Summary
Bernie Sanders won reelection to a fourth U.S. Senate term, defeating Republican Gerald Malloy and several minor candidates.
The 83-year-old Vermont independent, known for his democratic socialist views, has been a key figure in progressive causes, collaborating with the Biden administration on domestic policies like health care and workers’ rights.
Sanders cited threats to democracy, economic inequality, and climate change as motivations for seeking another term.
Malloy, a former Army officer and businessman, criticized Sanders for lack of results, while Sanders emphasized his record and commitment to progressive reforms.
It’s great to see that Sanders is so popular. It’s sad to see that politicians of his caliber are so rare that if he ever retires, his absence will be painful.
6 year term starting at 83 years old. That’s ridiculous. I like the guy, but seriously why is our country so fucked up that we would vote for someone for a 6 year position when they are ten years older than their expected life span.
So what? At 113% expected age, let’s see if we can stack the stress of fighting a dictatorship forcing it’s way into fruition. Good look mate
There was a study that showed controlled anger can keep you alive longer in old age.
I remember it because I immediately thought “huh, ‘man to angry to die’ meme is real”.
He is the best. I wish he was our president.
Look into what a politicians salary is… unless your willing to be completely self sacrificing or come from old money, there is no altruistic way to maintain a position. There are very few exceptions, and any of them, like AOC could earn 10x absolute min via other methods at this point that would be illegal to do with her still in her seat.
$174,000/yr…glad we have so many self-sacrificing, altruistic politicians willing to take that measly peanut salary
makes you wonder how they even survive in such poverty
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He of all people has earned a retirement, but I’m still thankful that he’ll be around to add a voice of sanity.
I hate that we still need him, he’s 83 and should be putting his feet up but I’m glad he’s down for another term.
Does he have a protege that he has been teaching?
AOC, I guess but we need more people who actually give a shit about the people they represent.
I think we need to pay a lot more then. You should be able to support a family on a congressional salary. Which doesn’t seem currently possible given that it seems like you basically need to maintain two residences and travel costs.
According to Google, they haven’t received a COLA for 15 years…
Double it, triple it, but they don’t get to accept a single penny from anywhere else.
Yes, that’s how it’s supposed to be.
People in my country complain that parliament gets paid way too much, but it’s 1) indexed to the mean (or maybe it was the median, I forgot) and 2) meant to be high so that they can comfortably live life without taking any bribes, while also having a long-ass commute for anyone who didn’t already reside in the capital.
Though many of them have spouses or shares in private industry and their family makes far more if they vote in [corporation x] favor. Federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour. I’d much rather see something like this: https://www.closeup.org/a-new-rule-results-in-cost-of-living-reimbursement-for-house-members/ rather than just blanket COLA increases
He’ll be 89 years old when he finishes his term.
I’m not sure why Bernie is the exception for me…I feel like a giant hypocrite being ok with this. But dude does still seem spry AF.
That’s why age itself isn’t the problem. I see plenty of representatives far below that age that can’t do the job.
Others mentioned the cognitive side; the other part is that Bernie isn’t out of touch. He knows what the people want and he voted for it. That’s very different to your average gerontocrat who barely knows what the internet is.
He also got arrested at a protest as a young man and has been saying the same things about improving our country for decades, Bernie is a real one
It’s worth mentioning the POTUS is SIGNIFICANTLY more stressful and consequential than even his current position. Quite literally, stress can age you faster, inuring physical changes in the body. In addition to that, I also have faith in the people and professionals he surrounds himself with to stand by him because they believe he can do it, not because they want to be the puppeteers of a powerful senator. May be wishful thinking in the end, but I think the general point it the situations are quite different.
It should require cognitive tests. There are plenty of younger people who aren’t at the same cognitive level, and plenty older obviously. Age is a useful metric, but it isn’t actually the one that matters. It’s just much easier to identify.
I can attest to that. I’ll walk into the kitchen, and then say ‘Why in the f#$* did I come in here?’ LOL
Because he is still mentally sharp and he is still fighting as hard as he can for the average American. His values have not changed, nor has his fighting spirit.
Yeah he reminds me of my grandpa. Old as sin but smart enough that you might forget how old he is when he’s ranting.
Bernie has been on the right side of basically every political issue for over 6 decades, that’s why.
and, hopefully, we can finally let the man rest a bit.
Look I did work for the guy, but 80 is too old. 89 is preposterous.
And that’s assuming he lives that long. Hopefully they’re working to groom a replacement and get a friendly governor.
Bernie is a national treasure. And no one who hears him speak will wonder about whether his mind is still sharp.
Hopefully he won’t get killed in the coming long knifes night
His blood is molasses and self healing.
Imagine if the Democrats didn’t fuck over this man when he ran for President.
There’s a timeline somewhere where I’m a patriot…
He’d do some executive orders that every red state would spend their entire budget fighting in court, and be Carter 2.0 for anything having to do with Congress. I’d still vote for him.
Patriot isn’t someone blindly rooting for the government, I would say. Also I wish we didn’t have so many shitty governments to remind us about that
This dude’s my hero.
Sanders should do the AMLO and found a new party modeled following his ethical views. He will die soon, don’t bury his ideas with him.
You mean like some kind of group called the Democratic Socialists of America?
Feelin’ the Bern
