My Endorsement of Bernie Sanders for President

Last night, my wife and I, attended an organizing rally for Bernie Sanders. We sat in a reception hall, with roughly 300 other residents of Northwest Ohio, and Southeast Michigan. A volunteer from Bernie's campaign informed us of their current strategies, and helped get the crowd of volunteers organized to operate phone banks.

A few weeks ago, I reported about how I got elected as a delegate for Bernie. Now this is my official endorsement, and a report of why I support his candidacy.

First, I'll admit, that this time last year I was pretty thoroughly convinced that I wouldn't vote for a Republican or Democrat in this presidential race. I, like many other Americans, have become fed up with the two party system, and how mainstream politicians are more or less bought and paid for by corporations and the wealthy. Then, last May, Bernie Sanders announced that he was running for president as a Democrat.

I have been a fan of Bernie for at least the last decade. I've followed his actions, and speeches over that time period. I liked that Bernie was an independent, a progressive, democratic socialist.

Supporting Bernie from day one of his candidacy was a no-brainer for me, and this is why:

For decades now, the Democratic Party, my party, has supported trade bills that are devastating for the American worker. These trade agreements are only good for large corporations. NAFTA from the 90's, has resulted in Ford, GM and Chrysler, now building a lot of their vehicles in Mexico, and being able to ship those vehicles into the American market without risk of tariffs, or extra tax. A lot of American manufacturing jobs were lost because of that. Being a proud member of the UAW, and an American autoworker, job security in that auto market is of paramount importance to me, and my family. The TPP is just another trade agreement that will enable more companies to move more of our jobs to other countries.

Bernie Sanders has never supported these trade agreements, and has always spoke out against them.

I've long been a proponent of a single payer healthcare system in America. We are the only major industrialized nation that does not have a universal healthcare system. Why? I believe it's because insurance and pharmaceutical companies have used their billions of dollars of profit, to influence our politicians, to keep a system in place, to protect those profits.

I believe that healthcare is a human right. I believe that the poorest of the poor in our country, should have the same access to medical care, that the richest of the rich enjoy.

Bernie Sanders is the only candidate for president that supports universal healthcare, and the only candidate willing to speak out against greedy insurance companies.

For all of my adult life, I've worked to ensure gay equality in our country. Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that has consistently supported their rights, for all of his adult life.

Bernie has a 30 + year track record of public service. He was Mayor of Burlington, VT, a representative for Vermont, and now a senator. He has consistently supported women's rights, Gay equality, and universal healthcare. You will not find any areas where Bernie has not been consistent on these issues.

Bernie Sanders voted against the war in Iraq, and he is opposed to becoming involved in new wars. He has laid out solid plans to form coalitions, and to support other countries in the fight against ISIS.

Bernie knows that climate change is probably the biggest global challenge of this century. He is the most progressive candidate in the fight against it.

And Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that knows that income inequality will eventually destroy our country. He has railed, long and hard, and for many years, against the policies that exist in our country, that allow the 1% of the wealthiest to gain all of the new wealth in our economy. Bernie will take on the big banks that caused our last recession, and he will take on Wall Street. I believe this, because he is the only democratic candidate that refuses to take money from them.

Tomorrow, the people of Iowa will caucus, and start the primary season in our country. I honestly don't know how this election will go. The race for the democratic nomination is close in Iowa, and New Hampshire. It's close in Nevada, and it's getting closer in South Carolina. I know that if Bernie can win 3 out of these 4 states, he will have a strong chance of becoming our candidate for President.

I've donated money to his campaign, one of a record breaking 3 million Americans to do so. I will be volunteering for phone banks over the next few weeks, and I hope to attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this summer, to cast a vote for Bernie.

Many of my fellow democrats have told me, that they like Bernie Sanders, but they don't think he can win the nomination. I do not understand why this would hinder them from voting for him in our primary elections.

I endorse Bernie Sanders with all that I am, because this might be the only chance I have, to see a true progressive candidate elected as president in my lifetime.

Let the Revolution begin.