As the dust clears and people have begun packing up their Bernie Sanders posters and buttons, many feel that hope is lost. We may never live in a country with universal healthcare or free tuition, but we will keep one thing--the knowledge that we are hungry for change.
This is not a sit-down generation; it's a stand up, revolution seeking generation. We know exactly what we want, and even though Bernie might not be President, there is still so much we can get done
1. We can get the money out of politics.
This goal is definitely the hardest one to achieve, but we won't need Sanders as president in order to get the money out of politics. We can start by not voting in officials who have ties to large interest groups with heavy influence. This means we should stop electing officials--from either party--who accept money from Super PACs and similar groups. The enormous donations from corporations come with strings attached, and those strings often directly interfere with the interest of the common people. The only way to bring about change here is to go to the Government.
Our Government is just so massive that it will take time, but beyond time it will take strong campaigning and more votes. Just like how thousands showed up to Bernie rallies and stood in lines for hours, they should flock to voting stations and support those who aren't influenced by money. Don't vote for politicians who are aligned with Super PACs, don't vote for those who have major conflict of interest--as in, don't elect those who are obviously there to gain something for themselves and their wealthy constituents.
2. An environmental revolution is on the way.
"Water quality reports indicate that 45 percent of U.S. streams, 47 percent of lakes, and 32 percent of bays are polluted." Almost all of U.S. streams and lakes are polluted? How are people comfortable with this information? Children play in those streams and lakes, some even get their fish or their water from these sources.
Not shocking enough? "Forty percent of America’s rivers are too polluted for fishing, swimming or aquatic life. The lakes are even worse -- over 46% are too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life. " We have literally created an inhospitable wild. Land which once belonged to creatures is now poisonous to them. Think of how many rivers and lakes currently have sewage mixed in them.
This isn't just a pollution problem, this is also a waste problem. One of the biggest wastes of water falls under the agriculture industry. 90% of water used in the U.S is in agriculture, but much of that water is used in wasteful ways. It takes 1,799 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef.
The water investment on beef alone is disturbing, when that water can be used 10 times over on fruits and vegetables, which can provide better nutrition for more people. Simply by eating less meat, you can cut back on your total water waste and pollution. We don't need to win elections to change the world.
3. We can eliminate discrimination on a national level.
It is shameful that in 2016, racism, sexism, and homophobia have to be addressed. We shouldn't be arguing for equal pay, because that should be a given. We shouldn't be arguing about who can and can't marry who, because that should also be a given! We have to stop supporting those who simply support change. We have to start voting in those who are the reason for change. They cannot fit the model of a progressive, they must be the model for a progressive.
You don't even need to be a politician to be progressive. If you see something that can get changed, speak up and act. To some, you may come across as rude or crazy, but if that's what it takes to create a better world for us all, then do it. Just educating people on what is right and wrong goes a long way--far more than trying to fight them or actively change their minds.
I'm hopeful that Bernie Sanders is the next president of the U.S., but at this point in the race, it seems everyone has lost faith. The problem is when people lose that faith, they will also lose the motivation to create meaningful change. We cannot let this momentum die out. With a few simple changes to what we do on a normal basis, we can still achieve many goals that we would have under Sanders.
