• Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    5 days ago

    That is entirely possible.

    However, I am not convinced Bernie could have gotten an agenda through either. It’s not exactly like his political ideals are even loved by a lot of the Democrats in government.

    Not saying I wouldn’t have wanted him for president, I voted for him. But I am not convinced he would have been any more effective than Carter.

    It’s really hard to implement a progressive agenda when even the so-called left isn’t on that agenda’s side.

    • Tinidril@midwest.social
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      5 days ago

      Look to FDR as a model of what happens when a progressive agenda gets a firebrand President. It’s not like the politics were all that different, or Congress any less corrupt.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        I disagree. The politics were a lot different. For example, the filibuster worked completely differently.

            • Tinidril@midwest.social
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              4 days ago

              That’s the point of the firebrand President. We have not had a President since FDR who knows how to stand up to special interests and even their own party when necessary.

                • Tinidril@midwest.social
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                  4 days ago

                  You mean on principal? Those in Congress with principals are on our side. Those without principals can be convinced it’s in their best interest. Don’t fall for the facade that anything that happens in Congress is ideologically driven.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                    4 days ago

                    Those in Congress with principals are on our side.

                    Other than Bernie, who are those?

                    Those without principals can be convinced it’s in their best interest.

                    Their best interest is what can make them the most money, which is why they’re legally allowed to do insider training.

            • alcoholicorn@lemmy.ml
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              4 days ago

              The point is that it’s a self-imposed handicap. If a party has 50%+ in both houses and the presidency, they have the ability to pass whatever they like and choose not to use it.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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                4 days ago

                I agree. And they wouldn’t have gotten rid of that handicap if Bernie was president because it benefits them.

    • Furbag@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      The left functionality doesn’t exist in this country. We stamped them out in the Cold War and replaced them with the new Democrats who were all for social progressivism but economically were beholden to corporate interests. Then you have the conservatives who are so socially regressive they think Sharia Law is a roadmap and are so in bed with corporate interests that they’d be fine if kids died in coal mines as long as someone at the top is getting paid.

      We can’t have the true left back until we get voting reform. Ranked choice or approval voting is essential to allow 3rd parties to have a chance to flourish without causing a spoiler effect. That will also pull the Overton window back to the left again as the two major political parties will have less of an incentive to court extremists and will see better results at the polls if their platforms appeal to as many people as possible.