Bernie Sanders is a controversial guy; most people either love him or hate him. That being said, there are some very strong opinions coming from both sides of the argument. As a supporter, I have come to find those opposed to his views say a lot of repetitive things to/about those who are in favor...
1. Bernie Sanders supporters are sexist.
I'm sorry, but just because I am supporting a man for president does not mean that I am sexist. While I'm sure there are some sexist Sanders supporters, this is a sweeping generalization. Historically, Sanders' voting record is the most pro-woman of any candidate in the 2016 election. While I have no problem with a woman being president (I'd actually love a woman to be president), I'm basing my support on the candidate's stances and voting record.
"When you tell a woman that she cannot control her own body, that’s extremism. Let's say it loud and clear: women control their bodies, not the government." -@berniesanders #womenforbernie #feelthebern #yolo #bernieswag
A photo posted by Ginger 🐺 (@gingerismynameimnotlying) on
2. Bernie Sanders supporters just like free things.
Actually, Bernie Sanders supporters like equity, which is what some people have been referring to as 'free things.' For example, let's look at American health care. The United States spends far more of its GDP on healthcare than peer countries (see figure below).
Exhibit 1. Healthcare Spending as a Percentage of GDP, 1980 - 2013
This may lead you to believe that the U.S. has the healthiest people, but that assumption is incorrect. The United States just has more expensive health interventions than other OECD countries. Life expectancy is actually longer in countries that spend much less on healthcare (see figure below).
Part of this can be attributed to the health care insurance system in the U.S; insurance premiums are rising while quality is getting worse. Over half of United States physicians say their clients have trouble paying for healthcare. This relates to Sanders because he wants to change this troubling narrative by creating a federally administered single-payer system in which one government entity is responsible for collecting healthcare fees and paying for healthcare costs (Canada, Denmark, Taiwan, and Sweden have this type of system). Yes, this would mean virtually free healthcare for citizens. I support this because it supports an equitable government, giving everyone the help they need at the cost they are able to pay.
3. Bernie Sanders supporters do not understand economics.
I understand economics, thank you very much. This is something that I hear extremely frequently, and it really gets on my nerves. I understand economics, but I can also see how capitalism has failed American citizens (I am aware that the U.S. is not a purely capitalist society, but the term neoliberalism is not as well understood as it should be). I don't feel the need to prove myself to those ignorant enough to make this statement, but if someone feels this way, respond by sending them this letter, written by 170 of the nation's top economists, endorsing Sanders' plan to reform Wall Street. You could also send them this article, which details different economist's viewpoints in regard to Sanders' plan, many of which were not covered in the mainstream media.
4. Bernie Sanders supporters are annoying and post too much on Facebook.
I have a piece of advice to people who say this: learn about the "unfriend" button on Facebook. There is also an "unfollow" button, for those who want to keep their number of friends the same, but do not want to see all their friends' posts.
5. Bernie Sanders is a communist. You are a communist for supporting him.
Actually, Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist. There is a difference between socialism and communism. In the simplest terms, an economy answers the questions of "how is it made," "who makes it," and "who gets to buy it?" A country's economy determines who answers these questions. In a communist economy, the government answers all these questions because all business and property is public. In a capitalist economy, the people answer these questions because the market has the power. In a socialist economy, both the government and the people answer these questions; the government operates the system to help all, but there is opportunity for private property and wealth.
As for myself, I am also a democratic socialist, and I have been for about three years. Not all supporters have the same political affiliation as I do -- supporting a candidate does not mean your political ideologies are exactly the same as theirs. So maybe there are some communists for Bernie, but I have yet to meet them.
6. You must be one of 'those' Bernie Sanders supporters...
When I see or hear this, I assume 'those' Bernie Sanders supporters are Bernie Bros. Bernie Bros are gross individuals who use their support for Bernie Sanders as an excuse to be terrible human beings. They generally harass people by making sexist, racist, etc. comments because they support other candidates. The majority of Sanders supporters are not like this, but internet trolls tend to be more active than others online, which is giving Sanders' supporters a bad reputation. Individuals who work for Sanders' campaign have made statements against the 'Bros' and have to spend their time personally apologizing to those they've harassed. Are you a supporter who's unsure if they know / are a Bernie Bro? Check out the unofficial Bernie Bro Code and find out.
I would like to dedicate this article to all the Bernie Sanders haters.
#hatersgonnahate
