Bernie Sanders said the day after the election he will confront the new president to make sure that his progressive agenda is a top priority. In a lengthy op-ed, Sanders, who has been campaigning for Hillary Clinton, did not mention her by name but said he wants the president-elect to start focusing on several policies that he hopes to see implemented in the upcoming years.
Sanders, an independent from Vermont, went through a hard-fought primary race against Clinton. Moreover, while most of his supporters have joined the Democratic nominee’s campaign, some have decided to back the Green Party’s candidate, Jill Stein.
Many of those, who felt the Bern during the primaries, say that the election was “rigged” against their candidate. Moreover, several emails leaked via Wikileaks showed that then-DNC chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida had a more favorable view of Clinton.
However, there was never any proof that the votes were manipulated for Clinton to be the victor. In his piece, Mr. Sanders explained that he will not rest until his plans get implemented. According to Sanders, he wants to collaborate with millions of grassroots activists, to make sure that the Democratic platform becomes real laws.
The politician shared a list of policies, which include getting rid of Citizens United and a push for the minimum wage to go up to 15 dollars nationwide like lawmakers in New York and California have managed to do. Other items include the expansion of Social Security, breaking up what he called “too-big-to-fail banks,” and keeping one of his key campaign promises – finally making public colleges and universities tuition-free for the middle class. Sanders stated:
“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.
That agenda includes overturning the disastrous Supreme Court decision on Citizens United, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, expanding Social Security, breaking up “too-big-to-fail banks,” making public colleges and universities tuition-free for the middle class, and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure.”
Sanders also took a shot at billionaires like the Kock brothers, who are using their deep pockets to manipulate what goes on in Washington, the senator said. He wrote:
“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.”
He ended his article on a positive note where he said that he hopes that Republicans and Democrats will work together to pass laws that will help the American people. He shared:
“At a time of hateful political division, a new president can bring our people together by leading and appointing an administration that will fight for working people.”
If Clinton wins, she might have many problems with the left.
