Business
COMMENTARY: Bernie Sanders – Mysterious and maybe Dangerous
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Bernie is indeed a deep-rooted Socialist. In fact, many may argue that he is a Communist. He was an admirer of the history of the Soviet Union. How do you do that without embracing the deeds of Nicholai Lenin and Josef Stalin – two of the most notorious dictators/mass murderers the world has ever known?”
By Harry C. Alford & Kay DeBow, NNPA Newswire Contributors
Bernie Sanders just won’t go away. He stays in the political limelight no matter who wins the presidency or which party, Democrat or Republican, controls Congress. He is a declared Independent, yet he caucuses with the Democrats.
Confusing? Yes, indeed it is, and it is a contradiction. In 2016, he became very close to winning the Democratic nomination for President. Perhaps he would have won it if the tricks of the Hillary Clinton campaign had overtaken his momentum.
Wikipedia provides a brilliant nugget on his political career: “Sanders was born and raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, and attended Brooklyn College before graduating from the University of Chicago in 1964. While a student he was an active protest organizer for the Congress of Racial Equality (Roy Innis was National Chairman of CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (Stokely Carmichael & Rap Brown were the leaders) during the civil rights movement. After settling in Vermont in 1968, Sanders ran unsuccessful third-party political campaigns in the early to mid-1970’s. As an independent, he was elected mayor of Burlington – the state’s most populous city – in 1981, by a margin of ten votes. He was reelected three times. He won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990, representing Vermont’s at-large congressional district; he later co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Sanders served as a US Representative for 16 years before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. He has been reelected to the Senate twice in 2012 and 2018.”
If that isn’t remarkable by itself, it continues: “On April 30, 2015, Sanders announced his campaign for the 2016 Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Initially considered a long shot, he went on to win 23 primaries and caucuses and approximately 43% of pledged delegates, to Hillary Clinton’s 55%. His campaign was noted for its supporters’ enthusiasm, as well as for his rejection of large donations from corporations, the financial industry, and any associated Super PAC. On July 12, 2016, he formally endorsed Clinton in her general election campaign against Republican Donald Trump, while urging his supporters to continue the “political revolution” his campaign begun. On February 19, 2019, Sanders announced a second presidential campaign against incumbent President Trump, joining multiple other Democratic candidates for the presidency.”
“A self-described democratic socialist and progressive, Sanders is pro-labor rights and emphasizes reversing economic inequality. He advocates for universal and single-payer healthcare, paid parental leave, as well as tuition-free tertiary education. On foreign policy, Sanders broadly supports reducing military spending, pursuing more diplomacy and international cooperation, and putting greater emphasis on labor rights, and environmental concerns when negotiating international trade agreements.”
The above is amazing. We think President Obama took off with rocket-like speed, but this guy is like Forrest Gump on steroids! Wikipedia goes on for an additional 56 pages!
Bernie is indeed a deep-rooted Socialist. In fact, many may argue that he is a Communist. He was an admirer of the history of the Soviet Union. How do you do that without embracing the deeds of Nicholai Lenin and Josef Stalin – two of the most notorious dictators/mass murderers the world has ever known?
Yet, Bernie is so impressed with the development of the Soviet revolution and tenure of these two tyrants, he and his wife spent their honeymoon in the Soviet Union. Did you hear us? They chose the Soviet Union to spend their marital bliss. That is how much he admired it.
Bernie is also a fan of the Cuban history under Fidel Castro. Searching for his current views we can look at the status of Valenzuela. This nation is undergoing a total disastrous experiment with Socialism. The style of Socialism that Bernie admires. He will not criticize this failed experiment and refuses to call President Maduro a dictator – even though it is quite clear.
Many members of Congress believe that President Trump may be too much of a friend with Prime Minister Putin of Russia. Have we wondered how Putin and Bernie would get along? We think they would be “best buds.”
Bernie seems to embrace these failed socialist and communist types of lifestyles, but he has become very wealthy. Somehow, he is now a multi-millionaire with three mansions in Vermont and spends big money on his personal airplane. How does a good Socialist manage to do this?
