Credit: CreativeCommons / DonkeyHotey.
“In the Bernieverse, there’s a whole lot of nationalism mixed up in the socialism. He is, in fact, leading a national-socialist movement, which is a queasy and uncomfortable thing to write about a man who is the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland and whose family was murdered in the Holocaust. But there is no other way to characterize his views and his politics.”
Kevin Williamson, “Bernie’s Strange Brew of Nationalism and Socialism,” National Review
Though careful not to call Bernie Sanders “a Nazi” outright because of his Jewish heritage and past, Kevin Williamson, writing in the politically conservative National Review, more than implies that Sanders’ brand of protectionism favoring U.S.-American workers’ rights and jobs, when linked to this self-described socialist political philosophy amounts to his “strange brew of nationalism and socialism…leading a national-socialist movement,” which is a clear and obvious reference to the Nazi party.
Sanders has fought tirelessly for U.S. workers of all backgrounds against their corporate overlords throughout his political life. Williamson, however, not-so-subtly attempts to instill in the readers’ mind Sanders’ own brand of racist National Socialism by stating that Sanders has always been critical of trade policies “with brown people – Asians, Latin Americans,” but has remained virtually silent regarding U.S. trade deficits with countries like Sweden and Canada, demographically whiter countries further along the socialism scale. Williamson continues his accusations of Sanders’ racism, and by so doing, falsely positions conservatives as the true defenders of racial equality:
“That the relative success of the Western European welfare states, and particularly of the Scandinavian states, is rooted in cultural and ethnic homogeneity is a longstanding conservative criticism of Bernie-style schemes to re-create the Danish model in New Jersey and Texas and Mississippi.”
To imply that Bernie Sanders’ style of Democratic Socialism even stands on the same side of the political spectrum as the National Socialism of the Nazi Party of Adolph Hitler shows not only a total misunderstanding of history and political theory, but more importantly, it underscores yet again the dog whistle politics of neo-conservatism. As a Jew myself, I find this extremely offensive!
By acknowledging Sanders’ Jewish background, and in deploying McCarthy-style propaganda scare tactics, Williamson taps into a longstanding anti-Semitic trope. According to Ellen Willis in her chapter titled “The Myth of the Powerful Jew”:
“The classic constituency for fascism is the conservative lower middle class, oppressed by the rich, threatened by the rebellious poor (particularly if the poor are foreign or another race); for this group Jews are a perfect target, since they represent the top and the bottom at once. Oppressed classes like the peasants in czarist Russia have traditionally directed their anger at the Jews just above them in the social hierarchy. Politically, the specter of the powerful Jew functions in much the same way as a foreign enemy: it invites warring classes, races, and political groups to submerge their conflicts and enjoy a heady sense of spurious unity.”
Even before the Cold War and the so-called “McCarthy Period” (named after Wisconsin Senator, Joseph McCarthy), individuals and groups on the political and theocratic Right have flung the term “Socialist” – which in the public imagination was once synonymous with “Jews” — from their metaphoric sling shots into the faces of their political opponents to discredit their characters and dismiss their political ideas and policies, and to sway the electorate toward a Conservative agenda. This continues to this very day.
As destructive and freedom-killing as the Right would have us believe, “Socialism” can be defined as “a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole,” where each of us has a stake and advances in the success of our collective economy.
No country in the world today operates as a fully Socialist state, but rather, some of the most successful economies combine elements of Capitalism with Socialism to create greater degrees of equity and lesser disparities between the rich, the poor, and those on the continuum in between.
In reality, Bernie Sanders’ notion of Democratic Socialism advocates for a governmental single-payer quality universal health care system, which includes safe and reasonably-priced prescription and over-the-counter drug therapies; demands that our country protects and enhances our Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid safety nets; advocates for the further nationalization of our parks, forests, mountains, rivers, streams, shores, and off-shore waters, rather than allocating increased corporate mining, drilling, and timber rights; advocates for free and quality education, not only through grade twelve, but throughout higher education and after for everyone who desires and works to achieve their fullest potential; advocates for a government-sponsored program that guarantees our seniors a retirement system that ensures a high quality of life free from economic burdens; advocates for the rights of workers to organize and to collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions; battles to eliminate workplace and larger societal inequalities based on race, nationality, citizenship status, age, sex, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, disability, socioeconomic standing, religion, and other social identities; works to ensure that everyone is guaranteed a comfortable and secure place to live; regulates a banking system that forecloses people’s homes through scurrilous business practices; supports effective governmental regulations on food producers to safeguard our food supply and protect against the maltreatment of animals, and on corporations, companies, and individuals to defend our environment; supports severe restrictions on the political process to prevent mammoth contributions by individuals and corporations to buy and own politicians to influence public policy, while locking out individuals and groups unable to amass large political funds; challenges a military industrial complex that marches to the beat of industry, and a prison industrial complex that perpetuates the racial and socioeconomic class inequities pervasive throughout the society; contests and advocates for effective restrictions on the so-called “free market” economic system that enables the creation and enhancement of mega monopolies, outsourcing of jobs, manufacture of defective products, and inhibition in the development of clean renewable energy technologies; fights for equal pay for equal work; and demands a true progressive tax structure where everyone pays their fair share, one that inhibits massive inequities in the overwhelming accumulation of wealth by the top ten to twenty percent of the nation as is currently the case.
