A review by becksri29
Outsider in the White House by Bernie Sanders

4.0

Of course I read this because of the current (2016) Presidential race. This did a decent job of giving a basic overview of what Bernie Sanders stands for, and how those values have helped shaped his career and record as a politician. But of course, it's still a book by a politician. For all the Bernie-lovin' going on out there right now among our generation (although we Millennials over 30 are often forgotten and left out of polling statistics), this fails to provide more information than the memes floating around Facebook. He stands up for the middle class and understands the important issues affecting those most in need of a representative. Let's face it, he's a good guy and he's voted consistently as a good guy. But I want more details about the bills he's supported and less about the business of politicking. OK, Bernie, you think there's too much pressure to spend more and more time campaigning prior to an election, mainly because it wastes money and takes our representatives away from doing their actual jobs. I agree. But then why does so much of your book talk about campaigning? What about the actual laws you helped pass, and how they affect real people? More importantly, what about the bills you proposed and helped draft - I want more than just "I'm an independent, so it's much more likely that both Republicans and Democrats will give me a chance." What do they say? What exactly were the regulations? I'm willing to believe everything was "good" - but I want to know more details so I can decide if I agree with the deals and compromises that were necessary before a majority approved them. Bernie's whole rhetoric centers on the idea that he calls himself an independent and doesn't kowtow to either party line (but votes Democrat most of the time) so he can better represent his constituents, and that he doesn't make all these compromises that his opponents are willing to make. But the thing is, that's politics. A bill doesn't become a law without some modifications, smoothing of rough corners, and concessions to certain of opponents' concerns. Additionally, Bernie looks at everything through the lens of economics. Now, that's huge - money is needed to fund projects that can help give all Americans equal opportunities. But there has to be more - money can't fix everything. And even if it could, I'm wary of some parts of his planned budget - he's given some details for different programs he supports, but at different times, and (probably as a result) he's promised the same funds to multiple programs. I don't see single-payer healthcare as a reality; I've been saying for 6 years that the ACA would be what it was when it was approved, and then there would be a lot of work to polish it to make sure it actually works for the people - I still think this should be done (even though, anti-Obama Republicans are insistent on wasting time and money trying to repeal it). I'm really rambling now, so I'll stop, but the thing is - this book didn't really sway me to his side. He's a messy-looking, casual "man-of-the-people" kind of guy who talks a good game as a political rogue, but the thing is, he's still pretty slick, and he's still a politician - his image is what he made it. Sure, he gets some points for maintaining the same image over his career, but changing your mind isn't always political flip-flopping. Sometimes it shows an ability to consider other POVs and accept new and changing information as time progresses, and can be a sign of maturity. Someone who never changes their mind bothers me more than the ones that are painted as "liars" for changing theirs and working within the system. I certainly like him as a leader, and of course I'll support him in the general election if he wins the nomination, but I'm still undecided for the primary.