Bernie Sanders Reads 'Third World America' During Senate Speech (VIDEO)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) invoked Arianna's book Third World America on Friday during a lengthy Senate speech against the Obama tax cut deal.

During the marathon session, the Vermont senator opened up Arianna's latest book. "I am indebted to a very fine book written by an old friend of mine called Arianna Huffington," he said. "And the title of her book -- and I know why she did it -- is called Third World America."

Sanders then elaborated on the book's title:

"The theme of her book is, if we do not get our act together -- in terms of infrastructure, in terms of education, in terms of health care -- that's where we are headed. This great country is headed in the direction of being a third world nation."

He then proceeded to read from the book. Scroll down for video, or click here to watch the latest live.

Comments

[LiveFree-ChooseOptionC]

10:00 PM on 12/12/2010

For centuries, wars have been waged and blood spilled for freedom, yet after so much carnage we have less freedom today than did our forebearers.

Using all means necessary and available, We the People will see sent into government, not option 'A' or 'B' (more of the same) - but candidates who are independent of organized affiliation and corruption, and who will be accountable to the electorate, and not to the oligarchies we despise and will call out from this day forth.

Christians, Agnostics, Atheists, Jews, Spirituals, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, or members of any other Faith or Creed will no longer subscribe to propaganda and organized teachings which are contrary to common good and teachings we all know to be right; we will celebrate which we share - an aversion to evil and love for all things good.

Keeping to these Fundamentals, which we hold to be true, We the People shall resist with Civil Disobedience, tyranny and injustice in all of its ugly forms and will expose such abominations in order that they be known to all good people and no longer kept hidden.

Until there is Justice for all - We shall not expect Peace.

Peace and free living are rights for All to share.

From: http://www.LiveFree-ChooseOptionC.tk

[LiveFree-ChooseOptionC]

10:00 PM on 12/12/2010

This is what patriots sounds like. There is hope - something IS happening...

Whereas We, the many Free-thinking and Peace-loving People of these Lands on this Earth have elected, of our own Free Wills, to unite and stand against plagues of War, Injustice, Corruption, Greed, Tyrrany, Oppression, and Untruths perpetually cast upon Us by few;

And whereas We shall no longer tolerate the perversions of our collective systems of Governance and Justice by Tyrants and their agents of deceit, We adhere to the following mutual principles of civil Humanity:

Keeping with our inherent moralities, We demand our Freedom and Justice for us One and All.

Even as we are threatened and intimidated, tempted, bribed and coerced, We shall not succumb to apathy or willful blindness.

Too many have already been senselessly killed; in the name of so-called 'security'; We refuse to condone or support in any way, preemptive wars and occupation under any circumstances, and shall take Pity on, but shun those do.

How long must peace-loving People be perversely manipulated to bear arms against and destroy one and other? Humans' inherent desire is Peace - those who do are warmongers are atypical and unfit for civil society - moreover, they are absolutely unfit to govern or lead.

Each Man, Woman and Child on this Earth are Sister and Brother - We will no longer be divided by that which makes Us different, but united by that which We hold in common as Brethren.

[ponderingmuch]

04:23 PM on 12/11/2010

I hope Bernie Sanders and his speech, whether reading from Arianna's book or not, stays on the front page.

From Lisa Vigar:

Why so little media coverage of Bernie Sanders’ heroic filibuster speech? Why no coverage of the real cost of this tax plan? Contact the news outlets that are NOT covering this issue this weekend. The vote for this horrendous tax plan is Monday or Tuesday. Time is short.

Ask them to …

Cover the substance of Senator Bernie Sanders heroic filibuster speech.

Discuss the details of this proposed tax plan … especially the 30% cut to Social Security funding.

