I admire Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley; they offer ideas which would positively affect the great majority of the American people. I have analyzed each of the GOP offerings, and have no respect for any of them. For me, that is a sad statement. As an Independent, most of my life I had two choices during presidential elections, one a Democrat, and the other Republican. Today I cannot find a true Republican; a man or woman with values aligned with great leaders from the past.

On February 20, I will attend the Democratic Caucus in my state. I was perplexed. Although the most important part of this event is to choose a candidate who can win in November, I have always voted according to my true beliefs and for the person who I believed would carry the hopes and dreams of the working class to Washington. I have made my decision, and will stay true to my principles.

Throughout my nearly seventy years I have watched my country change. I was in high school during the Civil Rights movement. I cheered as women marched for equality. I was proud when diplomacy made the world more secure as Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev negotiated a nuclear arms agreement.

Unfortunately, I have also witnessed many travesties created by our government which have harmed not only the United States, but the entire world.

Far too many of my friends and acquaintances came home in body bags or were missing limbs after they were forced to fight a senseless war in South Vietnam. I cringed as I saw film of innocent students shot as they protested at Kent State. Along with all of our nation’s people, I watched as our nation’s president was forced to resign in shame. I feared for the working people of America as our president fired all of our nation’s Air Traffic Controllers and began a war against the working class. When the president invaded a sovereign country under false pretenses and cost the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people in 2003, I was ashamed and appalled. When our economy moved towards a depression in 2008 because of the policies of our government, and my friends were losing their homes and retirement, I became angry. Today I join with millions of others as I am outraged that one party wants to revoke the advances made in the last 60 years for average Americans. They are responsible for the rise of racism, the reduction of women to second-class citizens, and the support of special interests over the rights of the American people. They have created a nation through fear tactics, resulting in hatred and division.

This is why I am supporting Bernie Sanders. He is not afraid to tell the truth; either America changes its destructive pattern, or its existence as intended by our founding fathers will perish.

The United States must be returned to the people. Politicians must once again serve those who elected them. As we move closer to a plutocracy, we need a leader who will fight for all of our people. Wall Street must be defeated. The bloated profits of major corporations must be curtailed. Employees must receive fair wages and benefits for their labor. Sharing in the advances of the companies for which they labor is simply the right thing to do.

Our nation cannot remain in 14^th place worldwide in education. Our nation’s economy depends on each successive generation. The cost of attending a college or university for most young men and women prevents them from their goals and their dreams, and endangers the future of our nation.

Republicans want to portray ‘Democratic Socialism’ as a totalitarian idea; it is far from that definition. It simply suggests that all Americans should benefit from the world’s largest economy, not just a few. As the middle class declines, our nation is experiencing an increase in the wealthy class and those living in poverty; this fact will destroy the America in which I was raised.

America must cease its involvement in warfare and focus on its people. Politicians who misdirect our nation’s people must be removed from office. Only those who represent the majority should be allowed to occupy seats in Congress.

Bernie Sanders is the only candidate from either party who speaks for me; and he remains on topic without outside distractions.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Photo Courtesy of Phil Roeder

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