Bernie Supporters, Now is Not Time to Jump Ship

Bernie's defeat during last night's Super Tuesday was disheartening to say the least. But just because the majority is paying attention to the sharks and ship captain, doesn't mean you give up on the guy pointing out the disaster we're heading into.

Months ago, before any #StillSanders hashtag appeared, I was asked in an anonymous Tumblr message if I would change my blog name and start following another presidential candidate if Bernie didn't win the nomination.

The question seemed absurd to me then. I didn't start a blog and several social media channels so I could flip flop between lackluster political candidates. I don't spend hours of my day every day reading Bernie, sharing Bernie, discussing Bernie just to give up once he secured the white house. Win or lose, Bernie champions a message I care about, and as long as that message is carried, I will kept fighting for it.

I thought others who proclaimed they "feel the bern" were the same as I, that they too had latched on to the message and were in it for the long haul. Now, with Bernie's chances for the nomination growing slimmer, I was disappointed to see messages of those I once trusted urging others to vote for Hillary to save the country from the impending Trump nomination.

And if you're one of those people who championed Bernie but are now limping away and suggesting we all do the same, then I have to ask you, what were you fighting for in the first place? Because the issues haven't changed, and if you ever really cared about them, Bernie is still the best choice for president. Do you not owe it to yourself and this country to continue fighting for Bernie?

Running scared to vote for the lesser evil is what establishment politics wants you to do. How many presidential elections have you heard the saying "But I can't vote for him because he can't win?" We, a country built by revolutionists, have let ourselves believe we have no power. Many of us are sick and tired of our political system, but we've bought into the fallacy of the throwaway vote. The reality is if we only had the courage to band together, we could truly change something.

There is, even now a path to the white house. Bernie does extremely well with Independents and young people, two groups that have felt excluded by and haven't participated in our political process. Bernie is the only candidate with a net favorability rating among voters and polls better than Hillary against the Republican candidates. While Hillary gains support mostly among democrats, Bernie appeals to a wide group voters, Democrats and Republicans alike. Bernie's support can be expected to grow after the primary as he gains more exposure among the American people. Hillary's support may not as her numbers have stayed around the same since the primary started. 

Bernie plans to fight all the way to the convention where it all comes down to super delegates. If Bernie can pull off an impressive delegate count to rival Clinton, and the delegates recognize Bernie has the support and the momentum to win the general election in a way that surpasses Clinton's chances, they should vote for him.

Of course, there's always the chance Bernie doesn't win. But what really changes then? Do you honestly believe our country is best served by voting for another candidate? We backed Bernie because we believed in what he represented. None of that changes if he doesn't win the nomination.

What about the fossil fuels destroying our planet? What about people who still can't afford life saving healthcare? What about preventing Wall Street from crashing our economy again? Our crumbling education system? The disappearing middle class? Our bought politicians? Our obsession with continuous warfare? Our terrible mass incarceration and criminal justice issues? No one said the political revolution was going to be easy. And I for one fail to see how turning in my values and beliefs for an establishment candidate is going to be helpful.

Our country cannot continue to survive like this, and Hillary is not going to fix it. Yes, Trump is scary, but that's no reason to buy into the establishment ploy and drag our country though 8 more years of income inequality, corrupt politics, and no change. Hillary is just as likely to destroy the country as Trump, she'll just do it quietly and behind closed doors.

Hillary has to earn our vote and has already demonstrated how little she cares about it. So what do we do? We get back to what we've been doing. We phone bank, canvas, and volunteer our heart out. We show up and vote and drag our friends and family out with us. We make Hillary fight for every last delegate until the convention.

And what if Bernie doesn't get the Democratic nomination? Then we see if a third party candidacy is an option, and if it is we fight our heart out for that. And if not, we continue to fight for Bernie and his beliefs and vote berniecrats into office one county, city, state at a time. We change Congress. We get involved in our political process, attend protests, and demand that our representatives work for us. We do not give up! And we do not give in!

Bernie has been fighting for us for over 40 years, even when no one was around to take him seriously. Now is not the time to jump ship, or perhaps the perfect time if you were never serious to be begin with. We are the political revolution, and it can only go as far as you decide to carry it. Sign the Bernie or Bust pledge to write in Bernie's name or vote Green in the general election. Tell the establish we're not playing their game anymore.

What is Bernie Sanders' Plan for the Deficit / Budget / Debt?

I've seen this question pop up a lot in one form or another. So, first let's have a little vocabulary lesson.

The budget is when the government plans where to spend money and how much to spend for the fiscal year. This isn't concrete. The government can over or under spend in areas just like you or I.

The deficit is when the government spends more money than it takes in.

And the debt is when the government borrows money to account for the money it overspent.

When a country doesn't have a deficit, this does not mean that leftover money automatically goes toward the debt. The government has to decide to what to do with that extra money, and it could just as easily (and probably more likely) be spent on something else than go toward the debt.

For 2015, the US is estimated to have a deficit of $583 billion and a debt of $18.6 trillion.

