American elections are more entertaining and filled with theatrics than most television dramas of the 21st Century. American politics are dominated by two parties: Democrats and Republicans. The Republicans lean towards conservatism, while the Democrats are more of a moderate bunch. Each party has it’s own nominee who competes with the other nominee for the White House. To determine the nominee, each party has internal elections.
2016 saw Republican candidate Donald Trump thump the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, by a huge margin. After a dismal 4 years, the Americans have been given a chance at ‘liberation’ as the 2020 election is now just around the corner. While Donald Trump is undeniably the Republican nominee, the election for the Democratic nominee was filled with turmoil and turbulence.
The democratic election started with 12 nominees, most of whom aren’t worthy of a mention in my opinion. A brief period into the election saw only 6 nominees, namely Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Mike Bloomberg. February 26, the day of the South Carolina primary, saw Joe Biden more or less eradicate any chance of victory for all, except Sanders and himself.
The election boiled down to the big two: Joseph Biden and Bernard Sanders, with Biden earning the endorsements of an array of influencers. 9th April 2020 will be etched in American minds as one of the darkest days in American politics. Yes, Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign, paving way for Biden to be the nominee who shall face Trump in November.
Bernard Sanders, a Jewish, Socialist Democrat was a life-long politician who managed to win over the hearts of millions across the world. I envied America for having a leader like Bernie while India still suffers under corrupt leaders run by corporate biggies.
Let’s take a look at what Bernie Sanders campaigned for:
Bernie Sanders has been a lifelong advocate of social, democratic, and progressive policies, to combat economic inequality and exploitation of the working class. He has been the voice of the labour class and has put forth policies such as Medicare for All, which is a universal single-payer healthcare system, wherein the government provides for the insurance of citizens rather than corporates. This policy prevents corporates from taking advantage of people for supernormal profits. This policy was received with open arms by the working class and the 44 million uninsured Americans.
His tuition-free college education was celebrated by students who were deep in student debt. Sanders was the ideal choice for a staggering 84% American students. He campaigned to cancel all student debt, claiming an education is a fundamental right and should be free of cost.
Bernie Sanders was on the forefront, fighting for climate change with the ambitious Green New Deal, which creates jobs along with improving the climate.
Since I save dessert for the end, lets now take a look at his most juicy, yet controversial policy. I love controversies, as long as they don’t involve me. Anyways, back to Mr Sanders. Bernie had proposed raising the taxes on the super-rich class of Americans to 49%.
The richest 1% of the USA holds over 40% of the total wealth, accumulating over $38 trillion. Bernie’s policies would see billionaires paying almost half their wealth, which would be diverted in helping the economically weaker, working-class, small businesses and students prosper.
Each year, the gap between the richest 1% and poorest 60% keeps on growing. The rich keep getting richer. He has also protested the trade deal with China, which cost America over 3 million jobs. Bernie Sanders was the voice of the people in the American assembly, which was otherwise dominated by puppets of corporate giants.
His exit from the Democratic primary has left many across the world heartbroken. Bernard Sanders will go down as a Man of the People in the books of history. Politicians who fight for the people are hard to come across, and what Bernie Sanders has done is commendable.
Bernie Sanders is a legend.
Featured image credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr.