Could An Admitted Socialist Be Elected President?

Most people don't give Bernie Sanders much of a chance at winning the presidential election, even if he somehow gets past the rigged Democratic Primaries. Conventional wisdom dictates that Americans will never elect a 74 year old curmudgeon socialist as president of the United States. Don’t get me wrong, America has had its share of presidents with socialistic traits, just not an 'admitted' socialist.  Presidents Wilson, FDR, LBJ and Obama could all be labeled socialistic to a certain degree.        

Socialism isn't a foreign concept in American history unfortunately.  Socialism made its way to America in the mid 19^th century with the influx with German and other European Marxist immigrants.  These immigrants arrived in the US after the mid century ‘Spring’ revolts that were ongoing on at the time and they brought their Marxist ideas with them.  Many of our labor unions were organized by socialists.  The AFL founders, Adolph Strasser and Samuel Gompers in particular, were both socialists.  The AFL-CIO is now the largest federation of unions in the country.   

I know what you’re saying…..but Casey, that was a long time ago, we couldn't elect an admitted Bolshevik today.  Normally I would agree, but things could change very quickly.  I’m convinced the 2008 financial collapse helped elect Barack Hussein Obama.  I think voters saw Obama as an agent of change, and conversely, they saw John McCain as the status quo.  Americans saw the country collapsing around them and they were willing to give this neophyte a chance. 

Despite the rosy economic outlook by those in the media and the Obama regime, things aren't rosy at all.  All the signs of a troubled world economy are all around us.  Much like they were in 2007-2008.  No positive spin can be put on any of the latest developments.  China's economic troubles are still weighing down the world economy; US banks stocks are bad, European banks stocks are far worse.  Global shipping has plummeted to 2008 recession rates, US economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in December.  The stock market appears to be bottoming out on a daily basis. 

If we do in fact experience another recession or financial collapse right before the election and if Bernie Sanders is the liberal/progressive nominee, he could be elected very easily.  Voters may panic once again because of the fresh memories of the 2008 collapse.  Human nature is what it is and sadly sometimes people let it rule their brains.  Our country is becoming an entitlement society and far too many Americans are getting used to the idea of a nanny state. 

The hardships and suffering of the great depression led the Germans to turn to the National Socialist Party in the 1930’s.  At that time, the German economy was plagued with mass unemployment and across-the-board business failures and the anti-big business, anti-bourgeois, and anti-capitalist rhetoric resonated with the German people.  Am I saying Bernie Sanders is Adolf Hitler?  Of course not, but I am pointing out that citizens sometimes do stupid things when faced with adversity.   

  

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