Jul 23, 2015 1 min read

Seventy-three-year-old Jewish socialist Bernie Sanders elected president? Get real. Fear and ignorance of socialism would have to be overcome, assumed and heartfelt bigotry discredited, and the length and quality of his public service deemed worthy of extension.

Hillary Clinton and whoever the Republicans nominate are other formidable obstacles. As Sanders puts it, they have money on their side and “we have people.” Sanders likes and respects Clinton, so will not run as an independent candidate if she is the Democratic nominee. He views the personalities involved as secondary to restoring the environment, health care for all at half the current cost, like many other countries have, and reducing economic and other forms of injustice.

Money talks, and is more than a little nuts. Its purest spokesperson among the current presidential candidates is Donald Trump. Politicians who partake of money’s largesse tend to show their gratitude and obedience. By contrast, the Sanders campaign is funded solely by small contributors, 400,000 so far, and it is their interests – the general public’s – that Sanders is vigorously championing.

Jim Greenwood

Washington