This is open to extreme question. Sanders wants to grow the trade union movement. Is our society now anti-union? This is something that needs to be decided on by the electorate. Do most people believe that unions do not foster productivity and protect the little guy? Are they out for themselves first and foremost?  This goes against the right to work states that are clearly anti-union. .Sanders wants to raise the minimum wage. This is a hot button issue in Los Angles. Will the rest of the country go along with this? Will big and small business support this? It does not appear likely. Once again, one must decide if this campaign platform will fly.

Sanders want pay equity for all workers. This would be good if the Republicans will go and help. The Republicans are seemingly anti-women. Can they and will they change their stripes and support this simple concept? He also believes that college should be affordable for all. What parent would not want this, but what is the cost? Who pays for it and how is it done? How much college is called for? AA degree, BA/BS degree, masters, PhD?  Do we need to rethink whether a four-year college degree is still necessary in this ever-changing world?  He wants healthcare for all. Anyone seen Obamacare? Is this an extension of it? A reconfiguration of it? A scrapping of it? Or something else? He also wants real tax reform. Once again, politicians are and have been spouting this concept for years. Are we any closer now then we were years ago? Special interests still rule and want their projects and tax exemptions preserved. Do the politicians have the guts to clearly take on these people for the benefit of all?

With the two polar extremes of Hillary and Bernie, other prominent Democrats (Biden and Martin O’Malley) are floating the ideas of entering the race. Whether for the fear that the Hillary scandal may mushroom and defeat her electability or, that Bernie Sanders is not electable due to his policies. As the ancient Chinese curse said, may you live in interesting times! The times may become much more interesting in the near future.

What say you?