I am not sure how Trump can be described as a centrist democrat. In European context he would be a right-wing populist or a nationalist social-democrat. Why Bernie Sanders would be a socialist or a left-wing populist. While I do see Bernie as a more of a civic candidate I also know that many of his economic and welfare proposals are unrealistic and false. The way he is presenting Sweden and Denmark is based on incorrect assumptions and information. So his promises are not only false but dangerous since he is promising big government policies and intervention that cannot sole USA:s manhy problems. What USA needs is more freedom and federalism in sense of decentralization.
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I didn't describe Trump as a centrist. I wrote: "If You Vote For A Centrist Democrat (like Biden) or Trump, You Vote For Continued Oligarchy!" Please note the word "or." I described the Biden example as centrist. Below is what America has seen since Reagan-Bush:
Sanders only cites Sweden, Denmark or other Nordic nations as examples and does not present them as required mirror images. Sanders is more for freedom than any other candidate, except for perhaps Tulsi Gabbard, in that he will end the drug war which has caused America, with five percent of the world's population to house nearly 25% of the world's prisoners. He, above all of the candidates will stand against the oligarchy which is sucking both the lifeblood and livelihood of too many citizens. Nothing wrong at all with decentralization. And what candidate will begin to dismantle the USA's 900 military bases scattered throughout the world and what candidate is most likely to move towards renewable energies and away from oil. Actually, Bernie is a good man and is unlike the kind of politician America repetitively produces. Just having him in office and the quality of his appointments to government would be a great start for changing not just America but the wider world.
All right, I understand your points on centrism and the current political system. I also think that there needs to make changes on how politics are conducted. In USA there is still a mainly two party system.
I find Sanders as a very honest and ideologically driven person. A much better alternative than comparing to Hillary Clinton and Trump, Personally I favor ending war on drugs and decreasing military spending, as well as decentralization.
When it comes to freedom, I do not agree that Sanders is a freedom oriented person in the first place. In Europe he would equal to a socialist or a left-wing populist, meaning that one is usually very collectivist or authoritarian in economic questions.
For example, since he has Sweden, Denmark, or Norway as inspiration for welfare it means that he supports high-tax welfare state system that have more than 100 different programs, large bureaucratic systems and also lot of control and commanding behaviors towards the individual. Also, when it comes to immigration Sanders is more of a protectionist and collectivist rather than promoting ideas of free immigration.
An interesting thing is that northern Europe as Sweden and Finland are much more deregulated and open economies than the USA. So if Sanders is for freedom he could promote ideas as basic income, state and local rights regarding humanitarian immigration, visa liberalization with Mexico and green-tax reforms (so that green taxes lead to reduction of income taxes)