What Bernie Sanders Running for President Means

Gracie Brett

This is big deal. This is a huge deal. The GOP uses the word “socialist” against President Obama as a derogatory term. And President Obama runs away from this idea, he doesn’t tout it like Senator Sanders.

Being a total political wonk, I have watched (and adored) Bernie Sanders for a few years now. If you’re not familiar with this man, let me fill you in. He is a senator from Vermont, and a self-proclaimed socialist. Recently he shocked Americans by throwing his hat into the ring for the 2016 presidential election. He is running as a Democrat, so far the only candidate to challenge Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Let’s also get another thing straight: what exactly is socialism? First off, socialism is not communism. It is not equivalent to the word “commie” like many Republicans would suggest. Socialism is an economic and political model where major industries are owned by the government. These industries don’t have to be exclusively owned by the government, though. Our public school system is socialism in action. The government operates public schools for no cost, other than the taxes you pay. Private schools can still exist. But having a public option keeps education accessible and affordable for everyone. Socialism is alive and well in America, many just don’t realize it.

Public libraries? Socialism. The U.S. Postal Service? Socialism. Roads and bridges maintained by the government? Socialism. Universal healthcare? Socialism.

Capitalism is allowing the private sector to rule the market unchecked, essentially. Inserting a little socialism in an economy can ensure corporations don’t gain too much power or charge outlandish and unfair rates by offering a quality, competitive government service. Laissez faire is the most idiotic and idealistic concept that has ever graced economics, except maybe trickle-down. If the government didn’t protect the consumer, do you think corporations will do it out of the goodness in their hearts? The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) checks the quality of our food. Without it, KFC could claim their chickens are organic, natural, and raised on the moon if they wanted to, and nothing would happen to them. McDonald’s could claim their burgers are zero calories. Companies could lie to the consumer with no consequence.

Bernie Sanders running for president could reinvent the way Americans view socialism. Most Americans have a negative connotation of this term, immediately associating it with communism, total government control, no freedom. The socialist nations of Denmark, Finland, Norway New Zealand, Belgium and Ireland are just as free as us. They are just as free as us and have lower healthcare costs, a better education system, have a smaller carbon footprint and are—I kid you not—statistically proven just plain happier. With all this being said, I’m a proud socialist. I hope to one day run for office, too. But, I’ve always been afraid that I will be attacked and alienated just because America has a misconception of what socialism is. Now, the average person may be watching the news, see Sanders speaking and say, I actually agree with this guy. We should have free higher education, the wealthiest Americans shouldn’t be handed tax breaks while the middle class suffers, the minimum wage should be a living wage. Suddenly, socialism isn’t a dirty word, and someone can claim to be a socialist without it setting off another Red Scare.