The Pros And Cons Of Bernie Sanders

With the 2016 campaign currently taking place in the United States, several candidates have captured the attention of thousands. Both of the political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, have unusual candidates running for the Presidency. It even seems as if some of the current candidates are just desperate for attention. However, the runners seizing attention, such as Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, have political views located on the opposite ends of the spectrum from each other. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic candidate and Vermont senator, is a seventy-four-year-old Jewish man who carries unusual qualities from other political candidates. Sanders manages to grasp the attentiveness of the citizens by addressing the many

issues concerning Americans. His title as a democratic socialist, his “underdog” background, and his environmental policies that convey to many environmentally concerned voters, make Bernie Sanders stand out.

Many United States Americans have the notion that socialism is tied to bad connotations. Due to this misinformed belief, politicians avoid the title “socialist” in order to keep a good reputation. However, Bernie Sanders stays true to being a socialist despite the misunderstandings of the true meaning behind socialism. The Jewish candidate identifies as a democratic socialist, but because this includes the word “socialist”, some people move far from supporting Sanders. In actuality, democratic socialists have ideals far from those of notorious dictators, such as Joseph Stalin. At a 1981 Boston Globe event, Sanders even states, “I’ve stayed away from calling myself a socialist because I did not want to spend half my life explaining that I did not believe in the Soviet Union or in concentration camps” (Kruse 2). As matter of fact, Sanders has no wicked intentions. He believes in policies that involve government taking action in financially supporting the healthcare, childcare, college education, and more. This means not allowing the government to be controlled

by the influence of money from large corporations. Sanders thinks that the United States should function like other countries, such as Finland, in terms of low-income inequality, parental leave benefits, free healthcare, and other policies that wouldn’t burden citizens with debt. What thousands of people admire about Sanders is his watchfulness over government regulation in the economy. A professor from the University of Memphis once wrote that Sanders believes that socialism means that we create a society where “poverty is absolutely unnecessary”, corporations aren’t greedy, and “where human beings can own the means of production and work together…” (Kruse 3). From his belief for free college education to his desire for free childcare, Sanders reaches out to citizens of all ages. Not only does Bernie Sanders attract an abundance of people for his absurd title as a socialist, but also because of how much his background differs from other politicians.
The typical political candidate comes from a wealthy background. In terms of early life, Bernie Sanders is the “underdog.” Sanders grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn and was an ordinary student in high school. None of his classmates ever recalled his interest in politics. Although he wished to attend a college out of town, Sanders had to attend
Brooklyn College, to get free tuition, like most students.

This part of his background is what reflects on his policies today. Sanders attracts the attention of young adults because he wants make college free and available to everybody, regardless of their financial status. He even stated in an interview, “When I was a kid growing up, I think my instincts always were for the underdog…” (Barkan 5). While in college, Bernie studied what he wanted, rather than what he was told to. He stood out from the average student by participating in major historical movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Peace Movement. This is where Sanders developed most of his keen interest for politics. Many people can relate to Sanders’s early hardships, from his tragic family life to having financial adversities. Aside from his relatable upbringing, the Jewish presidential candidate has stolen the hearts of many

Earth-lovers.
Usually political officials are only concerned about issues regarding the economy and social principles. A majority of the time, candidates are too busy focusing on materialistic policies and they completely disregard one of the biggest concerns in the world: climate change. However, Bernie Sanders not only prioritizes his economic and social values, but also his concern regarding environment. This passionate side of Sanders further expands his number of supporters. He was actively involved in combating climate change and was voted the number one Climate Leader in the 113th Senate by the Climate Hawks Vote. According to Senator Bill McKibben, in terms of climate issues, Sanders “has been the most aggressive voice in Senate” (Adler 3). The Vermont senator made many efforts, while in Senate, to pass bills and acts regarding the environment, such as, the Green Jobs Act that allowed funding for clean and efficient energy research and job training. Bernie Sanders expresses the urgency for environmental policies because if we don’t go through with these policies, then we will face “more drought, more famine, more rising sea levels, more floods, more ocean acidification, more extreme weather disturbances, more disease and more human suffering” (Barkan 2). As more people become further educated about the dire state of our environment, Sanders becomes a popular topic among citizens.
Bernie Sanders, a Democratic candidate, catches the attention of thousands across the nation. The Jewish candidate labels himself as a “democratic socialist,” which to some people this term has a bad connotation. However, his views show that democratic socialism is far from terrible. Sanders is relatable because of his early life struggles and his environmental concerns. He addresses issues concerning people of all ages because of his diverse political views. The aspiring Vermont senator proves to be different than the candidates who only say what others want to hear. These factors could lead Bernie Sanders to a successful election as the 2016 Democratic nominee and possibly the next President of the United States.