If you were to interview a random selection of Americans, you would find that most people have a pretty strong opinion about Bernie Sanders and/or Donald Trump.
Neither of these crazy-haired men fit the criteria of a typical candidate in their respective parties, and both of these men have made a lot of people very angry and a lot of people very excited.
Despite our individual political beliefs, I believe that we can all agree that both Sanders and Trump, in the same way, have benefited American politics.
Not through their policies, their successes, or their hairstyles -- for these are all things that we can disagree on. Instead, let's take a look at what I said earlier. Most people have a pretty strong opinion about Bernie Sanders and/or Donald Trump.
These men have benefited our country by causing more Americans to care about politics. Sanders and Trump have been the source of a lot of rage and a lot of glee among American citizens, and it has caused us to voice our opinion and to get involved. They have made us emotional. Or, as I'd like to say: Sanders and Trump, "Make American Feel Again."
(Get it?)
Whether or not either of these candidates reach the White House, they have made an impact. Their presence has brought two kinds of Americans to the voting polls, who have never before felt inclined to vote. First, it has engaged the Americans who have never before, until now, found a candidate that they can get behind. These are Americans who dislike traditional politics, and have found comfort and passion in either Sander's or Trump's nontraditional methods and beliefs. Secondly, these men have brought voters to the polls who feel so adamantly against Trump or Sanders that they want to vote solely to vote against them.
Either way, more people are getting involved in politics, and our democracy is strengthened as the voice of the people grows.
It does show in the voting polls. Pew Research produced an article that stated that throughout the first 12 primaries of 2016, the Republican voter turnout has been the highest since 1980, and the Democratic turnout has been the highest since 1992. (The 2008 election is an exception to this, with an extremely high turnout.)
Additionally, Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University talked to NPR about the high youth voter turnout in Iowa, especially for Bernie Sanders.
As she said, "The fact that young people turned out in pretty large number for Bernie Sanders may be an indication that he is a candidate that can turn out a person that would otherwise not come out to vote in primary and caucuses."
Whether or not Trump or Sanders find success in this election, they are making a difference by reaching people that have otherwise not been reached by American politics.
Voting is critical, but even if the increased voting rate doesn't continue into the general election, people are getting involved. Millennials are blowing up social media with political posts. High school students, too young to vote, are being vocal about politics. People who have never cared before are caring now, and the political conversation is gaining new voices.
There is still a very long way to go in engaging our citizens and strengthening our democracy, but for now, despite our political opinions or party affiliation, we have to thank both Trump and Sanders, for waking up so many Americans to the role they can have in their country's politics.