The findings of the third World Happiness Report, conducted by an international research team of economists, neuroscientists, and statisticians measured the well-being of residents throughout the world to assist in the development of public policy.
Researchers ranked their data results according to the countries indicating the “happiest” residents in descending order as follows: Leading the way was Switzerland holding the rank of number one, followed by Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Finland, The Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand, and rounding out the top ten was Australia. These top countries have universal single-payer national health care systems, and restrictive gun control laws.
I am saddened, but definitely not surprised, that the United States did not make the upper cut, coming in at number fifteen behind Mexico. Therefore, we might do well to look to these countries for some of their “Socialist” policies that sustain high levels of quality of life issues for their residents.
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Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld is author of Warren’s Words: Smart Commentary on Social Justice (Purple Press); editor of Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price (Beacon Press), and co-editor of Readings for Diversity and Social Justice (Routledge) and Investigating Christian Privilege and Religious Oppression in the United States (Sense), and co-editor of Looking at Gay and Lesbian Life (Beacon Press).
Dear Tikkun Staff,
I appreciate your strong voice on behalf of justice. That said I’d like to correct you on your inclusion of Switzerland in the single-payer national health care system. There are many option and insurance companies people choose from, fees are horrendous, but I think at the end there is less copay. When I grew up in Switzerland insurances were subsidized by the government but they were never free.
The one difference is that health insurance is mandated.
Of course after 30 years living in the USA I am not completely up to date, but that I know.
The gun laws are not as strict as you may think and crime is on the rise like everywhere else.
Many thanks for your work.
U.B.
The long paragraph listing Bernie Sanders’ positions and advocacy has a glaring omission. That omission is justice for Palestinians in lands occupied by Israel. Inasmuch as Sanders is progressive on almost every other issue, the question arises as to whether his queasily support for Israeli policy is related to his Jewishness. Cornel West and Chris Hedges, for example, have deep concerns about Sanders in his position on Israel and Palestine.
I think you have deep conenrs about a Jewihs candidate aend dual loyalties. You would haev thrived in 1930’s Germany
You do know that Dr. West is supporting Sen. Sanders now? He appeared with him at Benedict College, here in Columbia, SC.
I suggest looking at each specifdic proposal that Bernie puts forth. To me, so far, they all seem good. Therefore, I supporat him, regardless of what he is labelled–socialist or anything else.
I suggest looking at each specifdic proposal that Bernie puts forth. To me, so far, they all seem good. Therefore, I support him, regardless of what he is labelled–socialist or anything else.
Time to TAKE IT TO BERNIE SANDERS. EVERY PIECE OF THE PEOPLE’S HOLISTIC GRASS-ROOTS REAL PROGRESSIVES SOCIALIST DEMS PLATFORM FOR PEACEFUL NON-VIOLENT REVOLUTION, OF BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE…not the mostly lame progressive caucus in WA, DC who are whores for the secret fast-track World Order
Globalists GOV, OF, BY AND FOR THE MEGA MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS COMMITTING TYRANY TRAITORS
TRADE TOTALITARIANISM ON STEROIDS! USA CITIZENS ALERT ALL CITIZENS OF EARTH! THE TPP MEETINGS OF THE 12 NATIONS IN HAWAII RECENTLY FAILED, ALL THEY NEED IS ONE VOTE WHICH IS HEART BREAKING SINCE CITIZENS SOVERIGNTY IN ALL NATIONS ARE UNDER RAGING WARS BY MEGA CORPS ON EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES! EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THESE SECRET FAST TRACK PACTS FROM HELL IS CRIMINAL CORPORATE COUPS BEYOND UNCONSCIONABLE. Some leaks came out that TPP and the others pumping out the secret FASTRACK pipeline of 666 MEGA MULTINALTIONAL CORPORATIONS CRUSHING AUSTERITIES UPON THE 99%! EU AUSTERITIES ARE A NAZI FASCIST CRIME RING HELL BENT ON DESTROYING DEMOCRACY AND DEALING IT FINAL DEATH BLOWS! Everyone says these WTO DIRTY ROTTEN DEALS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY HORRIBLE AND ONCE SIGNED WHICH BUMMER OBAMA IS SALIVATING HOT TO TROT…EVERYTHING LIKE NAFTA AND GATT UNDER CLINTONS, ARE INSANE, IMMORAL, HOSTILE, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND ALL LIVING THINGS!!!
