Next United States President: Bernie Sanders?

In the United States, “socialist” is considered a bad word among politicians. Many conservatives throw the term around like a mallet, to pound home their argument that a certain politician is far too liberal. Even liberals try to portray themselves as moderates, who will appeal to the great mass of American voters. However, there is one United States Senator, Bernie Sanders, who embraces the socialist label, and is now considering a run for President of the United States in 2016.

Sanders is one of the least likely of candidates for President of the United States. He is an independent Senator from Vermont, but caucuses with the Democrats. He is a self described socialist, but contrary to claims from the right, shows that he can be fiercely loyal to the United States. Sanders holds the belief that the United States is marching down the wrong path for its future, and that the likely democratic presidential front runner in 2016, Hilary Clinton, won’t do enough to right its course. Sanders has recently begun traveling and talking to strategists about whether he can be a viable presidential candidate. He sat down with the Nation for a wide ranging interview, running the gamut of issues in United States politics.

Bernie Sanders says he is “prepared to run for president of the United States.” That’s not a formal announcement. A lot can change between now and 2016, but it is definitely on the table, so to speak. Sanders says that his political instincts tell him that the United States is ready for a “political revolution.”

I wake up every morning feeling is that this country faces more serious problems than at any time since the Great Depression, and there is a horrendous lack of serious political discourse or ideas out there that can address these crises, and that somebody has got to represent the working-class and the middle-class of this country in standing up to the big-money interests who have so much power over the economic and political life of this country.

Representing the average, working and middle class citizens has become the calling card for Sanders over the years. He is always ready to take on “big money” and the corporate elite over the tremendous power they wield in the United States.

I think there is profound disgust among the American people for the conventional political process and the never-ending campaigns.

Sanders was asked if he did run for President of the United States, would it be as a Democrat, Republican or independent. Sanders indicated that he had not yet decided, but did offer an insightful thought into the benefit of someone running today as an independent, which traditionally is not a smart political move. Of the downsides of running as an independent, Sanders feels he would get less media coverage and have a very hard time getting invited to the debates. However, the positives may outweigh the drawbacks in the current political landscape of the United States.

There is today more and more alienation from the Republican and Democratic parties than we have seen in the modern history of this country. In fact, most people now consider themselves to be “independent,” whatever that may mean. And the number of people who identify as Democrats or Republicans is at a historically low point. In that sense, running outside the two-party system can be a positive politically.

If Sanders decides to run, even at his age of 72, he will surely infuse energy into the presidential race of 2016. Tell us what you think – Would you support Bernie Sanders for President of the United States?

[Image via Rightardia.com]