Joe Rogan Experience #2341 - Bernie Sanders

Joe Rogan and Bernie Sanders engage in a wide-ranging discussion on the state of America, focusing on wealth inequality, political corruption, and the impact of technology on the workforce. Sanders highlights the growing wealth gap, citing figures like Elon Musk's disproportionate wealth compared to millions of Americans. He criticizes the political system's susceptibility to billionaire influence, exacerbated by decisions like Citizens United. The conversation also explores the challenges of automation and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need for a societal shift towards shared prosperity and redefined purpose as technology advances. They agree on the importance of community-focused solutions, despite differing political landscapes.

• Discussion begins with the acknowledgment that America is facing unprecedented crises in modern history, emphasizing the need for a deep, honest discussion about the country's current state.
• The conversation highlights the significant wealth and power disparities in America, noting that the system is broken and not working for ordinary citizens.

"In America today, we are facing more serious crises than we have in the modern history of our country."

• This quote emphasizes the severity of the challenges currently facing America, suggesting a critical need for change.

"You have an America today where we have more income and wealth inequality than we've ever had in the history of this country."

• This statement underscores the growing economic divide and its implications for the broader society.

• The discussion points out that a small number of individuals, such as Elon Musk, hold more wealth than a significant portion of American families combined.
• The top 1% owns more wealth than the bottom 93%, and CEOs earn 350 times what their workers make.
• There is a significant portion of the population living paycheck to paycheck, struggling with basic necessities like housing, healthcare, and food.

"You got the top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 93%."

• This quote highlights the extreme concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, illustrating the depth of economic inequality.

"60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck."

• This statement reflects the financial precarity experienced by the majority of Americans, emphasizing the need for systemic change.

• The conversation attributes economic disparities to decades of attacks on the working class, unfavorable trade agreements, and a corrupt political system influenced by billionaires.
• The decline of defined benefit pension plans and the rise of a corporate culture lacking personal concern for workers are noted as contributing factors.

"I attribute it to horrific trade agreements which have allowed corporate America to throw millions of workers out on the street."

• This quote points to trade policies as a significant factor in the decline of job security and economic stability for American workers.

"You got a rigged system controlled economically and politically by very very wealthy and powerful people."

• This statement suggests that the economic system is manipulated to benefit the wealthy at the expense of the working class.

• The healthcare system is criticized for being profit-driven, with insurance companies making it difficult for people to access the care they need.
• The assassination of a United Healthcare executive is mentioned as an indicator of public sentiment towards insurance companies.

"What you're paying for is you're hoping that you never get sick, but if you pay your insurance, you will be covered."

• This highlights the fundamental issue with the insurance model, where coverage is not guaranteed despite payments.

"The more money I can deny you, the more money I make."

• This quote reveals the profit motive driving insurance companies to deny claims, exacerbating healthcare access issues.

• The impact of globalization and corporate greed on American workers is discussed, with examples from the automotive industry and the Mackiladora area in Mexico.
• The competitive corporate culture prioritizes profit over worker welfare, contributing to economic disparities.

"It's a corporate culture of competitiveness, right? So they're competing with all the other corporations."

• This statement illustrates how the drive for profit and competition among corporations leads to the exploitation of workers.

"You saw these beautiful new factories...people were living literally in cardboard boxes making I think at that point, now this is a long time ago, 25 cents an hour."

• This quote depicts the stark contrast between corporate wealth and worker exploitation, highlighting the human cost of globalization.

• The influence of money in politics, particularly following the Citizens United decision, is highlighted as a major issue.
• Billionaires can significantly influence elections and political decisions, undermining democratic processes.

"You are a billionaire, you have now the constitutional right because your money is your freedom of expression."

• This quote underscores the problematic nature of equating money with free speech, allowing the wealthy to disproportionately influence politics.

"We have a corrupt campaign finance system."

• This statement reflects the widespread belief that the current system prioritizes the interests of the wealthy over those of ordinary citizens.

• The pressure on politicians to conform to party lines and the threat of being "primaried" for dissenting views are discussed.
• The influence of super PACs and special interest groups is seen as a barrier to genuine political representation.

"If anybody stands up and say, well, you know, I disagree with President Trump. Bam. You are finished."

