Are liberals who support Bernie Sanders a cult?

Fogdog

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
I posted a thread about Trump supporters who are acting very much like they are members of a cult. Come to think of it, are Sanders supporters a cult?

Signs that people are members of a cult:

1. Opposing critical thinking

2. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving

3. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture

4. Seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders

5. Dishonoring the family unit

6. Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)

7. Separation from the Church

I mean, they are getting tatoos, alienating friends and family, failing to listen to alternative viewpoints, even arguing with people who say they like Bernie but can't commit to him right now. As in "so who DO you support for president?" As if anybody has to make a choice RIGHT NOW in the vacuum of information of whose even going to be running 3 years from now.

Let's talk about line item 1, "Opposing critical thinking". These Bernie cultists call anybody who isn't "a progressive" (which to them really means "radical" in English) the worst names. Most often Neoliberal, which hardly describes anybody who supports the ACA if not universal healthcare. I mean, if Bernie were a progressive, why doesn't he support progress, which is what the ACA is all about? But nope, Bernie is on record castigating the ACA and everybody who helped get healthcare in place for more than 20 million people who did not have healthcare before.

Also, referring to number 6, they insist that their leader is a progressive when he hasn't done anything What kind of "progress" is that? If you look at what Bernie advocates, if every Democrat followed his lead, there would not be a chance of flipping the House this year. All this in the name of purity of policy.

Not to mention that Bernie is not really a Democrat, he's an independent. (line item 7)
 
Fogdog

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
How to leave and recover from a religious cult

One of the hardest things to do with a cult is to remove yourself from them. In fact, the degree of difficultly in leaving is often a sign in itself that the group is a cult, or at least unhealthy.
Don’t be in a rush to leave, but ensure you have a plan in place first. It may be hard to wait another week or two, but you’re likely to have an easier time if you do things in a measured, calculated way than if you just leave without any sort of plan.

Seek outside assistance
The first thing we’d suggest you do is seek outside assistance. You don’t have to do this on your own. Think of all the people you know (outside the group or their influence) and consider how they could help.

Who to contact? A recovering Sanders supporter has probably burned every bridge to non-cult members. There is help if you need it:

  • You might consider this phone number: 877-336-7200 (phone number to the Democratic National Party)

  • or from Wikipedia:
    • List of state parties of the Democratic Party (United States)
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Fogdog said:
I posted a thread about Trump supporters who are acting very much like they are members of a cult. Come to think of it, are Sanders supporters a cult?

Signs that people are members of a cult:

1. Opposing critical thinking

2. Isolating members and penalizing them for leaving

3. Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture

4. Seeking inappropriate loyalty to their leaders

5. Dishonoring the family unit

6. Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)

7. Separation from the Church

I mean, they are getting tatoos, alienating friends and family, failing to listen to alternative viewpoints, even arguing with people who say they like Bernie but can't commit to him right now. As in "so who DO you support for president?" As if anybody has to make a choice RIGHT NOW in the vacuum of information of whose even going to be running 3 years from now.

Let's talk about line item 1, "Opposing critical thinking". These Bernie cultists call anybody who isn't "a progressive" (which to them really means "radical" in English) the worst names. Most often Neoliberal, which hardly describes anybody who supports the ACA if not universal healthcare. I mean, if Bernie were a progressive, why doesn't he support progress, which is what the ACA is all about? But nope, Bernie is on record castigating the ACA and everybody who helped get healthcare in place for more than 20 million people who did not have healthcare before.

Also, referring to number 6, they insist that their leader is a progressive when he hasn't done anything What kind of "progress" is that? If you look at what Bernie advocates, if every Democrat followed his lead, there would not be a chance of flipping the House this year. All this in the name of purity of policy.

Not to mention that Bernie is not really a Democrat, he's an independent. (line item 7)
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You've just described yourself very well!

Your inability to engage in critical thinking is only the first dead giveaway.

The Democratic Party is NOT the solution, cultist- it's part of the problem and has been for over 40 years.

If this weren't the case, then pray tell us why our economy has become ever more polarized and unequal?

Why have vast swaths of voters been disenfranchised by small groups of donors who spend outlandish sums of tax deductible dollars to get what they want at the literal expense of the majority?

Why do you and the rest of your clowns viciously attack every shred of evidence that shows how badly the Democratic Party has represented the People, no matter how well researched?

We aren't the cultists; you are. Fitting that you've trotted out the classic propagandist's tactic of accusing the other side of the very thing you're doing.
 
Fogdog

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
ttystikk said:
You've just described yourself very well!

Your inability to engage in critical thinking is only the first dead giveaway.

The Democratic Party is NOT the solution, cultist- it's part of the problem and has been for over 40 years.

If this weren't the case, then pray tell us why our economy has become ever more polarized and unequal?

Why have vast swaths of voters been disenfranchised by small groups of donors who spend outlandish sums of tax deductible dollars to get what they want at the literal expense of the majority?

Why do you and the rest of your clowns viciously attack every shred of evidence that shows how badly the Democratic Party has represented the People, no matter how well researched?

We aren't the cultists; you are. Fitting that you've trotted out the classic propagandist's tactic of accusing the other side of the very thing you're doing.
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It's very common for cultists to claim others are in the wrong. So common that this behavior is listed as number one on the list of cult behaviors. All I'm doing is questioning whether or not Bernie Sanders has a cult following.

