A Missed Political Opportunity in Bernie Sanders
By Maxwell Moiseff
By Maxwell Moiseff
As the 2020 Democratic primary draws to close, I am incredibly disappointed to hear that Bernie Sanders is likely to lose to Joe Biden. Although any Democratic candidate would be better than the current president by a considerable margin, Sanders is the candidate most equipped to carry our country forward into a period of recovery and new economic equality.
Despite the fact that Sanders has often been criticized for having naïve plans that cannot be paid for, he does, in fact, have specific funding plans for each aspect of his platform. Under Sanders’ plan, a tax on Wall Street speculation will pay for universal college and student debt cancellation, a tax on overpaid CEOs will fund the elimination of medical debt, and a tax on the wealthiest 1.8% of American will pay for an expansion of Social Security, to name just a few. Moreover, according to a study conducted by Yale University, Medicare for All will save $5 trillion over the next decade.
Many people have attacked Sanders for being too angry or too brash, but we need an angry leader. From extreme poverty to mass pandemic to rapid climate change, our country faces massive problems and we need someone who is passionate enough to be able to take on the issues. A president who is focused on merely defeating Trump is not a candidate who will be able to take our country forward, because Trump is not the only problem that our country has. America has many deep-rooted inequalities and injustices, and we need a candidate brave enough to tackle these problems head-on.
Throughout Bernie Sanders’ long career in politics, it is clear that he has fought for what he truly believes. As far back as the 1970s, Sanders has been in favor of LGBTQ rights, a time when only a minority of Americans agreed with him. In addition, the Sanders campaign has refused to take money from PACs or Super PACs, which goes to show that his belief in toppling the power of the wealthy elite is genuine. His agenda is not mere talk ― he is genuine in his fight for justice and equality.
Despite what I have said in criticism of Biden, I still believe that, should he win the Democratic nomination, it is critical that everyone who believes in LGBTQ issues or womens’ rights should vote for Biden in November. Despite his spotty track record on these issues, Biden is certain to have a better position on these issues than Trump. Our country is riddled with problems, and regardless of whether the candidate is Sanders or Biden, we need a Democratic president who will fight for a better future for the United States.
Despite the fact that Sanders has often been criticized for having naïve plans that cannot be paid for, he does, in fact, have specific funding plans for each aspect of his platform. Under Sanders’ plan, a tax on Wall Street speculation will pay for universal college and student debt cancellation, a tax on overpaid CEOs will fund the elimination of medical debt, and a tax on the wealthiest 1.8% of American will pay for an expansion of Social Security, to name just a few. Moreover, according to a study conducted by Yale University, Medicare for All will save $5 trillion over the next decade.
Many people have attacked Sanders for being too angry or too brash, but we need an angry leader. From extreme poverty to mass pandemic to rapid climate change, our country faces massive problems and we need someone who is passionate enough to be able to take on the issues. A president who is focused on merely defeating Trump is not a candidate who will be able to take our country forward, because Trump is not the only problem that our country has. America has many deep-rooted inequalities and injustices, and we need a candidate brave enough to tackle these problems head-on.
Throughout Bernie Sanders’ long career in politics, it is clear that he has fought for what he truly believes. As far back as the 1970s, Sanders has been in favor of LGBTQ rights, a time when only a minority of Americans agreed with him. In addition, the Sanders campaign has refused to take money from PACs or Super PACs, which goes to show that his belief in toppling the power of the wealthy elite is genuine. His agenda is not mere talk ― he is genuine in his fight for justice and equality.
Despite what I have said in criticism of Biden, I still believe that, should he win the Democratic nomination, it is critical that everyone who believes in LGBTQ issues or womens’ rights should vote for Biden in November. Despite his spotty track record on these issues, Biden is certain to have a better position on these issues than Trump. Our country is riddled with problems, and regardless of whether the candidate is Sanders or Biden, we need a Democratic president who will fight for a better future for the United States.