• This quote illustrates the lack of freedom for politicians to vote according to their conscience or represent their constituents' interests.

"You got a corrupt campaign finance system on both sides which is rejecting the will of the American people."

• This statement emphasizes the bipartisan nature of the issue, affecting both major political parties.

• The need for a national healthcare system that guarantees healthcare as a human right is discussed.
• The conversation highlights the high costs of healthcare and the number of uninsured or underinsured Americans.

"In the richest country on earth why don't we have the best healthcare system in the world?"

• This question challenges the status quo, advocating for a healthcare system that serves all citizens equally.

"One of the fights that I hope we can win is to have the United States join every other major country on earth and guarantee healthcare to all people."

• This quote calls for systemic reform to ensure universal healthcare access, aligning the U.S. with other developed nations.

• The importance of investing in education and treating the country as a community is emphasized.
• The discussion points out the benefits of public education and the need for affordable higher education.

"Have the best educated workforce in the world. How's that radical idea?"

• This quote advocates for prioritizing education to improve national prosperity and individual success.

"We all believe in education. We all believe that there should be free public education."

• This statement reflects the widespread support for accessible education as a means to improve societal outcomes.

• The conversation highlights the inadequacies of the current childcare system and the economic pressures on families.
• The need for a supportive environment for children and families is emphasized as crucial for future prosperity.

"How's our childcare system doing? It's a disaster."

• This quote critiques the current state of childcare, calling for improvements to support families and children.

"You're going to have the best childcare system in the world, so the kids will do well in school."

• This statement underscores the importance of investing in early childhood education to ensure long-term success for individuals and the country.

• The high cost of childcare in the U.S. is a significant burden for many families, with some states charging around $20,000 annually.
• Education, including college and trade schools, is necessary, yet expensive, contributing to financial strain on families.

"My state, I don't know, it's about $20,000 a year to send your kid to childcare. So you're making 50,000 a year. How do you pay that?"

• This quote highlights the financial strain on families earning moderate incomes due to high childcare costs.

• The U.S. healthcare system is criticized for being driven by greed rather than need.
• There is a shortage of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and mental health counselors.
• Medical education is prohibitively expensive, often leaving graduates with substantial debt.

"In America today, Joe, not only is our healthcare system failing because it's based on greed, not on need, but we need more doctors."

• The quote underscores the systemic issues in the healthcare system and the shortage of medical professionals.

"It is not unusual for people... to come out $500,000 in debt... nurses, I don't know $150,000 in debt. That is insane."

• This emphasizes the financial burden of medical education on students, contributing to the shortage of healthcare professionals.

• The need for campaign finance reform to eliminate the influence of super PACs and billionaires in elections.
• Public funding of elections is proposed as a solution to ensure fair competition.

"You move toward public funding of elections, which says that Joe, you want to run against me? That's great. Uh, but you're not going to get super PAC money."

• The quote advocates for public funding to reduce the influence of wealth in political campaigns.

• Addressing income and wealth inequality by ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.
• Historical tax rates under Eisenhower are referenced as a model for taxing the very rich.

"At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, you don't give tax breaks to billionaires. You demand that they start paying their fair share of taxes."

• The quote highlights the need for a fair tax system to address economic disparities.

• Climate change is acknowledged as a real and pressing issue, with a call for transitioning to sustainable energy sources.
• Concerns about the financial and control aspects of the climate change narrative are raised.

"We can create millions of good-paying jobs transforming our energy system away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency to solar to wind and other sustainable energies."

• The quote emphasizes the potential economic benefits of addressing climate change through sustainable energy.

"There's a lot of money involved in this whole climate change emergency issue, and there's a lot of control."

• This highlights skepticism about the motives behind the climate change agenda, focusing on financial and control aspects.

• The impact of automation and AI on employment is a significant concern, with potential job displacement.
• The need for policies that ensure technology benefits all, not just corporations.

"Automation. Automation. Yeah. Okay. So giant issue, huge issue."

• The quote introduces the topic of automation as a major issue affecting the workforce.

"Instead of throwing you out on the street, I'm going to reduce your work week to 32 hours."

• This suggests a potential solution to job displacement by reducing work hours instead of eliminating jobs.