BERNIE is the only viable to win candidate NOT a whore for the WTO SECRET FAST TRACK PACTS OF MONOPOLY MONSTER MADNESS MERGERS. EVERYONE SHOULD BE FIGHTING THIS TPP MASSIVELY! ALL OUR RIGHTS,
FREEDOMS, LIBERTIES ARE BEING SOLD BY WA, DC TO THE WORLD ORDER CORPORATE GOV NOW!!! HILLARY, I do not care what comes out of her mouth, she is massively owned by filthy dirty rotten money from anti-social
capitalists from all over the world. Worked for MONSANTO who owns her since young lawyer in the crimes games in Alabama and now managers for her presidential campaign!
BERNIE been around a long time and his message is consistant long before running, and when he spoke at SISTER GIANT LAX HOTEL in March 2015…just before announcing… BERNIE SAYS HE IS ONLY ONE GUY WHO IS NOT BOUGHT OUT AND NOT UP FOR SALE AND NOT AFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, REAL DEMANDS TO EXPAND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR SENIORS, DISABLED, VETS, STUDENTS, REGENERATIVE AG TRANSITION TO HEIRLOOM CERTIFIED ORGANIC FOODS/FARMS, ETC, ETC…
BERNIE ALWAYS SAYS THIS IS ALL ABOUT WE THE PEOPLE BRINGING IT FROM THE BOTTOM GRASS ROOTS
AND HE NEEDS US CITIZENS TO BRING ALL THE PIECES TO THE TABLE AND RISE UP AND BUILD EVERY PIECE
OF THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DREAM NEW REAL DEMOCRACY. WE NEVER HAVE HAD A REAL DEMOCRACY ALL MY 70+ YEARS. THE CORPS OWNED EM IN THE 60’s and no real debates allowed. WE ARE AT WAR WITH THE CORPS COMMITTING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND ALL LIVING THINGS.
BERNIE NEEDS TO BE JOINED BY REAL PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY ARTICULATE CITIZENS
1.) ISRAEL – PALESTINE radical racists crimes for 60+ years
2.) BLACK/BROWN/RED/YELLOW/WHITE RACISM RAMPANT RUTHLESS POLICE/COURTS/CORRECTIONS BROKEN SYSTEMS TORTURE TERRIBLE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
3.) MILITARY BLOATED WASTEFUL BUDGETS GONE MAD UNACCOUNTABLE FOR $$$TRILLIONS
4.) BIG VACCINE AND BIG PHARMA SCUM BAGS PUMPING INCREASED FORCED VACCINES FOR ALL BABIES, CHILDREN, ADULTS FORCED TO TAKE 200 MEGA COMBINATIONS NATIONWIDE MEGA DANGERS HARMS FOR MEGA PROFITS. CALIFORNIA GOV CRIMINALS VOTE TO FORCE MASSIVE VACCINES…2 years ago Brown approved a law that any child 12 years of age or more, can be approached by health officials and given any vaccine or big PHARMA MEDS they want to give your child…without documenting the injections or ever informing the parents!!!
OUR STATE OF CA IN MASSIVE MAJOR DROUGHT WITH NO SIGNS OF ENDING… DISCOVERY THAT GOV BROWN AND STATE PERMITS BIG OIL AND GAS FRACKING SUPER POISONOUS WASTES BILLIONS OF GALLONS TO BE DUMPED INTO OUR STATES MOST PRECIOUS DRINKING WATER AQUIFERS! BEYOND UNCONSCIONABLE AND GOV REFUSES TO PUT A STOP TO IT BECAUSE THEY PROSTITUTE CA BY THE SQUARE INCH AND ALL THEIR PROJECTS REEK OF CORRUPTIONS BY, OF AND FOR THE CRIMINAL CORPS BIG OIL AND GAS, BIG CHEM, BIG PHARMA, BIG AG BIZ GMO!!!
We can keep on talking about all the parts of the issues need full circle round table listening and ACTION!
Our Earth home and all living things are in the cross hairs of “CONFLICT OF THE AGES”… capitalists empire IMPERIALSTS committing genocides, slavery, and all the rest religious zealots politicians PEDOPHILES, sex slaves,
I know BERNIE speaks to people across party lines and I believe he is open to the people who know the causes the best.
