Two sides of the same coin.

Here's something to think about.  Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump....they would seem to be opposites and in many respects they are, but they are opposites like heads and tails of the same coin.  I call it the Anti-establishment coin.  They both represent the same thing...the same promise....simply, that they are not a part of the larger "political establishment". They are outsiders. Not part of the old guard.  They hold out the promise of being different than the rest of the Washington establishment.  They are both willing to say things and take positions others fear to take. Trump seems to revel in being the anti politically correct candidate and he doesn't seem to care what Washington insiders think of him (must less media pundits).    I believe he has the Washington establishment worried, although they continue to believe (or hope) he will eventually flame out.  There is a lot of irony in Donald Trump claiming to be the anti-establishment GOP candidate, considering he has admitted giving truck loads of cash to politicians of all stripes for the sole purpose of extracting "favors" from them. I guess it's like he is saying "I'm not one of them, but I've been smart enough, and rich enough to USE them" and I guess that probably annoys them as much as anything....that someone actually admits they give big political donations with the expectation of getting something in return.  That our government really is "for sale" The establishment, Right and Left,  would rather not talk about that.

For many Americans the financial crisis of 2008 and the resulting recession brought into sharp focus the failings of the "free market", and and the financial deregulation that fueled the crisis.  A sagging middle class, income inequality, within a system that seems designed for the 1% by the 1% have created a deep suspicion of so called "Corporate Democrats". Sanders, like Trump is not afraid to say what he thinks and champions himself as the only true friend of the middle class.  Like Trump worries the establishment Republicans, Bernie Sanders has the "establishment"  wing of his party worried. Sanders and Trump, Two sides of the same coin based on a deep distrust of the usual politicians, playing the usual games, and making the same hollow promises.  There are a lot of pissed off voters if the numbers supporting Trump or Sanders are any indication...and I believe they are. Maybe some folks are even beginning to understand that "trickle down" economics doesn't work, never has worked, and never will work.

I find it amazing that the "establishment" cartel in Washington seems so clueless about how unhappy the vast majority of voters are.  Hell, all you have to do is set up a Facebook page, accumulate a couple hundred "friends" and just watch the news feed.  It isn't rocket science, just open their eyes and look around.  Personally if I were them I'd be getting damn nervous.  

  Matt Taibbi at Rolling Stone wrote this today, and I can't agree more.
 
 "Trump's followers are a gang of pissed-off nativists who are tired of being laughed at, belittled, dismissed, and told who to vote for. So it seems incredible that the Republican establishment thinks it's going to get rid of Trump by laughing at, belittling and dismissing him, and telling his voters who they should be picking."   

The current crew running the train seems to think the passengers will just keep riding quietly along doing what is asked, believing what is said, no questions asked. As one of those passengers, I hate to tell the crew...your days might be numbered. I'm enjoying watching the Republican establishment try to tear Trump down, it might back fire on them, but this much we know for sure.  The next few months will be very entertaining if nothing else.