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Bernie Sanders is honest but unrealistic

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a town hall at the University of South Carolina, on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, in Columbia, S.C.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a town hall at the University of South Carolina, on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, in Columbia, S.C. Evan Vucci Associated Press

I mostly agree with Nicholas Kristof’s commentary about Bernie Sanders (“Two questions for Bernie Sanders”). I also like Bernie. He is an actual honest politician with a long history of fighting for economic justice for the 99 percent of us.

But when I read his platform, I shudder. Many plans seem almost naively simplistic (better to get votes?), unrealistic and unworkable in the 21st-century United States. Some seem to violate the basic laws of economics and even human nature. Consequences are not addressed, and many other issues not even mentioned.

I hope that he can get a staff together to draft a more realistic and comprehensive platform. Otherwise, I fear that if he wins the Democratic nomination, the Republicans will tear these plans apart.

Gerald Manata, Paso Robles

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Bernie Sanders is honest but unrealistic."

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