Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Senator Bernie Sanders. I have gotten into many heated debates, posted dozens of videos and articles, and I love rocking my “Feel the Bern, Bitches" t-shirt. So, here are the top five reasons I support Bernie and think you should too.
5. He will enact change and represent me well as a black, middle-class woman.
People say that he has started the revolution, and that is powerful — a presidential candidate who doesn't want to change or work within the current system, but instead, wants to completely start a new one. Bernie has not only said he can make things happen, but he has also shown this. If you watch old videos of a young Sanders, you can see the passion and fire he has for changing the political machine, and he has dedicated his entire life to fixing the flaws.
My voting for Bernie is selfish. Completely selfish. I know that Bernie is my best option for ridding our society of systemic racism and sexism because not only has he consistently fought for this, but he has enacted legislation that supports the rights of women and people of color.
By sitting on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, he has advocated for those who have been cheated in these systems. In sponsoring the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, Bernie has not only fought a plague on the black and Latino communities, but he has fought for the elimination of minimal sentencing which has disproportionately put blacks and latinos in prison more than any other race.
4. Bernie is a politician with integrity.
Bernie has taken firm legislative positions and has stuck with them. Instead of changing his stance when confronted, he has explained why he did what he did and why he believes what he believes. For example, the Brady Bill. Yes, he did support most aspects of the Brady Bill but was against others like blaming well-operated gun shops (meaning they have followed the law to a T) in Vermont for a customer who “does something crazy.”
His not taking donations from corporations is incredibly important. He is making a statement that he cannot be bought. He isn't just saying that he can't be bought by business interests, but he's demonstrating in real time that it is indeed possible to take corporate money out of politics. He is being funded by the people he has promised to represent — his constituents. He and his campaign represent a government for the people, by the people.
3. Bernie has been fighting the good fight since the beginning.
While in college, a young Bernie Sanders organized and protested against unequal rights in housing laws and education because, even in the 60s, he was aware of his white privilege. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and other black activists in Washington in efforts to create better and more job opportunities for blacks because he knew that you cannot fight racial inequality without fixing the economic system. He has been fighting for women’s right to choose, gay marriage and equal pay for his entire political career. He has consistently been against police militarization, big banks and for strengthening the middle class.
2. Bernie Sanders is the only presidential candidate to argue for equal pay for all.
Bernie Sanders is the only candidate to discuss the fact that black men are still paid less and that Latina women get paid less than anyone. Bernie is fighting for equal pay for not just women, but all minorities who are not paid the same for the same work.
1. Bernie Sanders is an underdog, and everyone loves a good underdog.
Bernie has fought poor media coverage, petty DNC antics and the stereotype of the average old white man. Bernie is not your average old white man. He is woke AF and isn’t afraid to fight against the grain. Somehow, he has rapidly gathered immense support from the most liberal generation. It has been predicted that he is our best shot to beat the GOP, and I believe that he is our best chance to continue changing America for the better. He is our best chance at getting closer to equality. He's the underdog solely because he's the only candidate truly running for the people.
