Last week Bernie Sanders penned a powerful a powerful editorial piece for the Boston Globe
, entitled “Here’s What I’ll Do the Day After the Election.” In it Sanders outlines the policies—rather than the people—at stake in today’s election.
Bernie reminds us that this election is about more than defeating Donald Trump. Yes, this election is certainly about the historic moment of electing Hillary, the first woman president. But it’s about more than that. It’s about staying the course, building on Obama’s legacy, and fighting with optimism for the progressive agenda.
Here’s what Bernie had to say:
“I am currently working as hard as I can to see that Donald Trump is defeated, that Hillary Clinton is elected president, and that Democrats gain control of the US House and Senate. The day after the election, working with millions of grass-roots activists, I intend to do everything possible to make certain that the new president and Congress implement the Democratic platform, the most progressive agenda of any major political party in the history of the United States.”
Here are the main points of that Democratic agenda:
-Overturning Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United
-Expanding Social Security
-Breaking Up the Big Banks
-Public Colleges and Universities Tuition Free for the Middle Class
-Rebuilding Infrastructure
-Pay Equity for Women
-Taking Action to Combat Climate Change
-Raising Taxes on the Wealthy and Large Corporations
-Lowering Prescription Drug Costs
-Universal Healthcare
-Reforming Criminal Justice and Immigration Systems
Bernie Sanders continues:
If this election has taught us anything, it is that the American people are sick and tired of the economic, political, and media status quo. They are tired of a rigged economy in which millions work longer hours for lower wages while 52 percent of all new income goes to the top 1 percent. They are tired of billionaires like Trump and large profitable corporations not paying a nickel in federal income taxes while the middle class pays their fair share to support governmental services. They are tired of a corrupt campaign finance system that allows billionaires like the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and others to spend hundreds of millions to elect candidates who will represent the wealthy and the powerful. They are tired of corporate media that focus on political gossip and look at elections as personality contests, rather than provide for a serious discussion of the major crises facing our country.
The anger and frustration of the American people, all across the political spectrum, is palpable. They want a government that represents the needs of working families and not just billionaires. They want bold action to rebuild the shrinking middle class, not inside-the-beltway palliatives written by corporate lobbyists.
Okay,everybody. It’s time to exhale and get ready to go to work.