• The rise of loneliness, mental illness, and drug addiction is linked to societal and technological changes.
• The negative impact of technology on social interactions and mental health is discussed.

"Why do we have what some of these people call an epidemic of loneliness in America?"

• The quote raises concerns about the social impact of modern life, including mental health challenges.

"Technology invites them to do that. You get online and you spend your time staring at a screen."

• This highlights the role of technology in contributing to social isolation and mental health issues.

• The inadequacy of the current minimum wage in the U.S. is criticized.
• The push for a higher federal minimum wage to ensure a livable income for workers.

"The minimum wage in this country is ridiculous. I mean to $7. What?"

• The quote criticizes the low federal minimum wage as insufficient for living expenses.

"We are trying to raise the minimum wage, federal minimum wage to 17 bucks an hour."

• This reflects efforts to increase the minimum wage to provide a more livable income for workers.

• The discussion emphasizes the need for healthcare to be independent of employment, ensuring people retain access to essential services even if they lose their jobs.
• The wealth of the nation should be utilized to provide a decent standard of living, including healthcare, for all citizens.

"All right, Joe, you lost your job, but you know what? Your family still has healthcare."

• This quote highlights the importance of separating healthcare from employment status to ensure continuous access to medical services.

• With advancements in technology, there is potential to eradicate poverty and improve living standards if politically motivated.
• The focus should be on utilizing wealth from technology to provide universal healthcare and improve quality of life.

"We are the wealthiest country in the history of the world right now with all of this artificial intelligence and robotics."

• This underscores the potential of technology to create wealth that can be used to improve societal well-being.

• Advocates for a world-class educational system accessible to all, without the burden of debt.
• Public education should extend beyond K-12, similar to models in Scandinavian countries where higher education is free.

"We say education is a human right."

• Emphasizes the belief that education should be universally accessible and free, enhancing societal productivity.

• The discussion calls for a reduction in work hours without loss of pay, utilizing increased productivity from technology.
• A shorter workweek could reduce stress and improve quality of life.

"We got to be thinking seriously about lowering the number of hours that people work."

• Suggests that reduced work hours could be a beneficial use of technological advancements, improving life balance.

• Focuses on increasing life expectancy by improving healthcare, reducing work stress, and ensuring healthy food options.
• Highlights the disparity in life expectancy between different socio-economic groups.

"Our life expectancy in America is lower than it is in other major countries."

• Points out the need for systemic changes to improve health outcomes and life expectancy.

• Critiques the food industry for contributing to health issues through unhealthy products.
• Calls for better labeling and regulation to inform consumers and protect public health.

"How hard is it to say if you have a bottle of soda or you have a food product, tell people in English what is in the damn product, right?"

• Stresses the need for transparency in food labeling to combat health issues like obesity and diabetes.

• Advocates for a return to family-based agriculture to provide healthier food options and support rural communities.
• Criticizes the dominance of corporate agriculture and its impact on family farms.

"How do you create an economy in which we once again put an emphasis on family-based agriculture not corporate agriculture."

• Suggests that supporting family farms could lead to healthier food production and rural revitalization.

• Concerns about automation displacing jobs and the need for universal basic income to support those affected.
• Discusses the challenge of finding purpose and meaning in a world where work is increasingly automated.

"Automation's going to take all that away. So, if you do say this, okay, we're going to lower your work week. What if there's no job left for the human being to do?"

• Raises the issue of job displacement due to automation and the need for new societal roles and support systems.

• Suggests using profits from technology and resources to create wealth funds that improve public welfare.
• Cites Norway as an example of using wealth funds to provide social benefits like healthcare and education.

"Norway is growing 1.7 trillion dollar empire, uh, Nor's Bank investment, management, market value, growth since inception."

• Highlights Norway's use of wealth funds to enhance public welfare, suggesting a model for other nations.

• Discusses the importance of finding purpose beyond work, through activities, community, and personal growth.
• Emphasizes love, knowledge, and community as key components of a fulfilling life.

"Work is an important part of our lives."

• Acknowledges the role of work in providing purpose, while also encouraging exploration of other meaningful pursuits.

