Bernie Sanders, a name not particularly recognized by many until now, has been a hot topic in the news recently as a front-runner for the Democratic Party’s nomination. Sanders is a political veteran, having served 25 years on Vermont’s House and Senate as an Independent. He’s got a style of speaking that is very “matter of fact” and has big plans for America if elected President. America is “feeling the Bern,” so here is why, and what you need to know about Bernie Sanders.
Sanders has experience.
Like I said, Sanders isn’t new to this thing called politics. He has represented Vermont in their House and Senate for two and a half decades. In 2012, he won his second term in Senate with 71 percent of the vote. Seventy-one percent. Sanders also happens to be the third ever socialist elected to Congress, according to Newsweek. His 16 years in the House alone (before being elected to Senate) was enough to make him the longest-serving Independent in U.S. history. And now he is running for President…because, obviously.
Sanders favors students.
“That is why I, as President, will fight to make tuition in public colleges and universities free, as well as substantially lower interest rates on student loans,” he said. Sanders believes, plain and simply, higher education should be a basic right. He is also opposed to the government’s $127 billion decade-long profit made on student loans. Although Sanders focuses mainly on higher education, he also states schools shouldn’t be judged solely on the outcome of standardized testing, and that teacher pay needs to be re-vamped immediately.
Sanders digs equality (and you should, too).
I once had a flight with Bernie Sanders. It was in late May and he was flying to Iowa to speak at St. Ambrose University and a few other places throughout the state. My layover was at O’Hare, and I then flew from O’Hare to Moline, Illinois. And Sanders did, too. He didn’t fly first class. He didn’t sit right up front even.
I checked into my flight fairly late and was put into the second to last boarding group. I stood right next to Mr. Sanders in line, because he, too, had failed to check in early. I had no idea who this man was until I saw a few people around him wearing “Bernie 2016” pins. He just seemed like a very average man taking a flight. And that is his thing. He doesn’t want to be treated like a prince, nor does he think it is fair that some people are. Sanders loves the idea of equality, whether that be for women, the poor, black, white, Hispanic, gay, transgender, you name it. He sees himself as a normal guy with big plans for equality. And that’s pretty exciting.
Speaking of equal rights, he has experience there, too.
Sanders grew up in Brooklyn, and later attended the University of Chicago, where he was involved in a non-violent student civil rights group. On equality, Sanders states, “I believe you’re entitled to justice and to equal rights, whether you’re black, whether you’re Hispanic, whether you’re gay, whether you’re transgender. You are a human being.” Equality is an enormous element of Sanders’ platform, and rightfully so as he has defended human rights for years.
Healthcare reform? He's got a plan there, too.
Sanders is pushing for a single-payer, universal health care system, much like Canada, Europe, and many other developed countries. He bluntly stated, “America is the only major country on earth that doesn’t guarantee healthcare to people as a right, and yet we are spending much more than they do.” He doesn’t fail to mention he doesn’t think it will happen tomorrow, but believes it should be “the goal.”
Gun control? No problem.
Sanders wants to reach a “middle ground” on the topic of guns. He is pro-hunting, but also believes “no one needs an AK-47 to hunt.” He believes the laws already put into place regarding background checks need to be “stronger” and “more enforceable” to prevent those with a history of mental illness from purchasing weapons. In regards to the state in which he represented, “coming from a rural state, I think I can communicate with folks coming from urban states where guns mean different things than they do in Vermont where it's used for hunting," Sanders said. "That's where we've got to go. We don't have to argue with each other and yell at each other. We need a commonsense solution."
Sanders supports veterans.
“We have got to, as a moral responsibility, provide the best quality healthcare to the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend us.” Not only did Sanders vote against the war in Iraq, but he also was Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, where he sought to add $50 billion in new spending on veterans’ health programs, according to Newsweek.
Bernie Sanders is a man of the people. Sure, we have heard it before from candidates at each and every election. But this time, I really think Sanders is onto something here, from his views on education reform, to the support of veterans, to equal rights for all. Sanders, one of the older candidates seeking the presidency, certainly isn’t failing to see our modern culture and the changes that need to be made.
