Ever since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States in 2016, the past four years have been like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
We have a president in office who constantly and unhesitantly spreads misinformation to the nation. Trump does not take responsibility for his mistakes and shortcomings and will blame others for them.
During a recent press conference regarding the COVID-19 situation, to make himself look better, Trump criticized how the Obama administration handled the H1N1 virus. He also downplayed the dismantlement of the pandemic response team in 2018.
In times like these, we look toward the people in power for guidance and leadership. However, Trump isn’t what many other Americans and I picture as a leading authoritative figure.
This is why I have been closely following the Democratic presidential primary this year. We need a leader to replace Trump now more than ever.
I believe that strong, leading figure is Bernie Sanders.
Since his 2016 presidential run, I have become increasingly aware of his progressive ideology and the reforms he would make to this country as president: Medicare for all, tuition-free colleges and universities, combatting the climate crisis, as well as racial justice, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and other progressive reforms.
Sanders is the only true progressive candidate still running.
While I was disappointed that he did not get the Democratic nomination in 2016, I was more than happy to hear that he’d be running again in 2020.
Senator Sanders has garnered increasing support for his cause since 2016. It was starting to look like Sanders had a shot at winning the nomination this time.
However, now that we are getting closer to deciding who will be the Democratic nominee, it seems Democrats are starting to lean more toward Vice President Joe Biden as their pick.
As of March 20, Biden leads Sanders by almost 300 delegates. The race isn’t over yet and anything could happen in the coming weeks and months, but I am preparing myself if Sanders does not get the nomination.
If Biden becomes the nominee, I will be disappointed, but that won’t stop me from supporting him.
Besides, I think Sanders’ movement goes beyond the presidency.
I had the opportunity to attend a Bernie Sanders rally in Ann Arbor, Michigan over spring break, and it really opened my eyes.
Detroit, Michigan’s Local 4 News reports that a little more than 10,000 people filled the University of Michigan’s Diag to see Sanders speak. I was able to see up close the “political revolution” Sanders often talks about.
Seeing thousands of people who agree with Sanders’ progressive message was truly inspiring.
If Bernie Sanders does not win the nomination, I have faith that his supporters will continue spreading his message and influencing younger generations in the future.
While the short-term goal is the presidency, the real objective is maintaining a movement that challenges and disrupts the status quo and makes changes that benefit the majority of the country and not just the wealthy.
In that sense, Bernie has already won.