Why I Love Bernie, But Believe in Hillary

Why I Love Bernie, But Believe in Hillary

I consider myself a politically engaged citizen. I regularly watch a variety of news channels and enjoy being an informed member of society. From reading and watching the news I’m proud that my fellow Democratic Americans are carrying out their civic duty not just by thoughtfully informing themselves, but engaging with each other constructively to steer the political spotlight. Visionary leaders has generated a palpable energy that has vitalized the Democratic Party and lead to a fascinating 2016 presidential race.

As a young, relatively enlightened citizen and progressive democrat I’d like to share some of my thoughts on the Democratic Primary between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.

Democratic Priorities

After watching the New Hampshire debate and every previous debate and town hall I’m extremely proud of the prevailing Democratic ideology in 2016. A range of progressive issues have come to the forefront and candidates are actively articulating their hopeful visions of how to accomplish a common vision. United the Democratic Party appears in its mutual mission to work collaboratively and inclusively in the public’s interest to improve our healthcare, economic systems and instate Democratic rights that haven’t been fully realized. Both candidates are addressing citizens concerns about the conspicuous patterns of injustice and ineffectuality in our country. Issues such as climate change, campaign finance reform, economic inequality, social justice and healthcare are identified as priorities by both candidates. The challenges we face are mutually agreed upon and are being debated in a constructive manner on how to persevere.

Many of the prevailing topics like campaign finance reform, financial regulation and climate change are issues that have already garnered vast activist movements. One of the chief most problems is economic inequality, how the richest 1% or even 0.1% are funneling wealth into select pockets who have a propensity for funding narrow agendas that gain those individuals more profit and power. For decades the pernicious manipulation of regulatory, labor and tax systems have politically supplanted and financially incapacitated the middle class (or really the 99%). Along with the rest of the world, the Democratic Party acknowledges that climate change is disrupting our planet’s ecosystems and inevitably will threaten human civilization. We’ve identified that our civic systems have relinquished power to fossil fuel companies by permitting their unrelenting grip on our country’s energy needs allowing them to brandish unbridled corruption that extracts power and money, pollutes air, water and land and handicaps public knowledge and political action.

Bernie’s Appeal

The major issues of our time are being recognized by the Democratic electorate who has been ignited and united by these prevailing issues that are receiving due recognition from the two political contenders. Bernie Sanders has been preaching about these injustices with a forceful, all out, no holding back, nothing to loose temperament. His fearless telling it like it is persona has made him a progressive icon for decades and has now caught the widespread attention of young voters and most of the Democratic base

His impassioned speeches have resonated with democrats who have become outraged by the permitted injustices and frustrated with Congressional inaction. His message of “political revolution” has mobilized many disengaged voters who feel that without his audacious righteousness America’s rigged systems would never receive the proper disinfecting sunlight. Bernie’s fierce veracity has enlivened the Democratic party and the political discussion for the better. Bernie, I would say, is and has been the most progressive person in Congress for quite some time. He’s at the very wing tip of the left wing. He’s so progressive he’s not even a Democrat. But in the vast array of issues and varying spectrum of political positions I wouldn’t regulate the progressive label with a narrow definition. Bernie’s style of democratic socialism is radical progressivism. Radical progressivism is healthy in moderation as modern democratic socialism is a benevolent egalitarian ideology. Socialist and progressive movements have prioritized the public interest and established the institutions that provided a foundation for civil rights, personal security and economic mobility. Our country could use more democratic socialism to move away from iniquitous capitalism (or as Bernie calls it “casino capitalism”) and towards social capitalism. But although I wholeheartedly support many socialist propositions, I believe balance is the key to life and to our civic structure.

Executional Feasibility

I consider myself progressive minded but disagree with Bernie on some of his hallmark proposals. As a progressive I’m keen to the idea of universal healthcare and how it should be the ideal, ultimate aspiration for the United States because it would be much more inexpensive and tailored to best serve the public’s interest. But to be honest I don’t think universal healthcare has a chance of becoming realized within the next 4 or 8 years. I know many would say that we should aim as high as we can, and we should. But I would advocate to take steps towards that goal instead of risking a stumble when attempting to run and jump the staircase. With the way the radical right wing and all of their oligarch obstructionists have been working I have very little confidence that proper universal health care reform could be presently achieved. A president who makes that goal a foundational block of their platform would most likely face moderate conservatives and hardliners becoming even more obstinate. People have said with a Bernie Sanders win the Republican party would have to realize the mandate from the the people and would have no choice but to move towards the center. But that was said about both of Obama’s victories and yet the GOP wound itself tighter with fear, misinformation and regressivism. Electing Bernie for the general election or the presidency would only lead the GOP towards further disparity and misguided backlash.

