Endorsement: Bernie Sanders for President

Most of you may have already known this, but now I want to formally declare my support of Senator Bernie Sanders (I/Socialist-VT) for president of the United States of America.

Another neoliberal deregulator with a history of endorsing imperialistic wars is never going to be my top pick.  But I'm especially thrilled to be offered such a meaningful alternative to the disappointments the administration has caused me as Bernie.

Sanders presence in the race is a game changes for the debate, because of his bold issue positions and eloquence, as well as an incredibly stubborn ability to stay on message no matter what he's hit with.

Sanders' presence means we'll all be talking about his agenda, including

Massive infrastructure investments- our own military says 1/4 of our bridges are in danger of collapse!  From the statehouses to Washington, Republicans are waging war on the very idea of public goods like roads and power grids, and Democrats are only supporting them with contracts for private vendors.  We need to fix our infrastructure, and we should do it as a government, not as a client of any number of firms.

Repeal of the Patriot Act and restoration of the fourth amendment.

Free four-year university- a well trained workforce is a more productive workforce, and it can easily be paid for by a tiny fraction of a financial transactions tax.

A judicial litmus test to overturn Citizens United and keep corporations from donating freely, also abolishing SUPER PACs which can accept unlimited donations, allowing a handful of billionaires to singlehandedly finance hand-picked candidates

Health care- Bernie supports true public insurance- a single payer model like the rest of the world uses to take profit entirely out of the equation of insurance. This means lower prices, better access, and more prevention for everyone. If market based insurance is such a wonder, why do we so consistently underperform in everything from overhead costs to infant mortality?

Congressional or regulatory action to break up the banks labeled “to big to fail”

a 100% pro-choice record from NARAL

Aggressive action on climate change- Sanders sponsored the failed bill to impose a tax on carbon and methane emissions.

Also, here's a guy who is really being honest about that “small donations only” rule, and who has seen positive results from so many excellent experiments in Vermont. Bernie knows policy, and knows how to sell it, and we're very lucky to have him on our side. Concerned about plant safety in the wake of the Japanese disaster, he has endorsed a moratorium on nuclear power. He has all his positions listed under three big umbrellas, and climate change is one of them! Bernie is saying all the right things, and has done all the right things- let's remember his 9 hour filibuster against Obama's abolition of the estate tax and slashing Social Security! Let's remember his support for student loan refinancing! Let's vote Bernie!

His presence means Clinton will have to answer questions on critical issues from the Trans Pacific Partnership and the menace it poses to a dozen sovereignties all the way back home to fixing the payroll tax so that even the rich have to contribute to Social Security. Simple fixes like Bernie's plan would give Social Security an extra 30 years of perfect solvency while allowing us to expand benefits to more who need them.

For starting a conversation on meaningful, progressive redistribution, Bernie Sanders is my guy.

Bernie is the best candidate I could ever have hoped for. Being able to hear a candidate talk about public works, meaningful environmental regulation as a top priority, free education, and so many other things has really inspired me to redouble my involvement. We can't let the people who brought us the TPP and the Iraq war dominate the discussion, and Bernie's mere presence, let alone any victories he may win, is a great service to our attempt at democracy, and means a great deal to me.

Berniesanders.com is a great place to go for news, and anyone in my vicinity should email stl4bernie@outlook.com for specifics on local opportunities for involvement. We need to support Bernie with everything we've got!

Solidarität, Genossinnen und Genossen.