And he needs our direct input and help planning his gatherings with us in our areas…
I know that if we the people of USA have a breath of a hope of helping ourselves find all the common ground and keep it online and on the ground and where we find all the common ground we do share as the 99%… WE GOT TO SAVE OUR NATION NOW OR IT IS GONE FOR REAL! BERNIE IS NOT TAKING ONE PENNY FROM BILLIONAIRES, ALL $$$ are FROM SMALL INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS! BERNIE is only worth about $400,000! After all his years as a politician wow that has got to be a record! When the people lead, real leaders will follow. Is USA ready to rise up in the light of such a holistic progressive socialist democracy platform evolution revolution? OCCUPY THE COMMONS. WE ARE TALKING TRUTH AND JUSTICE NON VIOLENT PEACE AND FREEDOM GLOBAL REVOLUTION NOW! IF WE WANT TO SAVE AND HEAL THE SOUL OF AMERICA THAT IS HEMMORAGING MASSIVELY… CALL 9-1-1! GOTTA BE PRO PEACE AND BRING SPIRITUALITY TO POLITICS AND THINK AND ACT GLOBALLY FOR EVERY NATION IS UNDER WTO ATTACK AND MANY MILLIONS OF CITIZENS ALL OVER THE WORLD KNOW THE PAIN OF THESE PRIOR WTO CORPORATE GOV UNFAIR UNFREE TRADE WARS FORCED ON THEM BY GOVs and BANKSTERS CORPORATIONS CRUSHING DEEP DARK CRIMINAL ECONOMIC AUSTERITIES ON EVERY NATION!!! IT IS NOW OR NEVER. See Marianne Williamson who puts on the SISTER GIANT ANNUAL EVENTS…THE GENIUS WRITER AND TEACHER OF THE COURSE IN MIRACLES…AND LEADING WITH LOVE AND FORGIVENESS… OH AND LEADING WITH HEALTHY SAFE BIRTH CONTROL WOMEN DESIGNED SAFE HEALTHY BIRTH CONTROL AND SEX EDUCATION, RELARIONSHIPS EDUCATION HEALING EMPOWERMENT FOR ALL!
THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION OTHER THAN TO NOT VOTE!
POUR OUT OUR HEARTS AND MINDS DO NOT HOLD BACK NOW!
BernieSanders.com
BERNIE SANDERS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS IN BURLINGTON VT IS OPEN 9am—9pm E.T.
I got the PHONE # from his Senator Sanders Office, could not find it on berniesanders.com…
You will find very thoughtful intelligent staff to talk with in depth any issue, at length I got lucky.
PHONE: 855-423-7643. 9am—9pm VT E.T.
WE NEED TO BRING ALL THE GRASS ROOTS ISSUES TOGETHER ONLINE AND AT GATHERINGS AND ONLINE STREAMING EVENTS ONGOING. THINK BIG VENUES FOR YOUR STATE/COUNTY/CITIES FOR WELCOMING BERNIE! I TELL THEM GET THE BIGGEST VENUES FOR CA AND LET SISTER GIANT/MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
AND FRIENDS FACILLITATE SO WE HAVE BOOTHS FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY ISSUES/AMBASSADORS FOR A REAL PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE SOCIALIST PEACEFUL NON-VIOLENT DEMOCRACY RISING REVOLUTION OF, BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
YOU GOT TO WATCH THE ARCHIVES OF SISTER GIANT LAX HOTEL MARCH 2015…2 DAYS! ALL ABOUT LOVE AND PEACE FOR ALL… COVERED ALL THE BASES… DENNIS AND ELIZABETH KUCINICH!!!…REGENERATIVE AG TRANSITION TO HEIRLOOM ORGANIC RESTORATIONS OF OUR MILLIONS OF ACRES OF FARMLANDS DEAD POISONED SOILS, AND MILLIONS OF ACRES OF PASTURELAND AND INDUSTRIAL INHUMANE INTENSIVE MEAT AND EGGS FARMS.
I THINK THIS IS OUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY AND WE MUST STOP READING AND BELIEVING THAT HILLARY IS INEVITABLE!!! SHE LOOKS MORE MEANINGLESS EVERY DAY AND IS FALLING FALLING FALLING!
Her crimes go way back and TRUST IS UNTHINKABLE!
I hope this posts because I love you all SOOO much and I love little old BERNIE and If the truth is worth living and dying for then I gotta hope, pray, plan on this much love can cut through all the grim gross gruesome grotesque politicos sociopathic circus before us, cannot prevail… HOW SICK AND HOW WELL IS AMERICA?!