I have faith the United States could eventually achieve an effective and equitable single payer healthcare system. However, I think we can get there through strategic and incremental progress. A complete overhaul of America’s complex healthcare system is such a gargantuan beast of a feat to undertake. Just look at the Affordable Care Act and how much stubborn ignorance was carried out to stop its passing at every turn. Even once it became law Republicans stirred up over 50 attempts to repeal it, all of which failed. Then when it was brought before the Supreme Court in an effort to overturn it using a single poorly worded sentence Obamacare was again validated in the third branch of the federal government. Only now are we starting to see through the dust and quantifying the benefits of Obamacare. And despite the Affordable Care Act having a host of improvements, most of which are supported by people who know what they are, it was a relatively modest reform bill that was still subjected to numerous political obstacles and duplicitous misinformation campaigns. That’s why I don’t think a stretched ten stair jump to universal healthcare should be attempted.

In fact I would be in favor of a public option — government supplied healthcare that would force profit hungry healthcare providers to strengthen their policies and reduce their rates. A public option could allow for a refinement of the system before it’s provided universally as a right. I also know that government hasn’t always achieved its highest potential as an effective manager. Take the rollout of healthcare.gov, the trouble with the post office and the Veterans hospitals. All are institutions that need to be improved but because of either a lacking of financial resources or presence of bureaucratic hurdles have not been as effective and efficient as they can and should be. I wouldn’t want to see the type of scrambling we saw with the rollout of healthcare.gov take place across the country with everyone’s healthcare. In due time the administration made the proper adjustments and are now able to carry out and accomplish what they set out to do.

Bernie’s other calling card proposal is to make public universities tuition free. Although the premise could be good for America I don’t believe a radical upending of current college funding systems would work out well. I believe it would disrupt the field of higher education leaving private institutions unable to compete. And although the proposed system might have more control over rising tuition costs, the government expenses would be astronomical. Personally I would like to see deficits shrunk and debt decline before we unleash billions of dollars on a higher education system that is adequately functioning. The financing structures for attaining a college degree are indeed out of whack but I would prefer to focus on making student loans debt free, precisely what Hillary Clinton is proposing. I don’t see any reason why the federal government should turn a profit off struggling students. Interest rates shouldn’t be able to surpass 2%, or even 1% as many banks are issued federal loans for 0.8%. I would concentrate on making a college education widely affordable before America commits a ton of money towards financing every public university. Not that it isn’t possible or isn’t the ideal scenario, but at this point in American history I question its feasibility.

The GOP Offensive

If the Democrats elect Bernie to run in the general election the ads and rhetoric against him would be unscrupulous and overwhelming. His ideas and background has not yet gone through the gauntlet nationally organized by well funded GOP smear artists. Hillary Clinton has in fact gone through many battles with the GOP smear machine and has persevered. The only attacks they have left are to tarnish her personality. They’ve manufactured a perception of inauthenticity that has opened as a narrow lane in which to besmirch her political intentions. The attacks on her would likely be revisited conspiracies and anything the GOP can glean from their exhausted quiver of denigration. The anti-Clinton coalition knows it has nearly worn out all of their attempts at vilification and inwardly concedes that it doesn’t have the intellectual endurance or political populism to combat her on policy matters.

The attacks on Bernie I fear would be more concentrated on his socialist proposals and policy positions that could instill rampant fear instead of the nominal doubt they’ve attached to Hillary. We’ve seen their onslaught of attacks on Hillary and she’s survived with resolution. We have yet to see the onerous attacks they will bombard upon Bernie. Bernie hasn’t faced the relentless criticism and truth warping that the GOP is so skilled at perpetrating. The GOP has constantly accosted President Obama as a black secret muslim kenyan socialist-communist and whatever other term that could frame him as a sinister unpatriotic other.

Unfortunately their disgraceful attempts were successful at convoluting the truth so deeply that 43% of Republican voters still believe that Obama is a muslim. How would the Republican smear machine respond to an overt and outspoken jewish socialist? Probably by peddling their common rhetoric of fear and traditionalism that could likely result in electoral losses for Democrats down ticket.

