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Is Bernie Sanders a Crypto-Communist? A Bayesian Analysis
Econlog ^ | January 29, 2020 | Bryan Caplan

Posted on 02/13/2020 7:21:41 PM PST by karpov

The word “crypto-communist” has a paranoid, McCarthyite connotation. But during the Cold War, numerous communist intellectuals and politicians deliberately concealed their commitment to Marxism-Leninism. Why? To be more successful intellectuals and politicians. A few crypto-communists even managed to become national leaders. Fidel Castro gained power in 1959, but only announced his communism in 1961. Nelson Mandela presented himself as a reasonable democratic reformer. Yet after his death, the African National Congress openly admittedly that Mandela had been on the politburo of the South African Communist Party for decades. Ho Chi Minh joined the Communist Party in 1920, but in 1945 he loudly posed as a moderate democratic reformer – famously quoting the U.S. Declaration of Independence to charm the West. Juan Negrin, last prime minister of Republican Spain, was also very likely a crypto-communist.

Which brings me to my question: What about Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders? Is he a crypto-communist? Sanders has sent decades worth of frightening signals – praising Soviet bloc regimes, honeymooning in the Soviet Union, and such. Indeed, he’s said and done almost exactly what you would expect a sincere Marxist-Leninist who wanted to be a U.S. Senator would say and do. Note, moreover, that Sanders came of political age during the 60s and 70s, when communism made a big comeback in the U.S. radical left.

True, this hardly proves that he’s a closeted communist. Alternately, Sanders could be a communist dupe, or a even a true believer in “finding the good in the bad.” The upshot: We have to settle for a probability that Sanders is a crypto-communist, all things considered.

When constructing such probabilities, Bayes’ Rule is usually helpful. As you may recall, the Rule states that: P(A|B)=P(B|A)*P(A)/[P(B|A)*P(A) + P(B|~A)*P(~A)].

(Excerpt) Read more at econlib.org ...


TOPICS: Conspiracy; Politics
KEYWORDS: 1920; 1945; berniesanders; communist; communistparty; hochiminh; mandela; sanders
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1 posted on 02/13/2020 7:21:41 PM PST by karpov
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To: karpov

He’s just a flat out commie


2 posted on 02/13/2020 7:25:39 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: karpov

No. He’s a communist. There’s no “crypto” about it.


3 posted on 02/13/2020 7:26:24 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

The “crypto” prefix refers to Sanders denying being a communist, just as the other communists listed in the post did.


4 posted on 02/13/2020 7:28:00 PM PST by karpov
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To: karpov

Bernie dreams of working in the hot sun, side by side with his comrades, pulling turnips at Turnip Commune #34.


5 posted on 02/13/2020 7:28:31 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: karpov

Nothing crypto about it, he’s a communist.


6 posted on 02/13/2020 7:28:47 PM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents_Know Islam, No Peace-No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: karpov
They can dissemble all they want, but...


7 posted on 02/13/2020 7:36:43 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: karpov

Nope.


8 posted on 02/13/2020 7:37:21 PM PST by Ken H (Best SOTU ever!)
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To: karpov
Crypto communist? Only with the weakest cryptography ever.

ZFT IF JT B DPNNVOJTU.

9 posted on 02/13/2020 7:37:34 PM PST by KarlInOhio (Democrats couldn't count a Siskel and Ebert vote, but they'll still try with those dead Chicagoans.)
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To: karpov

Maynard G. Sanders is a Soviet Socialist.


10 posted on 02/13/2020 7:46:43 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: karpov

Actual communist.


11 posted on 02/13/2020 7:59:39 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: blueunicorn6

Didn’t he get kicked out of Turnip Commune #34 already due to laziness?


12 posted on 02/13/2020 8:09:28 PM PST by griffin
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To: karpov

I rather doubt if Bernie has a card saying he is a member of the Communist Party. His political philosophy and statements are 100 percent Marxist communist.

Bernie is a communist. I rather admire him as he does not hide his beliefs. I pray he is the nominee. It will destroy the democrat party if he is.


13 posted on 02/13/2020 8:21:57 PM PST by cpdiii ( canecutter, deckhand, roughneck, geologist, pilot, pharmacist THE CONSTITUTION IS WORTH DYING FOR)
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To: karpov

There’s nothing “crypto” about his communism.


14 posted on 02/13/2020 8:33:00 PM PST by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: cpdiii

I believe he does hide his beliefs . Otherwise he would be registered as communist, not an independent.


15 posted on 02/13/2020 8:34:10 PM PST by katykelly
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To: blueunicorn6

No, he dreams of sitting in the White House, smoking Cuban cigars while the rest of us are slaving away at the turnip commune.


16 posted on 02/13/2020 8:38:20 PM PST by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: blueunicorn6

No, he dreams of sitting in the White House, smoking Cuban cigars while the rest of us are slaving away at the turnip commune.


17 posted on 02/13/2020 8:38:21 PM PST by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: karpov

seriously dude? He’s a pinko.


18 posted on 02/13/2020 8:56:09 PM PST by AndyJackson
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To: karpov

19 posted on 02/13/2020 9:19:32 PM PST by Bon mots
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To: karpov

Why crypto? He is a plain Communist.


20 posted on 02/13/2020 10:04:58 PM PST by NorseViking
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