CNN

Call: 404-827-15­00 ... choose option 2

http://www­.cnn.com/f­eedback/fo­rms/form11­b.html?8

http://twi­tter.com/t­eamcnn

MSNBC

http://www­.msnbc.msn­.com/id/18­616878/ns/­community-­firstperso­n/

CBS News

http://www­.cbsnews.c­om/htdocs/­feedback/f­b_news_for­m.shtml?ta­g=ftr

NBC

Send email to: nbcnews@ms­nbc.com

ALSO … contact your local television stations (their websites should have their contact informatio­n) and ask them to cover this relevant and important story.

PASS IT ON

[ErnestineBass]

01:04 AM on 12/12/2010

THANK YOU for the links! I surfed all three networks during last night's news and NADA about Bernie's day-long speech on any of them. PBS mentioned it in passing. Our MSM in this country is pathetic. ~sigh~ Thank goodness for the BBC.

[sej100]

04:33 PM on 12/12/2010

The Networks are the Corporations which supported the GOP and the Conservatadems and thus they support their cut in taxes, care nothing for the unemployed, care nothing for seniors welfare and future but only their bottom line. They want WEALTH for themselves and that is all that matters in the end.

Shamefully our Government has become as corrupt as it could be. Greed motivates all of them save for Bernie Sanders, the LONE man of conscience and the ONLY HERO left

[arevolutionofone]

11:34 AM on 12/11/2010

Shocking facts from the BernieBuster about bad roads aid infrastructure.

[Purfact]

10:15 AM on 12/11/2010

I watched Bernie Sanders quite a while last night, and was impressed by someone elected to office for 'the people' for the first time in a long time. I wrote my Senators to show my support for Senator Sanders and will ask others to watch and do the same. The people in this country are in a very precarious position while big business is doing great [some due to money from the fed]. How much money do corporations and their CEO's need REALLY to take out of the pockets of the 90% of Americans who are working for them in offices and docks taking home less every year. While they are buying other businesses and raising bonuses not creating jobs. with their profits. Holding the middle class and unemployed hostage to give more to these 'people' off the backs of the people that are being denied at this moment. This is not a realistic option and should be stopped.

[squalis]

09:09 AM on 12/11/2010

Since Repubclicans and Conservatives have been routinely called racist on HP posts for opposing the Obama and liberal agenda, can't we now say liberals opposing Obama, including Sen. Sanders, are racist?

C'mon HP censors. You let plenty of racist charges against Republicans be posted before. Let one of these posts through.

[BobinABQ]

09:21 AM on 12/11/2010

My goodness, you are indeed clueless. Apparently, the biggest sin is not actually being racist, it's being called out on your racism by others.

[squalis]

09:01 AM on 12/11/2010

Since Sanders is opposing Obama, and since Republicans and Conservatives have been accused of being racists for opposing the Obama and liberal agenda, can we now call Sanders, and any other liberal opposing Obama, a racist?

[Clevelandinwi]

07:30 AM on 12/11/2010

If a small amount of intellect would prevail, Senator Reid would just let the bushcuts expire - all of them. Let the Regressives be hung with Start, the military, DADT and workmen's comp. Let them straighten it out in January when they 'take over'.

[martman1]

09:08 AM on 12/11/2010

Agreed.
If you have to, let them all expire, we've got your back!!

I, for one, would be willing to pay a little more if it begins to break the grip that the corporate elite have on our economy and corrupt (in general) politicians. It would be an "investment" that could pay off in spades.

[Anton Van Laer]

07:25 AM on 12/11/2010

Sanders seems to be the only progressive left in the Senate.

[quintavious]

08:27 AM on 12/11/2010

That is a good thing, it it were up the the Bernie Sanders of the world, we would be another Cuba.

[martman1]

09:15 AM on 12/11/2010

.....or America as we once knew it

[gumbo1049]

09:21 AM on 12/11/2010

Socialism and Communism are two different things if Castro blended capitalism with a common sense Socialistic form of government he wouldn't have the problems now. We are on the brink of a Cuba like situation now.Plutocratic government is not the way to go.This is outright insanity.