But it's Okay tty. You are not crazy but are the same intelligent, creative and interesting individual you were before. As with falling in love you are just crazy about the group, its amazing leader, Bernie Sanders and its great potential to change the world and you with it.
 
Fogdog

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
Jimdamick said:
Agreed, but it the only viable option at the moment.
What do you propose will work in the 21st century in the US?
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A true Berner would say "voting for the lesser evil is voting for evil therefore I refuse to vote if Bernie isn't on the ticket."

that would be line item 3: Emphasizing special doctrines outside scripture

When the true Berner replies to somebody who points out that by not voting or advocating that others not vote, they helped Trump into office with the statement: "Trump is the best thing that ever happened to the liberal movement." or "You didn't give me Bernie so I gave you Trump"

that would be line item 6: Crossing Biblical boundaries of behavior (versus sexual purity and personal ownership)

Nobody who looks at the damage Trump and the GOP are doing could possibly agree that Trump means a better outcome for the people of this country or for this country's Institution of Democracy. In many ways, saying such nonsense crosses many of the ideals of the Democratic Party.
 
Fogdog

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
Jimdamick said:
Did you catch the Bernie poster in the background?
You have too look closely, but it is there.
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You are pretty observant. My eyes were too hurt by what it was seeing in the foreground. You have great skill at diverting your attention to save yourself. LOL, so those are probably the bulwark of the Bernie cult.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Fogdog said:
It's very common for cultists to claim others are in the wrong. So common that this behavior is listed as number one on the list of cult behaviors. All I'm doing is questioning whether or not Bernie Sanders has a cult following.

But it's Okay tty. You are not crazy but are the same intelligent, creative and interesting individual you were before. As with falling in love you are just crazy about the group, its amazing leader, Bernie Sanders and its great potential to change the world and you with it.
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Here you are, proclaiming others are in the wrong, cultist.

You've refused to engage with facts, preferring dogma instead.

You've repeatedly shown your resistance to ideas outside your approved dogma.

You vehemently and viciously attack anyone who challenges your beliefs.

Yep. Definitely a cultist.
 
SB85

SB85

Well-Known Member
I don't think it's good for people to put all of their stock into some so called "white knight" riding in on his/her horse to Supposedly rescue everybody. The everyday person needs to realize how much they could accomplish if they put minor things to the side/focus on working together to fix problems which all are affected by.
 
Fogdog

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
ttystikk said:
Here you are, proclaiming others are in the wrong, cultist.

You've refused to engage with facts, preferring dogma instead.

You've repeatedly shown your resistance to ideas outside your approved dogma.

You vehemently and viciously attack anyone who challenges your beliefs.

Yep. Definitely a cultist.
Click to expand...
It's OK, tty. We'll still be here when you come to your senses.

Four signs of a damaging cult:
First of all, if a religious community or a religious leader seems too good to be true–guess what? It’s probably too good to be true.
Such as -- free stuff for everybody, we'll just tax the rich.

The leadership of a cult will invariably be selective and exclusive. There will be a public face of the leadership, and that person will unfailingly present the nice, glossy and polished face of the organization. The public face will be squeaky clean and wonderful.
Such as -- Bernie keeps bashing the Democratic party for being ineffective. As if he is or will be. Yet, what has he really accomplished in 12 years as a Senator? Some solar water heaters on a few federal buildings and the renaming of a Post Office. It's OK to believe what you want. I'm just saying that there is a different perspective when you are not inside the cult.

Complete loyalty is demanded of the followers. Dissent and criticism are not permitted.
Such as -- the wording in your post and probably the reply that will follow this one.

There will be a persecution complex. A group of outside forces will be identified who are “the enemy”.
As in "The election was rigged and the DNC conspired with "the media" to steal the election.
 
Fogdog

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
SB85 said:
I don't think it's good for people to put all of their stock into some so called "white knight" riding in on his/her horse to Supposedly rescue everybody. The everyday person needs to realize how much they could accomplish if they put minor things to the side/focus on working together to fix problems which all are affected by.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. The next presidential primary is in 2020, or about 2 years from now. Yet, the cult of Bernie is insisting we choose him now. Bernie might be the best candidate in 2020, I'm hoping for better but could see voting for him if there isn't. Ask tty if he can imagine there being a better candidate than Bernie in 2020. Just saying. They've chosen their white knight already. Though he looks more like Don Quixote.
 
trippnface

trippnface

Well-Known Member
Fogdog said:
Oh that's right, Russia supported Trump and Bernie.

Don't get your panties twisted up. I'm just asking what people think about Bernie Sanders being a cult. I don't really know that he's leading the cult but his followers sure do act like cultists. Wouldn't you agree?
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A " Cult",No. Usually that entails viewing the leader as a literal ( maybe somewhat) incarnation of God/ or son of. ie; Most likely giving your wife to the leader, doing exactly as the Cult leader demands, robbery, murder, group sex, etc.

Point - Sanders clearly asked his voters to support hillary. If he was a cult leader and his followers "cultists", they all would have supported Clinton.

So basically, that is the eqiuvalent of telling jim jones to shove that kool aid up his ass... not quite the perfect cultist...
 
tangerinegreen555

tangerinegreen555

Well-Known Member
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