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Ambivalent

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Clarissa

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This is why I’m so ambivalent about Bernie: when he talks about postal-banking, he addresses people like me. I know what it’s like to have a bank take your last $200 and pile an overdraft on top of an overdraft until you have no idea what’s happening and how to get out of the hole. And at such times, I dig Bernie.

But when he begins to rant about the r-r-revolution, he doesn’t speak to me any longer. Instead, he addresses those spoiled little brats who never had their checking account application denied and never saw a column of $-125 marked in red on their statement.

I want some real change, something concrete, not a bunch of silly fantasies that get a bunch of sated rich kids all hot and bothered but do nothing else.

4 responses to “Ambivalent”

  1. Shakti Avatar
    Shakti

    So you like Bernie when he talks about concrete actions he’s going to take or wants to take that address real experiences, but once he starts talking about abstract fantasies of revolution you want get annoyed.

    I’m with you on bank math. You’d think they’d process bank debits and credits in the order they’re received but no, it’s some wack-ass way designed to maximize overdraft charges. Below a certain amount, it’s an absolute waste of time to keep your money in a bank account because they charge monthly fees just to have the account. Once you keep a balance above a certain dollar amount the bank starts throwing services and money at you.

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  2. Stringer Bell Avatar
    Stringer Bell

    The comment about the negative bank balance reminded me of the brilliant Louis ck bit about being broke and having negative dollars in his account. Will post youtube when I get home.

    “Negative $10, that’s how much I have now. That means I don’t even have no money… I have to raise $10 just to be broke. If it’s free, I can’t afford it!”

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  3. Fie Upon This Quiet Life Avatar
    Fie Upon This Quiet Life

    “I want some real change, something concrete, not a bunch of silly fantasies that get a bunch of sated rich kids all hot and bothered but do nothing else.”

    I laughed at “rich kids all hot and bothered.” I was just talking to my sister the other day about her exboyfriend (who has been actually really great to her during her cancer struggle — he wants her back… anyway…). The Ex is voting for Bernie all the way. I asked, “Is your ex a socialist?” She said, “Oh yeah, he’s definitely a socialist, why?” I said, “He’s rich, so he must be.”

    Why is it that socialism appeals so strongly to white men who grow up in wealthy families? Like, oh, Marx, for instance? I seriously want to know. (And full disclosure, I consider myself to be a liberal, but not a socialist. I don’t believe in human’s capacity to share enough to fully support socialism. Call me a cynic…)

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  4. Dreidel Avatar
    Dreidel

    “Why is it that socialism appeals so strongly to white men who grow up in wealthy families? ”

    Because they’ve never learned that money actually has to be earned — it doesn’t grow on trees!

    Rich men who grew up in modest circumstances and have earned their position in life are more likely to be conservative.

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A conservative literary critic and college professor

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