Sanders and Pope Francis champion global financial reform

As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) takes his battle for powerful financial reform to primary and caucus states, Pope Francis this week took his call for powerful financial reform to Bolivia, where he criticized the “mentality of profit at any price.”

{mosads}In a must-read story for pundits and voters who are interested in how the economy will play in the 2016 presidential election, The Wall Street Journal on Friday ran an important story under the headline “Pope calls for Globalization of Hope.” Speaking in Bolivia this week, and using words that could have easily been spoken by Sanders and in some instances have been, the Journal quoted Francis as criticizing “corporations, loan agencies, certain free trade treaties, and the imposition of measures of austerity.”

No doubt the American right and most Republicans, who champion the trickle-down economics that Francis condemns, will continue their criticism of the pope, while Sanders and other liberal and populist Democrats will applaud the words of the pope in Bolivia and when he addresses a joint session of Congress.

There is something profound happening when Sanders promotes causes and values that are supported by a majority of voters at the same time that Francis uses almost the same words and promotes almost identical causes with the unique moral authority he brings to the table of economic debate.

As I wrote in my latest column, there is a progressive wave that is growing across America and indeed the world. It is great that Sanders is championing these causes, it is good that Hillary Clinton is moving in more progressive directions, and the power of the movement and the moment will be dramatized when Francis rises to address a joint session of Congress in September.

Budowsky was an aide to former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) and former Rep. Bill Alexander (D-Ark.), who was then chief deputy majority whip of the House. He holds an LL.M. degree in international financial law from the London School of Economics. Contact him at brentbbi@webtv.net.