Left:State Senator Wesley Bishop of New Orleans, Right: Chris Davis, 2016 Democratic National Convention
As a student and a progressive I believe the following needs to be stated: In the eyes of a progressive, every issue needs to be a student issue, and every student issue, is an issue for everyone. The stereotypical issue that defines my generation is student debt. However, the impacts of student debt will not be felt by students alone. When the student debt bubble bursts, it will send shock waves through our economy. These shock waves could be avoided in ways other than the standard answer to the question. It could be avoided by increasing the minimum wage and creating more affordable housing. With new cash in hand, students could put more of their own money towards school rather than paying for school with loans while working full-time to pay for rent. While this wouldn’t directly affect the cost of attendance, it would make it easier to attend school without taking on too much debt.
Above I showed how an issue that is perceived to affect only a select population within our country can directly affect the whole of our nation. Then I showed how a solution to an issue that is commonly perceived to affect multiple populations across the country can be used to fix (or at least help improve) the situation caused by a seemingly unrelated problem to a separate population in our country. This example illustrates the relation between our place in society and the economy.
I believe that this is at the heart of Bernie’s reasoning behind why pushing such a strong progressive platform was what is right for the nation and that’s why I choose to support him as a DNC Delegate. And that’s why I still trust him. He clearly illustrated that he understands the selflessness the nation would have to project to be able to take care of each other in the way people ought to be treated. And since I trust him, I’m following him into the party.
Some may be thinking to themselves, but what if I’m wrong? What if Bernie sold out? Look back to the example above. The mechanism that manages the transactions between material goods (the economic factor) and social goods (free time, housing, education, ect.) is government. It does this through the legislative process. Hence, why he is shooting for as high a place of influence that he can get to after losing the candidacy to Hillary Clinton. He stepped into the Democratic party because he believed there would be the most support there for him to make his move. This means that if we all left, he wouldn’t have any support to influence policy in a meaningful way.
Please remember that! And work with us after the elections! Come help students end student debt! We need you contacting your legislators at all levels of government. We need you actively pursuing your defining issue as well. Above all engage with the government at any level higher than you ever have before! The one thing we don’t NEED you to be is, a Democrat (but it certainly helps)! #DemEnter
Jim Lewis says
After working with Republicans for the last fifty years, I have about given up hope that they will ever actually vote for someone who will help with this issue, but you are right; we cannot give up. It is too important; we must keep trying!