General Provisions

I don't know what Bernie Sanders plans to do about this in the way of specifically setting aside money to pay back the debt or putting in careful calculations to make sure we don't have a deficit. But I do know he's looking for specific ways to cut spending.

Military Spending

We currently spend more money in military spending than the next 9 countries combined. The Military budget for 2015 was $598.5 billion. Bernie Sanders wants to cut that. He hasn't said how much, but we could cut the budget by 60% and still lead the world in defense spending. If we did that, we'd have $359.1 billion in savings.

https://www.nationalpriorities.org/campaigns/us-military-spending-vs-world/

Mass Incarceration

The 2.4 million people we imprison in this country, costs us $80 billion a year. If we ended the War on Drugs and gave people medical treatment instead of putting them behind bars (as Bernie Sanders wants to do), this would cut our prison costs by over half, saving $41.3 billion a year. (Ah! You say. But what about health care costs? We'll get there.) This would also save money in welfare costs as about half of US states provide welfare for convicted felons who struggle to find jobs once released.

Ending Off Shore Tax Havens

Bernie Sanders wants to put an end to offshore tax havens, which allow corporations and rich Americans to store money overseas. They then pay less taxes to other countries, which costs the federal US government $150 billion year and state governments a total of $39.8 billion a year (source).

Ending Corporate Welfare

No one knows for certain how much money is paid to corporations each year in subsidies, but it's estimated to cost $110 billion a year. The top 8 paid corporations (such as Boeing, Nike, Shell, and Intel) made up $22 billion of that cost last year. (And while you're at it, here's a Top 30 list.) A number of these companies are Fortune 500 companies that don't need government handouts, and some of them aren't even US companies (source). Bernie Sanders isn't against business, but he is against giving tax payer dollars to corporations that already making millions or billions of dollars in profit.

Raising the Minimum Wage

It's estimated that $152.8 billion a year is spent in taxes on welfare programs for minimum wage employees who don't make enough to support themselves or their families. Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would eliminate that cost.

Tax Reform for the Rich

No one knows the exact numbers, but it's estimated that 25% of millionaires and at least the top 400 billionaires pay less in taxes than the average middle class American. Bernie Sanders wants to fix this by raising income taxes on the richest Americans, abolishing tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, and changing the cap on and raising the estate tax. It's estimated reform on the estate tax alone would bring in $31.9 billion a year. We don't currently have numbers for the other areas.

Tax Wall Street

Bernie Sanders wants to implement a Financial Transaction Tax (a.k.a Robin Hood Tax), which is a small tax (.003%) on each transaction of a stock or bond. This would bring in $35.2 billion a year.

Specific Programs

The following includes a number of programs that Bernie Sanders wants to implement a discussion on how they may or may not contribute to deficit. You can read more specifics about these bills in a previous post.

Green Energy Initiatives

The Climate Protection Act and Sustainable Energy Act implements a number of green energy initiatives. This would be paid for by implementing a $20 carbon tax per ton of carbon emissions, rising by 5.6% per year over 10 years. The bill would also end fossil fuel subsidies. The revenue from these bills would generate approximately $300 billion to go specifically toward debt reduction.

Tuition Free College

Bernie's College for All Act would be paid for by taxes on Wall Street. While the bill costs $47 billion, the taxes on Wall Street is projected to bring in hundreds of billions of dollars a year. And extra revenue could be used elsewhere.

Create Jobs Rebuilding America's Infrastructure

Bernie Sanders' Rebuild America Act would cost $1.6 Trillion (paid for by the development of a National Infrastructure Development Bank that would then give out loans). However, this bill would presumably provide jobs for those who are unemployed, saving in welfare costs. This bill would also build up our infrastructure to allow it to compete with the rest of world. A study by Duke University estimates that every dollar spent into transportation infrastructure pays back $3.54 in economic impact. It's not clear how exactly this would impact the deficit, but it's information worth having.

Health Care

I don't know how much Bernie's American Health Security Act would cost (someone smarter than I will have to look at it). But is it estimated that the US spends $3.1 trillion on health care. That includes $374 billion in prescription costs, which Bernie wants to lower. It also includes $836 billion in Social Security costs for Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance (CHIP). The American Health Security Act would replace these programs along with Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), TRICARE, and provisions under the Affordable Care Act.

Whatever the cost of Bernie's American Health Security Act, it's important to note that its cost wouldn't go on top of what the US already spends in health care. The American Health Security Act would absorb the programs we already have. In effect, the money the government currently spends in health care programs would simply be transferred to the American Health Security Act, and our previous health care programs would be eliminated. So, one way or another, the cost of this new bill should come out as a general wash.

Conclusion

Bernie Sanders has a lot of changes he wants to make for America. It's easy to take them at face value and miss the cost savings underneath. Pass this article around for those who have questions.

UPDATE 09/19/15: Added more headings and a more of Bernie's programs

Bernie Sanders on Civil & Human Rights

There been a lot of talk about Bernie's Civil Rights record, but I haven't found a good source that has it all in one place. So here you go.