Bernie came very close to becoming President of the United States and he is still in the running. The above mysteries should become clearer to us before we go overboard on this mysterious and still unproven national leader. America, this is rather scary.
Mr. Alford is the Co-Founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce ®. Ms. DeBow is the Co-Founder, Executive Vice President of the Chamber. Website: www.nationalbcc.org Emails: halford@nationalbcc.org Kdebow@nationalbcc.org
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.
Activism
OP-ED: AB 1349 Puts Corporate Power Over Community
Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.
By Bishop Joseph Simmons, Senior Pastor, Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, Oakland
As a pastor, I believe in the power that a sense of community can have on improving people’s lives. Live events are one of the few places where people from different backgrounds and ages can share the same space and experience – where construction workers sit next to lawyers at a concert, and teenagers enjoy a basketball game with their grandparents. Yet, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed these experiences – the concerts, games, and cultural events where we gather – become increasingly unaffordable, and it is a shame.
These moments of connection matter as they form part of the fabric that holds communities together. But that fabric is fraying because of Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s unchecked control over access to live events. Unfortunately, AB 1349 would only further entrench their corporate power over our spaces.
Since Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged in 2010, ticket prices have jumped more than 150 percent. Activities that once fit a family’s budget now take significant disposable income that most working families simply don’t have. The problem is compounded by a system that has tilted access toward the wealthy and white-collar workers. If you have a fancy credit card, you get “presale access,” and if you work in an office instead of a warehouse, you might be able to wait in an online queue to buy a ticket. Access now means privilege.
Power over live events is concentrated in a single corporate entity, and this regime operates without transparency or accountability – much like a dictator. Ticketmaster controls 80 percent of first-sale tickets and nearly a third of resale tickets, but they still want more. More power, more control for Ticketmaster means higher prices and less access for consumers. It’s the agenda they are pushing nationally, with the help of former Trump political operatives, who are quietly trying to undo the antitrust lawsuit launched against Ticketmaster/Live Nation under President Biden’s DOJ.
That’s why I’m deeply concerned about AB 1349 in its current form. Rather than reining in Ticketmaster’s power, the bill risks strengthening it, aligning with Trump. AB 1349 gives Ticketmaster the ability to control a consumer’s ticket forever by granting Ticketmaster’s regime new powers in state law to prevent consumers from reselling or giving away their tickets. It also creates new pathways for Ticketmaster to discriminate and retaliate against consumers who choose to shop around for the best service and fees on resale platforms that aren’t yet controlled by Ticketmaster. These provisions are anti-consumer and anti-democratic.
California has an opportunity to stand with consumers, to demand transparency, and to restore genuine competition in this industry. But that requires legislation developed with input from the community and faith leaders, not proposals backed by the very company causing the harm.
Will our laws reflect fairness, inclusion, and accountability? Or will we let corporate interests tighten their grip on spaces that should belong to everyone? I, for one, support the former and encourage the California Legislature to reject AB 1349 outright or amend it to remove any provisions that expand Ticketmaster’s control. I also urge community members to contact their representatives and advocate for accessible, inclusive live events for all Californians. Let’s work together to ensure these gathering spaces remain open and welcoming to everyone, regardless of income or background.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026
To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.
Activism
Big God Ministry Gives Away Toys in Marin City
Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grow up.
By Godfrey Lee
Big God Ministries, pastored by David Hall, gave toys to the children in Marin City on Monday, Dec. 15, on the lawn near the corner of Drake Avenue and Donahue Street.
Pastor Hall also gave a message of encouragement to the crowd, thanking Jesus for the “best year of their lives.” He asked each of the children what they wanted to be when they grew up.
Around 75 parents and children were there to receive the presents, which consisted mainly of Gideon Bibles, Cat in the Hat pillows, Barbie dolls, Tonka trucks, and Lego building sets.
A half dozen volunteers from the Big God Ministry, including Donnie Roary, helped to set up the tables for the toy giveaway. The worship music was sung by Ruby Friedman, Keri Carpenter, and Jake Monaghan, who also played the accordion.
Big God Ministries meets on Sundays at 10 a.m. at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA Their phone number is (415) 797-2567.
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