I admit despite slanderous tactics high voter turnout would almost guarantee a Democratic win no matter the candidate. But I remain skeptical about whether his although well intended, antithetic and intransigent positions would foster a collaborative political climate.

Hillary’s Mission

Each of the candidate’s branding slogans, if read into, align with their style as a candidate. Hillary’s “Fighting for Us” message connotes her toughness and tactical pragmatism when working against adversity to gain victory for the public. While Bernie’s “A Future to Believe In” represents an idealistic vision for the future that we should believe is possible and move towards. Bernie is running on an idea that has energized the Democratic party but Hillary is running as a candidate who has the pragmatism and experience to achieve her mission.

Bernie would have a considerable learning curve and transition period for living in the White House and dealing with domestic and international operations on a minute to minute basis. Like any new job there is an adjustment period. Presidents have an entire transition team to acclimate themselves to the procedures and practices of the executive branch.

We voters must remember we are hiring someone for a job and in my humble opinion Hillary Clinton is unequivocally the most prepared person for the position of president. In two capacities Secretary Clinton has worked in the White House and in executive and national security functions. She knows how to enact legislation, build political momentum and manage personnel. She is literally ready on day one to hit the ground running setting her agenda in motion.

Bernie has indeed accomplished a great deal while in the chambers of Congress and I do not doubt his ability to cooperate. But I think that the fervor of Bernie’s support hasn’t been derived from his experience or his achievements but from his philosophical convictions. Nearly all of which are shared by Hillary Clinton. But as the perceived underdog and self-proclaimed socialist he has been able to bring his Brooklyn style nonchalance and zeal that wasn’t present before. That’s why I love Bernie. He has surfaced the most important challenges of our time and in doing so has cultivated a following around his unrestrained expounding of American injustices.

In regards to the battle over who holds the progressive baton I believe Hillary has always been a progressive. Perhaps a moderate progressive and not a radical one. But I think all politicians have to engage voters and government entities in a broadly appealing way if they want to collaborate and develop the political capital necessary to achieve their objectives. I think with the current progressive populist wave vitalizing the Democratic Party Hillary feels she can propose the progressive ideas she’s always wanted to accomplish but had previously thought would be too quickly dismissed without an outspoken and assertive public voice.

Let’s be real, every politician, sport coach, business executive and public relations officer possesses a second consciousness and calculates their speech in an effort to intentionally present themselves in a positive way, which usually is at least to appear competent and composed (Someone tell Trump). Yes even Bernie Sanders does this or he’d be cursing out Goldman Sachs at every campaign rally. Because Hillary has had to maintain a second consciousness for so long and in so many varying roles, it’s understandable that at times people perceive her as being unauthentic. But watching her current form at debates, engaging with voters and answering questions on the fly at town halls she has come off as personable, authentic and unimaginably wise. Her depth of knowledge on the diverse gamut of issues far surpasses any other candidate in either party.

As for her proposals which can be found on her website and her policy paper webpage The Brief, I find them refreshingly comprehensive, detailed and thoughtful. Hillary has put forth actionable plans on issues ranging from energy infrastructure to autism. The depth and span of her knowledge on issues and their involved mechanics far exceeds her competitors. Bernie’s website does provide policy papers and proposals on many of his most recognizable issues, but doesn’t address the same diversity of topics that Hillary does. Hillary proposes plans on many underlying challenges that receive inadequate attention and go unexamined by the news media. Bernie’s statements contain urgent messages about the plights of our country but offers less thorough proposals for how to overcome them. Hillary’s proposals are more extensive, creative, practical and outline the programs, mechanisms and modifications that can achieve her articulated solutions. Hillary also has the counselors, know-how and executive experience to actualize her mission.

Hillary’s long history in government has garnered her a negative stamp as part of the “establishment”, but although that label may seem undesirable in reality is a formidable strength. She knows the inner workings, trends and tendencies of just about every facet of the Federal government’s apparatus. Her experience as an attorney, First Lady of Arkansas, First lady of the United States, U.S. Senator from New York and Secretary of State endows her with unmatched insight on how to find the best path towards progress. Secretary Clinton has the most well rounded, executive, legislative and foreign policy experience to govern the country and lead us towards equitable justice and prosperity. Her extensive network of experts and advisers equip her with a turnkey coalition of leaders who can achieve the bold proposals she and Senator Sanders have advocated for. I love Bernie for his stalwart virtue. But I believe in Hillary’s capability of procuring the Democratic vision for American progress.