African Americans

In the 1960s, Sanders organized sit-ins to protest segregation, marched on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr, and was present for his "I Have a Dream" speech. In March of this year, Sanders made a statement that the civil rights struggle continues in America.

He endorsed Jesse Jackson for president in 1988, and worked to sway predominately white voters in Vermont.

He has worked to combat youth unemployment, which effects African American youth the most.

Bernie has spoken out against police brutality (before Netroots).

After the shooting in Charleston, SC, Bernie Sanders took the Senate floor to speak in favor of taking down the Confederate flag. See the 2016 presidential candidates on the issue.

Bernie has said that as a nation, America should apologize for slavery.

Immigrants

Sanders has called for an end to deportation, and has worked to amend Summer Work Travel programs. He has spoken in favor of immigration reform and a national conversation on the topic.

He has called for immigration polices that untie families and supports the DREAM Act.

See Bernie speak on Immigration Reform. Also, view Bernie's political summary on Immigration.

See the 2016 presidential candidates on immigration (note that this site does not provide a full list of voting records, but should have a enough to give you a general overview).

LGBT

From Students for Bernie

Sanders has spoken in favor of gay equality since the 1970s. In 1983, when Burlington, Vermont had its first gay pride parade, Bernie Sanders (mayor at the time) gave his support.

More recently, Sanders urged Obama to support marriage equality in 2011. This year, in April, as the Supreme Court took up cases on gay marriage, Sanders urged the court to recognize the right of all American citizens to wed.

Sanders voted in favor of ENDA, which outlawed employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. He voted to end DADT and against DOMA.

See Bernie's political summary on sexual orientation and gender identity.

See the 2016 presidential candidates on gay marriage back in January, and their reactions to the Supreme Court ruling in June.

Senior Citizens

Sanders is a chair of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, through which has recently worked to investigate soaring prices of drugs. In 2013, he introduced legislation to strengthen and reauthorize the Older Americans Act.

Sanders has spoken on senior hunger, and earlier this year addressed congress on senior hunger regarding the recent Government Accountability Office report.

He recently introduced legislation to strengthen and expand Social Security. He insists that is unconscionable to consider any cuts to Social Security and that anyone who says the program is in danger is not telling the truth.

You can watch Sanders talk on Social Security. Also, view Sanders' political summary on Senior Citizens.

See the 2016 presidential candidates on civil rights (note that this site does not provide a full list of voting records, but should have a enough to give you a general overview).

Veterans

Bernie Sanders serves on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. In 2014 he introduced comprehensive legislation for veterans, addressing issues such as restoring benefits, providing health care, ending backlog, addressing sexual assault, etc.

Sanders has spoken against cutting veterans' benefits, and voiced the need for expanding funding for veteran health care. He voted against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has worked closely with veterans of those wars and beyond.

Read how Bernie has fought for veterans. Watch Bernie fight for veterans on the senate floor. View Bernie's political summary on Veterans and Military Personnel.

Women

I've done a whole post on this topic, which (in interest of preventing this post from become longer than it already is) you can view here.

Poverty & Children

Bernie's fight for a federal $15 minimum wage is one way he is working to combat poverty. Bernie recently introduced a solar energy bill to help low income Americans.

In 2014, Bernie Sanders called on Barack Obama to work on reducing childhood poverty.

Read Bernie's statement or watch his video on the war on poverty. Also read his article or watch his video evaluating poverty as death sentence. See Sanders' political summary on Unemployed and Low-Income.

Watch Bernie speak on Childhood Poverty. See Bernie's political summary on Minors and Children.

See the 2016 presidential candidates on civil rights (note that this site does not provide a full list of voting records, but should have a enough to give you a general overview).

Indigenous Peoples

Sanders' solar energy bill also sets aside funds for solar arrays in Appalachia, Indian tribal lands and Alaskan native communities. One of Sanders' worries regarding our country's continued use of fossil fuels is its effect on native Alaskans.

View Bernie's political summary on Indigenous Peoples.

Mental Health

Bernie Sanders has recognized the lack of mental of health care in the Unities States and the need for greater access. See Bernie speak on mental healthcare.

See Bernie's political summary on health care.

Incarceration

Bernie spoke out against our country's mass incarceration problem back in 2008. He continues to speak against it today. His campaign links incarceration rates with issues of class and race.

He is against the death penalty.

See Bernie's political summary on Crime and The Death Penalty.

Foreign Aid

Bernie has stated that he doesn't believe the US should lead the war against ISIS but should support military efforts in the Middle East. He also favors a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

See Sanders' political summary on Foreign Aid. See the presidential candidates on Foreign Aid.

More

See Bernie's political summary on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights.

See the 2016 presidential candidates on civil rights (note that this site does not provide a full list of voting records, but should have a enough to give you a general overview).

20 Examples of Bernie Sanders' Powerful Record on Civil and Human Rights Since the 1950s

UPDATE 7/23/15: Added Indigenous Peoples, Foreign Aid, and more candidate comparison links.