# Stupid Bernie Idea of the Indeterminate Time Period **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854 "2015-11-07T00:36:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/21 "2015-11-08T20:22:13Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > OK, so does anybody have an example of a stupid idea yet, or what?? Well, he is a raving socialist. Not much more really needs to be said. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/22 "2015-11-08T20:27:14Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, he is a raving socialist. Not much more really needs to be said. Because, yanno, attempting to emulate some of the most successful countries in the world is _such_ a stupid idea. Go on, bring up Russia, show us all your intellectual muscles. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/23 "2015-11-08T20:40:49Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, he is a raving socialist. Not much more really needs to be said. I know… who wants to live in some shithole like Canada, Denmark, or Finland? With their awful free health care and top-notch education systems… ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/24 "2015-11-08T20:43:45Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, he is a raving socialist. Not much more really needs to be said. Dude, he was asking for a stupid idea from Bernie Sanders, not a stupid comment from a Doper. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/25 "2015-11-08T20:48:50Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Well, he is a raving socialist. Not much more really needs to be said. I am intrigued- please, go into great detail. If you can. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/26 "2015-11-09T00:23:13Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I am intrigued- please, go into great detail. If you can. He can’t. His entire worldview is “Conservative good! Anything else bad! Especially if it helps someone else.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/27 "2015-11-09T02:54:45Z")
Maybe his [gun control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Bernie_Sanders#Gun_control) stance – but even if you disagree, calling it “stupid” would be a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![FightMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71e660/32.png) [@FightMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FightMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/28 "2015-11-09T07:15:09Z")
The only unfortunate thing about Sanders is that he either a) Doesn’t realize you can’t pay for a Nordic Model welfare state taxing only the 1% b) ignores it for political expediency As for the OP, I’m assuming it’s satire, because _oh no,_ Sanders doesn’t support nanny state ideology that protects us from… ourselves??? THE HORROR!!! :eek::smack: (here comes the sneering that Nordic social democracy is the definition of a nanny state. yes of course, dear. whatever you say.) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/29 "2015-11-09T07:32:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Yeah, but most of them go a bit beyond “Here’s the title-Could you guys do the rest for me?” I think you are missing the point being made by the very presence of the thread. The medium is the message. The subtlety, you missed it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/30 "2015-11-09T14:05:41Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Maybe his [gun control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Bernie_Sanders#Gun_control) stance – but even if you disagree, calling it “stupid” would be a stretch. He’s said outright that he’s had to take that stance to get elected to Congress in a rural state (and will again ;), so he can’t change it now), but he has stopped \*just \*short of saying he was merely pandering and didn’t mean it. He doesn’t dare say that either, or that puts some tarnish on the image of him that his acolytes have cultivated for themselves. The stupidity is more on them than him, of course, but he really does need a less weaselly answer prepared. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/31 "2015-11-09T14:41:55Z")
> [@FightMyIgnorance](#): > > The only unfortunate thing about Sanders is that he either > > a) Doesn’t realize you can’t pay for a Nordic Model welfare state taxing only the 1% I don’t recall him ever promising to tax only the 1%. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/32 "2015-11-09T14:52:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I don’t recall him ever promising to tax only the 1%. In fact, I recall him (on Bill Maher’s show, I think) saying that he’d have to go lower than that to pay for everything he wants to do, but he doesn’t think it would be much lower. I wonder how the math works out – if the top 1% were to go to ~50%, how high would the rate for the 2-9% (for example – or the 2-5%, or some other combo) need to go in order to pay for everything Bernie advocates for? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/33 "2015-11-09T16:06:49Z")
> [@FightMyIgnorance](#): > > The only unfortunate thing about Sanders is that he either > > a) Doesn’t realize you can’t pay for a Nordic Model welfare state taxing only the 1% > > b) ignores it for political expediency Well, lest we forget, those aren’t his [only](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=771992) problems. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/34 "2015-11-09T16:42:41Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There are no stupid Bernie ideas of any time period. Just dishonest ones. > > Like the idea that we can have universal health care, free college for everyone, a trillion-dollar infrastructure fixup, a million new jobs for disadvantaged kids, whatever…just by Taxing The Rich And Wall Street! > > Never mind that [the math doesn’t add up](http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/16/news/economy/sanders-taxes-spending/), not remotely, and that a sizable middle-class tax hike to finance all these goodies would be inevitable. Don’t pay attention, vote for Bernie, pixies will make it all work somehow. While I agree that his ideas are way too ambitious, the problem with the analysis in your link is that it completely ignores the cost savings from his proposals and the new economic activity it would bring that would create new revenue. For instance, free college would mean many more people in college, which would mean they would be paid more later and pay more in taxes, while also fewer would be on welfare or go to prison, costing the taxpayers less in welfare and prison costs. You get the drift. Similar analysis must be done for roads and healthcare. His ideas might actually save money in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/35 "2015-11-09T18:07:23Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > While I agree that his ideas are way too ambitious, the problem with the analysis in your link is that it completely ignores the cost savings from his proposals and the new economic activity it would bring that would create new revenue. > > For instance, free college would mean many more people in college, which would mean they would be paid more later and pay more in taxes, while also fewer would be on welfare or go to prison, costing the taxpayers less in welfare and prison costs. You get the drift. Similar analysis must be done for roads and healthcare. His ideas might actually save money in the long run. Which does nothing at all for those with the urgent need to know, “What’s in it for me now?! This immediate second!!” ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/36 "2015-11-09T18:31:39Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Which does nothing at all for those with the urgent need to know, “What’s in it for me now?! This immediate second!!” “And if nothing’s in it for me, there damn well better not be anything for anyone else!” ---
**Author:** ![FightMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71e660/32.png) [@FightMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FightMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/37 "2015-11-09T18:37:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I don’t recall him ever promising to tax only the 1%. Granted, I exaggerated when I said only the one percent. My point being, I’m skeptical that one can have a Scandinavian safety net while only taxing the rich. I realize that raise taxes on the rich isn’t his only source of raising funds, but I expect that one would need to increase taxes on the middle class as well. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/38 "2015-11-09T19:19:22Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In fact, I recall him (on Bill Maher’s show, I think) saying that he’d have to go lower than that to pay for everything he wants to do, but he doesn’t think it would be much lower. > > I wonder how the math works out – if the top 1% were to go to ~50%, how high would the rate for the 2-9% (for example – or the 2-5%, or some other combo) need to go in order to pay for everything Bernie advocates for? Yeah, I saw that show too. That “Not much more” wasn’t very convincing. I realize putting an actual number to it would mean he’d be held to it and regret saying it almost immediately. But I can understand why opponents would be rolling their eyes at it and imagining numbers approaching top 100%. > [@Frank](#): > > “And if nothing’s in it for me, there damn well better not be anything for anyone else!” Yeah, 'eff those takers! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/39 "2015-11-09T19:38:03Z")
> [@FightMyIgnorance](#): > > Granted, I exaggerated when I said only the one percent. My point being, I’m skeptical that one can have a Scandinavian safety net while only taxing the rich. I realize that raise taxes on the rich isn’t his only source of raising funds, but I expect that one would need to increase taxes on the middle class as well. See post #34, there would be taxes and there would be savings. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854/40 "2015-11-09T19:58:19Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Yeah, 'eff those takers! You didn’t build that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-bernie-idea-of-the-indeterminate-time-period/736854.md?page=3)