Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Ultimately, Americans have a different culture and different values from Canadians. Outside of a few coastal pockets, they have never shown the willingness to pay taxes and rely on public services to the levels Canadians do. Sanders' program (assuming it would even be passed by congress and the Senate) would require substantial increase in taxes, and only 25 per cent of Americans are willing to pay higher taxes for more government services. That's the culture.
And American is a patriotic country. Corbyn's faceplant in the UK showed that outside of the progressive left, most voters - especially the working class - are unabashedly patriotic, and want a leader who's a passionate booster of their country and its history. Given his history, Republicans won't have any difficulty painting Sanders as an America-hating ivory tower lefty if he wins the nomination.
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I think that might be an oversimplification and mis-characterization of the UK Brexit issue. Corbyn himself was also racist and reviled as a candidate. Plus his whole lets not take either side but take no position at all but torpedoed his chances into an embarrassing defeat. UK was polling very pretty split on having for and against Brexit and it was a horrible miscalculation to try to play the centre in an election that was about picking a side. Boris kept his messaging simple and his position clear... if there is any take away from this it's that there is a huge mass of people that need a clear concrete message to rally around.
The lesson is from the UK is not patriotism... its more making sure you are clear on your stance.
This is why Biden as a candidate is a horrible idea. Sanders at least has a simple consistent message the masses can get behind based on polling, corporate Democrats have been muddying the waters on this. He's also free of scandal. How many times has Biden put his own foot in his mouth at this point?
Also pet peeve, patriotism and nationalism are vastly different things. A Patriot would be outraged at the attack on the institution of the US, a Nationalist would not.