THE SANDERS ERA

In the middle of forced national self-absorption, little space is left nowdays  to follow other events of considerable global importance, or particular impact to Latin America. Nevertheless, we have been carefully observing the process leading to the presidential election of the United States.

The significance of this election - apart from the obvious - is that it has a twist not seen before.

One, it has developed a new way of "doing politics" in that country. Two, the emergence of unusual personalities in the race to the White House -outsiders-. Three, this election proccess does not resemble any other in history, as political analysts have concluded. Those "changes" in the primary electoral process, could indicate that a leap forward ( backward, would be the term preferred by those in the Tea Party) is in the proccess of being forged. In both cases, it's a new territory for classical politicians.

The political system of that country is divided into two distinct visions that make up the so-called Establishment. On one side the Republican party which embodies, inter alia, the virtues of the market without operational restrictions, elitist monetary circles, low taxes for the wealthy, and limited social policies. On the other, the Democratic Party, -the Jeffersonian wing, originally formed as a division of the GOP, the Grand Old Republican Party- full of liberal ideas, of intervention in the economy, racial equality and the promotion of social movements, internationalism and multilateralism as platforms in foreign policy.

But, it was in the last century, when Presidents "with progressive ideas" such as Hoover (Republican), and both Roosevelts, in particular Franklin D. Roosevelt, FDR (Democrat) accentuated the differences with the Conservatives within both  parties. Hoover rejected from the outset, the capitalist mandate of the Minister of Finance of Luis XIV, Colbert: "allow the market forces to find their balance by themselves". Hooverian thinking was, on the contrary, that the State must intervene, but as a benefactor, creating permanent partnerships between public, private and trade unions. The second Roosevelt, FDR, borrowed the progressive thinking for his immortal action plan: the New Deal. Keynes recognized that he was inspired by these formulas in his plans for the welfare of humanity, even thought, ironically  people thought that Hoover had "Keynesian theories".

That political platform of Republican liberalism was predominant until the day Ronald Reagan took power in 1981. Thus, a new era began in the United States. The Reagan era. The Hoover humanism was abandoned and "Reaganism" was implemented in the system and in the application of American capitalism in the world: the theory of the "supply side", monetary control, economic deregulation, reduction in spending public, low taxes for the rich. Thus, the era of the so-called "American left", that of the Hoovers and Roosevelts, full of abundant social initiatives simply went into obscurity. President Obama has tried to retake it, with little luck.

Bernie Sanders, a relatively unknown Senator, explosively, has appeared on the political scene with a Socialist potpourri of European flavour, at a time when forces within the Republican party are striving to amalgamate  the legacy of the "Great Communicator"  Ronald Reagan; (we do not have clear if, Mr. Trump thinks that way in regards to Reagan's legacy or, rather, he will defends its own future legacy : America, will be great again! ).

The "Bernie revolution" includes,  among other:

-Policies to eliminate the enormous social inequality by imposing high taxes private and companies of higher income.

-Increasing wages.

-Create massive jobs to repair the decaying infrastructure.

-Stop trade agreements with China, and others such as NAFTA.

-Create jobs for young people with dissabilities

-equal wages for women.

-Create free universities throughout the country.

-Expand the Social Security exempted taxes on retirees.

-Create a free layout and universal health in the style of Denmark or Norway, Sweden (Medicare for all).

-Increase at least in three months periods of rest for  pre and post-natal

-Create free child care programs across the country.

-Ensure the easy affiliation to trade unions.

-Divide the large financial groups. Avoid the impunity of Wall Street's "too big to fail", and comprehensive reform of the financial system.

-Urgent action against climate change.

-A new migration policy from humanitarian opportunities.

-Greater racial justice and care to veterans.

-Rural reform.

This is a program that for many may sound "very Socialist". We think it is basically a typical political project of the left  parties from Northern Europe, mix of programs of both, the Social-Democracy and Socialist parties. Sanders have mentioned his admiration for the Danish system.

More important is, that regardless of the fact that Bernie Sanders may not win the Democratic nomination, one can consider that it has promoted, (as Trump), a schism within the establishment, with significant implications.

For the surprise of the political class, the older and unknown candidate has been able to drag huge crowds of  young people accross the US demanding  opportunities for their future while not being indebted for a good part of their life. Another surprise is that he has raised funds with historical records thanks to  individual contributions in very small amounts, as opposed to the usual sources from the very wealthy individuals or the large corporations and Wall Street.

Possibly, the emergence of Sanders and Trump's anti-establishment politics, has already introduced unexpected transformations, affecting in the future the previsible political manners and procedures of the ruling class.

If a new "start" takes place and we aren't wrong, in a new scenario in the washingtonian environment the invisible mantle of Reagan philosophy that has survived up to Obama, could finally begin to disappear.

The spirit of global welfare prevailing in those US humanist presidents could reform again the present political tactics -today facing mutual destruction- in the parties on Capitol Hill. Sanders and Trump are contributing to that shake up, unintentionally. If Hillary wins the Presidency, some of the truths that the unexpected Sanders put on the agenda could be adopted by any of the future presidents, (even Trump has already given somo timid indications in that sense) recognizing -before it is too late- that message given in this campaing by the disaffected throngs on the current political, economic and social results.

Ironically, then, we would be on the doorstep of what we might call, The Sanders Era.

©Vicente E Vallenilla. All rights reserved.