[antisprawlactivist]

06:08 AM on 12/11/2010

We're with you Senator Sanders. As far as I'm concerned let the damm tax cuts expire. It's funny that when we were all out there working to get Obama (and other Democrats) elected and making campaign contributions, etc., how great we were. Now were "purists" and "idealists" who would put our unrealistic demands before realistic public policy, ie, there's no other choice but to capitulate and let the rich have there there tax cuts. Most people I know who make more than 250k a year took trips to Europe last year. So even though the Republicans are bitching about the deficit and threatening to cut benefits, reduce public spending, and raise the retirement age (which doesn't affect the wealthy), they don't mind spending and borrowing to make the wealthy even more rich! What's wrong with that picture? Sorry Mr. Obama, you lost your base and your future support and we are in full revolt. Quite frankly we'd rather lose and fight. I don't need no stinking tax cut to go out and buy a refrigerater made in China or one of them big screen TVs. I'm a citizen not a consumer. I'd rather pay more taxes and have a president who had some balls.

[martman1]

06:07 AM on 12/11/2010

This should be required listening for all Americans. It will go down as one of the greatest speeches in American history.

If we heed his advice, his speech will be lauded as a great turning point in American history.

If we do not heed his advice, it will be seen as a valiant warning, before The Great Depression II.

[Marcel2010]

05:47 AM on 12/11/2010

I wonder why some of my mild mannered posts get cut from approval, while, I read some nasty comments during high traffic time periods?

[Marcel2010]

05:45 AM on 12/11/2010

Ms Huffington must feel proud to have here book impacting congress.......

[Bloke1966]

05:35 AM on 12/11/2010

I'm glad he chose the bible for 21st century America, which of course
is Arianna's book “Third World America” .Charlie Chaplin Complained
about machinery replacing America’s jobs in Modern Times (1938)
Now in an updated mode CVS has replaced cashiers with ATM style
check out machines (Most likely made in China) I used to call
my cashier Amy, now I call her #7.Great idea wrong time in this
part of American historyto do things like this!!!
As to Senator Saunders he is no
Mr. Smith for sure!! Something has to pass besides the
holiday season,, as my life is at stake here.
If they extend the three million unemployed
that are about to expire and see that it actually works,
it just might catch on for the 99ers
who are being totally negleted!!!.
signed a worried 96er, in NYC!!!

[michael3ov]

08:24 AM on 12/11/2010

Thats the thing. Sanders also spoke about unemployment benefits. The Republicans are holding the extensions hostage in order to make the rich even richer. There was no compromise, there was pure capitulation. For the past 40 years whenever unemployment has been above 7.5 percent there has always been bipartisan support for extending benefits. Not anymore, not with these republicans. They are truly reprehensible.

[smith blarney]

01:22 PM on 12/11/2010

And the right ~mostly teabaggers who disagree with the deal are angry~~not about the tax cuts and the enormous amount of money they are willing to add to the debt for the rich, but they are outraged the unemployed are getting anything at all. Sadly, most of these conservatives don't understand the unemployment extensions or the difference between an extension and helping the 99ers. Many do not realize each week many more will join the growing ranks of 99ers. How 99 weeks has been deemed the magic number for finding a job is baffling. With unemployment rates at an all-time high, there simply are no jobs to be had. Rather than transferring more wealth from taxpayers to the wealthiest greedy individuals, and subsequently overseas, we need to create jobs. Senator Sanders was absolutely correct, as with FDR, jobs are created by building infrastructure. Boy do we need that.
Let the tax cuts expire if they dont add the 99ers to the deal and remove the tax cuts to the wealthiest. I wont hold my breath.

[reflecting 1a]

04:45 AM on 12/11/2010

Nobody can screw things up better than rich people. They breed greed. They are like wild elements of nature that need to be controlled to get the best out of them. Unfortunately the rich will always be with us.