After all the years of sneaking into the voting polls and pressing buttons for my mom that had no actual meaning to me, I am finally old enough to vote. Having the ability to vote comes with a lot of responsibilities. I have taken it upon myself to stay as educated as I possibly can on each candidate while not being swayed by my peers or family members' opinions. With that being said, I think it’s important for college students like me to understand the core values of “the young people’s candidate,” Bernie Sanders. Here are some quick facts to get educated on the potential Democratic nominee.
Wealth inequality.
As president, Bernie Sanders plans to directly address and change the ongoing problem with wealth inequality. By ensuring large corporations pay their fair share in taxes, raising the minimum wage and employing at least 13 million Americans, Bernie plans to put an end to wealth inequality in America
He is a firm believer in Women’s Rights.
In Bernie’s eyes, “a woman has the right to control her own body…not the government.” He also plans to create equal pay in the workplace, which is long overdue.
Sanders wants to tax carbon emissions.
Despite what some people think, global warming is very real and almost nothing has been done to prevent its growth. Sanders plans to tax carbon use which in his eyes is the “most straightforward and efficient strategy for quickly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
He wants to make college affordable.
Yes, you read that correctly. As president, Sanders will fight to help every student have the ability to earn a college degree. He plants to make tuition free at public colleges and universities, stop the federal government from gaining a profit on student loans (it’s true!), and allow students to utilize need-based financial aid to make college debt-free.
L’chaim! Sanders will be the first Jewish president in U.S. history.
Believe it or not, there has never been a Jewish president or vice president in all of U.S. history. Sanders will not only better our country, but he will also make history for Jewish Americans while doing so.
He believes war is not the answer.
Unlike most presidents in the past, Bernie Sanders has consistently voted against nonsense wars. He supports the veterans and wants to completely change the military industrial complex.
Health Care for everyone.
Sanders strongly believes that health care should be recognized as a right, not a privilege. He once stated, “every man, woman, and child in our country should be able to access the healthcare they need regardless of their income.
Sanders gained 100,000 Twitter followers in a month.
He may be the oldest presidential candidate, but he sure knows how to speak for the younger generations. After the second democratic debate in November 2015, Sanders gained almost 50,000 followers immediately.
To read more about Bernie Sanders and his values check out his website.
