Be A Part of the Revolution
Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders came to South Carolina on Sept. 12. Sanders met with his fellow Americans at the Florence Civic Center to address the big issues that are facing our nation and the steps he plans to take to solve those issues if he is elected president of the U.S.
Dr. Cornel West, scholar and supporter of Sanders, spoke briefly and introduced Sanders. He described the campaign as “the love train”- all Americans standing together to support one another and viewing each other as equals.
West and Sanders are calling for a “political revolution.” This is to be a revolution that stops giving tax breaks to the rich, supports equality among all Americans and promotes restoring the American dream of working hard and bettering oneself.
I know how important it is to try to educate myself as much as possible on the candidates before next November.
Students need to realize how big of a responsibility this is. This is not a decision to be made by the media or by what your best friend thinks. We need to realize how much this change in government could affect each and every one of us.
Sanders said he will introduce legislation that will make public colleges and universities free to students. Also he is publishing to lower the student loan interest rates.
Another issue healthcare. Many American college students among them, are still not receiving healthcare that they can afford. Sanders is pushing for free, universal healthcare for all Americans.
In our current society, jobs, even those requiring further education, are not as available as they need to be to meet the demands of young adults entering the work force. Not only are jobs not abundantly available, women that attain positions in the professional world are being paid less than men. These are issues that Sanders is planning to improve if he is elected president.
Just by taking an hour and a half out of my day, I not only was able to shake hands with a potential future president, I was able to educate myself on the platform and plans of one of the candidates running for the most important government position in the U.S.
All Americans, young and old, need to be aware of the issues in the U.S. It is also important to know how presidential hopefuls plan on addressing these issues. Each decision made by our government makes an impact. It may not impact you directly, but it will affect your grandparents, parents, siblings and friends.
As the presidential election draws closer, I hope that students will take advantage of opportunities like Sanders coming to Florence to speak. I hope that they will realize how important politics are and will educate themselves to make a difference and vote next November.