With the presidential campaign coming up in 2016, a lot of candidates are surfacing in both of the main parties, Republican and Democratic. Bernie Sanders is one of the front runners of the Democratic Party, with support coming from all of the states, and especially from millennials, who are attracted to his ideas of equality and free college. If you're looking for a candidate to follow, then check out this list of Sanders' ideas and opinions on the hard issues that we're facing today.
1. Climate Change
Sanders believes that climate change is indeed a real thing that is happening, and that it is caused by humans. He has sponsored a bill that would charge companies for their carbon emissions, and would put the money towards renewable energy technology.
2. Taxes
A big proponent of taxing the wealthy more heavily while lowering the taxes of the middle-class and lower-class, Sanders would like to use the money that would be gained through raising the upper classes taxes to lower the taxes of the lower classes.
3. Women's Rights
Unlike some of his Republican opponents, Sanders believes that gender inequality is still at large in the US, and wants to help disbar some of the norms that are held up today in our society. For example, he supports fighting for pay equity for women, who are payed 78 cents for every dollar that a man is payed, while African-American women are payed only 64 cents for every dollar a man is payed.
4. Marijuana
Sanders believes that by legalizing marijuana, the economy will be stimulated, especially by taxing it. He also would like to exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws.
5. Minimum Wage
The national minimum wage as of now is $7.25/hr, and Sanders desires to raise it to $15 so that everyone makes what is called a "living wage."
6. Immigration
Basically the opposite of Trump, Sanders believes in what he says is a "fair and human" immigration reform that includes bringing 11 million undocumented humans out of the shadows and into the light while documenting them and making them citizens of this great melting pot that we call USA. Sanders himself is a son of immigrants, so he feels very strongly about these issues.
7. Gun Control
He has voted on background checks at gun shows and immediate background checks when buying a gun, and has also voted to ban semi-automatic guns.
8. Abortion
Pro-choice, Sanders believes that any woman of any class has the right to her own body, and also voted for emergency contraception at hospitals for women that were raped. He has also defended Planned Parenthood funding.
9. Education
One of the biggest points that have drawn millennials to Sanders is his view on college tuition rates. He believes that there should be two years of free tuition at state universities, and that there should be a student loan reform. He would allow anyone paying off a student loan currently to refinance at a lower rate.
10. Campaign Finance
Probably one of the biggest differences between Sanders and Hilary Clinton is their views on campaign sponsorships. Sanders doesn't believe in corporations sponsoring candidates, and if elected will propose a Constitutional amendment that will effectively reverse the Supreme Court's ruling that corporations and non-profits can give to candidates unlimited amounts of money.
Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/bernie-sanders...
