Bernie Sanders (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
In the 2016 Presidential Race the term, Democratic Socialism, has become a centerpiece and synonymous with Democratic Candidate, Bernie Sanders. This Vermont Senator has captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of college students and young adults across the country using the slogan, “A Political Revolution is Coming.” One might ask, though, why do we need a change in America’s Political System? Sure no political system is perfect, but America’s has worked for over 240 years with only a few bumps in the road. So why are so many interested in changing this system? Well one can only guess.
The Vermont Senator is famous for touting himself as a Democratic Socialist, but that is not even the surprising thing. The item most astonishing is that he can convince so many others that it is truly the perfect political system for the United States; a Republic by the way. Democratic Socialism is defined by Merriam- Webster Dictionary as, “a political system having a socialist economy in which the means of production are socially and collectively owned or controlled alongside a politically democratic system of government.” This system is far away from a Communist society, but not that far off of a Socialist one. The only difference taking place is the allowment of a Democratic government alongside a partially controlled free-market economy. What I do not fully understand is why anyone would ever want this type of system in place. The United States of America was founded on the principle that any business could be set-up and run with very limited government control. So, in theory, putting this system in place will change the entire foundation of what has always made America great.
The facts of this system are the following: Sanders has said, “I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal.” What this means is that Sanders believes in spreading the wealth across the board, but this can only be done by taxing people who live in the top 25% and giving it to the lower 75%. Why on Earth a person would want the government to be allowed to take the earnings of America’s businessmen, who have worked hard to obtain it, and give it to people, who have not earned it, is beyond me. The United States needs more millionaires, not more people making $25,000. Sanders has also said, “My vision is not just making modest changes around the edge, but also single-payer healthcare and paid family leave.” What the average American worker fails to realize is that promoting country-wide Socialistic healthcare, or a more extreme Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), would cost trillions of dollars that would be taxed heavily towards 75% of that society. Also, extended family leave would devastate small business owners because these companies are not equipped to replace workers after they leave. By the time they would train a new employee, the old one would return leaving the business in the red for that quarter, if there is two or more employees on leave. Finally, CNBC’s John Harwood then said, “It was 90 (TAX). When you think about 90 percent, you don’t think that’s obviously too high?” Sanders replied, “No. What I think we’ve seen, and what frightens me again, when you have the top 1/10 of 1% owning almost as much wealth as the bottom 90%. Does anybody think that that is the kind of economy this country should have?” This overall is just a complete confirmation that Democratic Nominee Bernie Sanders believes this country should have a 90 percent tax on its’ citizens; something I hope never to see.
In the end the Vermont Senator is running on the philosophy that in order to improve America we must change America, which will only truly leave a country that is no longer America. So I ask you, do you really think that U.S. Vermont Senator Bernard Sanders can actually improve politics by replacing the foundation of a Democratic Society? I certainly don’t believe so.
