I’ve heard Bernie Sanders’ stump speech before, but on Tuesday during his visit to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center I listened very carefully to see if there might be a few–or maybe just one thing–that the Democratic Socialist may have to offer me as a voter and a resident of the United States. Even though Bernie spoke for over an hour, I was not able to find a single thing that he promised that I need.
I pay about $500 a year for both my health insurance and health care costs–so I do not need his single-payer Medicare For All to save me “thousands of dollars a year”.
I worked a full-time job, a part-time job and a paid internship while in school–so I do not need his free college tuition for all.
I paid off my student loans early to save on interest payments–so I do not need his “refinance as often as you want” student debt plan.
I am saving 20% of my gross income for retirement–so I do not need his increased Social Security benefits for all.
I do not smoke marijuana–so I do not need him to legalize its use.
I do not sell drugs–so I do not need his plan to lock up fewer drug dealers.
I do not commit crimes–so I do not need him to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences.
My great-great grandparents emigrated to this country legally–so I do not need his plan to grant me amnesty.
I have developed a skill set and a work ethic that has made me valuable in the job market–so I do not need him to raise my wage to $15 an hour.
I already pay the highest utility rates in the Midwest–so I do not need him to shut down coal and natural gas-fire power plants for higher-cost wind and solar facilities.
Now here are a few things that I do need–but that Senator Sanders failed to address Tuesday (or ever, for that matter)
I need to know that when I go to the airport some ISIS sympathizer won’t be there with a luggage or car bomb–there was no mention of how to prevent that yesterday.
If the guy who hate-listens to My Two Cents and says that he “knows where I live” actually gets the idea to show up there, I need less hassle in buying a weapon to protect myself and my wife–but there was no mention of that yesterday.
And I need more of my tax money going to pay for current services for those who truly need them and less going to pay off debts from the past–but there was no mention of deficit reduction yesterday.
I’m guessing that I will never be “feeling the Bern”.