• Advocates for global cooperation to address major issues like war, pandemics, and climate change.
• Encourages dialogue and understanding to overcome ignorance and fear that fuel division.

"We got to bring the world together."

• Calls for international collaboration to address global challenges and promote peace and understanding.

• Reflects on the progress made in civil rights, women's rights, and LGBTQ rights, while acknowledging ongoing challenges.
• Encourages continued efforts to fight bigotry and promote equality.

"There's a lot as a nation that we should be proud of in terms of the progress that we've made in terms of fighting bigotry."

• Recognizes past achievements in social justice and the need for ongoing efforts to achieve true equality.

• Discussion centers on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the suffering of children and the need for global improvement.
• There is a consensus on the need for a better approach to global conflicts and humanitarian issues.

"Right now, what's going on in Gaza breaks my heart. Children are starving to death, you know, so we can do better as a planet."

• Highlights the urgency and emotional impact of the crisis in Gaza.

• Concerns about the implications of universal basic income (UBI) and automation on human meaning and independence.
• Fear of dependence on government and the potential for political manipulation.
• The impact of automation on jobs, especially for drivers and factory workers, and the challenge of finding new meaning and purpose.

"Once people are entirely dependent upon the state for universal basic income, then it becomes the question of like now your entire life like all the money that you get being from the government the problem is if you step outside the lines."

• Expresses fear of government control over individuals' lives under UBI.

"What do you do with all the drivers? Like think about how many truck drivers in this country. This is going to be the first thing that goes away."

• Highlights the immediate threat of automation to driving jobs.

• The existential challenge of finding meaning when traditional work is replaced by automation.
• The potential for AI to replace human interaction and the dystopian implications of such a future.
• The need for societal adaptation to find new sources of meaning beyond work.

"What happens when no people no longer have to do that? Right. I mean yes. Okay. So if work we work now everybody works get earn money. If if you don't need to do work, right, because we're wealthy enough, what how do you find meaning in your life?"

• Questions the future of human purpose in a world without work.

"All we got is us. Is that right? Yeah. We are human beings. And we're gonna have to cling to each other to get through this thing."

• Emphasizes the importance of human connection in the face of technological displacement.

• The increasing wealth of those who own and utilize technology, exacerbating income inequality.
• The need for tax reform and the challenges of government corruption and inefficiency.
• Advocates for worker ownership of companies as a means to empower individuals and reduce absenteeism.

"The people who own that technology and the corporations who utilize that technology are becoming phenomenally richer."

• Points out the disparity in wealth created by technological advancements.

"I think as a nation we should be talking about moving toward allowing workers more power."

• Suggests empowering workers through ownership to address inequality.

• Critique of the current state of American democracy, emphasizing the influence of billionaires.
• The need for public engagement in governance to ensure it serves ordinary people.
• Concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarian tendencies.

"Government is very far removed from the needs of ordinary people because it is largely controlled by billionaires in both political parties who have their agenda."

• Criticizes the disconnect between government and the public due to elite control.

"It's part of a pattern that says, 'Hey, I got the power. Don't you criticize me. You criticize me, I'm going to sue you.'"

• Warns against the use of power to intimidate and silence media criticism.

• Discussion on the role of media in democracy and the impact of lawsuits on press freedom.
• Concerns about deceptive editing and the responsibility of media to maintain objectivity.
• The importance of responding to media inaccuracies through public discourse rather than litigation.

"Suing media has the impact of intimidating media. All right? If somebody sues you, All right, let me finish."

• Argues that lawsuits can suppress free speech and media independence.

"The way to respond to the lies which take place every day is to take them on, not to intimidate media."

• Advocates for addressing media inaccuracies through dialogue rather than legal action.

• The value of podcasts and long-form discussions in bridging ideological divides.
• Recognition of shared values and goals among Americans despite political polarization.
• Encouragement to focus on commonalities to improve society collectively.

"I happen to think that the development of podcasts is a really positive step because I can tell you you I've been on a million TV shows. All right, Bernie, literally you got seven seconds to explain the issue."

• Praises podcasts for allowing in-depth discussions and fostering understanding.

"We agree on almost all of them. We agree that you should have a better life, that you should have healthier people. We should have healthcare and education."

• Highlights the widespread agreement on fundamental societal goals.