With the presidential election looming in the near future, more and more candidates are coming forward hoping to gain the main party nominations. While five candidates fight for the Democratic nomination and 14 fight for the Republican, only one will gain the title of President. Despite Congress having to be involved in all decisions made by the President, they will all be geared towards the President’s beliefs and agenda. Although all the optimistic candidates have their strong points, some are better suited for the position than others. Here are 18 reasons why Bernie Sanders should be President.
1. He believes all public higher education should be free.
College is imperative for career success nowadays, but with it costing anywhere from $20,000-$60,000 a year, it’s not always an option for people. Education is a right that every citizen should be able to access if they choose, not a privilege for the financially stable.
2. He’s against tax breaks for the 1 percent.
Sanders thinks that this nation belongs to everyone, not only the millionaires and billionaires. He believes that the only way to rebuild our infrastructure, create more jobs, and reduce wealth inequality is to raise the taxes on one-percenters.
3. He believes that we should stop outsourcing our goods manufacturing.
We shouldn't outsource to other countries to make our goods while many of our own citizens remain jobless.
4. He believes in the regulation of Wall Street.
Need I say more?
5. He’s Jewish.
More importantly, he would be the first non-Christian president the United States has ever had. While anti-Semitism isn't a major issue in the US, it is still an issue nonetheless. Additionally, it would curb the influence that the "because the Bible says so" argument has on decisions that affect the entire country.
6. He wants to protect Social Security for future generations.
Social Security provides retirement benefits for citizens. Anyone who works has money taken out of their paycheck for Social Security, no matter what age they are. However, government is threatening to take the money stored away for our generation. Sanders believes that everyone deserves the benefits that previous generations have had.
7. He wants to increase the minimum wage.
The minimum wage has not kept up with the increase in the cost of living. In many places, the minimum wage is so nowhere near enough to offset the cost of living that even those with jobs are homeless because minimum wage can't afford them a place to live.
8. He wants to avoid a never-ending war in the Middle East.
War is taking tax dollars that could be invested in things such as Social Security, providing education to low-income students, or the national debt. Additionally, it is risking lives of US citizens. Sanders wants to do everything possible to avoid a war in the Middle East because that is most likely a war that will never end.
9. He wants more funding for health care for veterans.
Our veterans risked their lives, spent months away from their family, and more often than not come home with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, anxiety, amputated limbs, and many other mental or physical injuries. After everything they've sacrificed for our country, it is our responsibility to provide them with the best health care possible.
10. He has no scandals related to him.
Cough, cough, Hillary.
11. He believes world peace is on the whole world.
The United States is not the police force for the world. It is not up to our country to make sure that everyone else is behaving amicably. It is the equal responsibility of all of the worlds' countries to keep the peace.
12. He believes corporations should not be able to fund political campaigns.
Large corporations should not be allowed to access their treasuries and give millions of dollars to political campaigns, ultimately buying an election. That's not the way democracy is supposed to work.
13. He believes in sensible gun control.
Those who own and use guns responsibly have the right to do so, but we need to face reality. It's far too easy for those who would do us harm to get a gun. There's a fine line between too much and not enough gun control, but Sanders isn't naive enough to believe that gun control will end all the violence the United States experiences.
14. He wants a carbon tax.
Carbon pollution is one of the biggest environmental risks our earth faces. It's causing our ozone layers to deplete and is one of the leading factors of global warming. Charging companies per ton of carbon emitted will help dramatically reduce carbon pollution.
15. He believes in affordable health care.
Sanders believes that health care is a human right. Everyone should be able to get treatment when sick or injured without the fear that they will go bankrupt.
16. He’s all for marriage equality.
The Supreme Court has the words "Equal Justice Under Law" engraved on their building. This equal justice includes anyone in the LGBT community. Any decision regarding a law, including marriage and the benefits received, needs to be all inclusive.
17. He believes abortion is a woman's unrestricted right, and a personal decision.
What a woman decides to do with her body is her decision. Plain and simple.
18. He believes we should prioritize green energy.
Our dependence on fossil fuel pollutes our planet and inhibits our progress as a people. Green energy is an imperative step to saving our planet and guaranteeing that future generations can not only live here, but strive for greatness as well.
