Bernie Sanders broke with typical political standards last Monday as he spoke at Liberty University's Convocation. In the past, the school has hosted exclusively Republican candidates such as Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz despite their open invitation to all presidential candidates from both parties.
As Sanders attempted to bridge the gap between his liberal views and the more conservative views of his audience, he talked a lot of the problems that need to be addressed in America and very little about how he plans to remedy these problems. He sought to find “common ground” on issues of caring for the poor and sick and the need to see everyone treated equally regardless of their race. These issues have always been of concern to Christians, the difference between them and Sanders is the method proposed as a solution.
“Do to others what you would have them do to you” said Sanders as he quoted Matthew 7:12, also known as the Golden Rule. He said this as he asked students to recognize the injustice and immorality of economic inequality.
While both sides might agree on these points, the difference comes when one looks at the proposed solutions to the issues. Christian principles say that the Church and its members should care for others through charitable giving and the recognition that all people equal as we are all made in the image of God. They see this as a part of their mission to show God’s love in their community and to the world.
Sanders on the other hand is a proponent of socialism and wealth redistribution. His plans for increased minimum wages, universal government healthcare, and free college education would require a dramatic increase in federal taxes while also increasing the strain on large and small companies alike, threatening the security of American jobs.
Greece is one of the European countries with the highest amount of socialist influence in its government. A government which is currently defaulting on its debt, has a 46 percent income tax rate, and over 25 percent unemployment, is really the model of government that we should be striving toward?
Sanders also preached on racial inequality with uneven barriers between the numbers of unemployed African American teens compared to white teens and the dramatically higher rate of incarcerated African Americans compared to white. What he failed to acknowledge is the fact that, based on statistics, African American families are more likely to reside in inner city areas where unemployment as a whole is lower. African Americans are also responsible for a larger portion of the crimes that take place in this country and as a result have a higher number of incarcerated individuals.
When asked about healing the racial divide in the country, Sanders replied that the election of President Obama was a step forward for this country, as the country elected a black president not based on the color of his skin but by his policies. But if electing Obama was such a huge step forward, then why has the racial divide only grown during his presidency?
While it is doubtful that Sanders picked up any new supporters on Monday, there are two lessons that can be learned from his visit. First, that it is possible for people of opposite views to gather in mutual respect for one another and discuss our views without protests and jeering from the crowd. Also, when you go to cast your ballot this spring and next fall, make sure that you have researched not only the direction that each candidate sees for the country, but also how they plan to get there.
