With the presidential primaries heating up, a lot of millennials and adults alike have been voicing their support for their choice candidates. One of the candidates that has received an influx of unexpected attention is Bernie Sanders. Starting out over a year ago as a largely unknown politician from Vermont, his backyard campaign events of under one hundred supporters grew into a presidential campaign supported by thousands, turning Bernie Sanders into a household name. His controversial views have catapulted him nearly to the top of the voting pool, with promises of higher minimum wages and free tuition for public colleges.
A few months ago at my own high-school wide election, students were given the chance to voice their opinion in the presidential race. As a result, discussions were political and campaign posters littered the hallway. One poster, in particular, grabbed the attention of many students, stating “Want free college? Vote Bernie Sanders!” But is it truly that easy? According to the yearly budget published by the White House, the current budget for the national department of education is $77.4 billion U.S dollars. Research recently conducted by the Atlantic Journal shows that the cost of making public universities free would carry an annual price tag of $62.6 billion dollars. The budget of the federal government is decided between the president and congress each year to properly address issues and concerns of all U.S Departments. Even with the current budget, some states already lack necessary funding for their schools. Taking away over half of this budget is an insane, unrealistic expectation of the government. In the end, it would only hurt the students in our public schools.
The idea of free college is not the only progressive ideal that Bernie Sanders has proposed, but it seems to be the main focal point of many young adult voters. Despite the challenges Mr. Sanders’ views may face when brought before the U.S congress, the effect he has had on the average teenage voter is undeniable. In Ohio especially, Bernie has made an impact on 17-year-olds. When a member of the federal government contested the constitutional right of 17-year-olds to vote in the Ohio state primary, it was Bernie Sanders who sued the state to protect our rights as citizen voters. Without these debates and Bernie’s determinations, a portion of voters from the Ohio primary on March 14th would not have been able to make their voices heard. There is no question that Bernie Sanders is a man who speaks honestly and believes his views do nothing but benefit the American people. Only after the conclusion of the state primaries will we be able to see whether or not these unconventional views will become the downfall of teens’ favorite candidate.
Grabbing the attention of America’s youth, controversial candidates like Bernie Sanders are promoting growth in voting turnout. In the 2008 and 2012, U.S. Presidential elections, the number of youth voters tripled when compared to the 2004 elections. This number is expected to see growth again in the election of 2016. It’s easy to see these candidates are having a positive effect on American voters, by changing the status quo and questioning how politics should be viewed in the United States. No matter your views on which candidate deserves to be sworn into office, there’s no doubt the participation of unusual candidates is changing American views on politics.
