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5 Reasons Why Michael Moore Is Supporting Bernie Sanders

  • Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore has endorsed Bernie Sanders, saying the U.S. is ready for a socialist president.

    Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore has endorsed Bernie Sanders, saying the U.S. is ready for a socialist president. | Photo: Reuters

Published 1 February 2016
Opinion

Moore says the “pundits” and the “political class” are wrong in thinking U.S. citizens “just aren’t ready” for Sanders.

Michael Moore, the renowned documentary filmmaker and outspoken critic of the U.S. establishment, threw his support behind presidential candidate Bernie Sanders Sunday, exciting progressives across the country.

It should be no surprise that Moore would support Sanders over his main rival Hillary Clinton, who Moore said would “move us backwards, not forward.” But why is he officially endorsing the socialist candidate?

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Here are five reasons why U.S. citizens should elect Sanders, according to Moore, and why the U.S. is ready for a socialist president.

1. On Health Care

Clinton and Sanders have been pegged against each other on the issue of health care with the former being “pragmatic” and the latter “having vision.”

Sanders fully supports single-payer health care, which would provide public health care to all U.S. citizens. He also went one step further, adding that funding it would be “dependent on reducing the influence of big corporations” who currently control the health insurance industry and make millions off the suffering of others.

“That's what our campaign is about, it is thinking big,” Sanders said at a primary debate in January.

Clinton, on the other hand, said earlier this week that “single-payer health care will never, ever, happen,” claiming that it is simply not pragmatic. She instead continues to support the Affordable Care Act created by President Barack Obama—what Sanders calls a step in the right direction but still inadequate.

2. On the Minimum Wage

Sanders has been an open advocate for increasing the minimum wage in the country, joining the national “Fight for 15” movement to give low-wage workers a living salary.

In July of 2015, the Vermont senator introduced legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to US$15 an hour, which would double the current wage set at US$7.25.

“It is a national disgrace that millions of full-time workers are living in poverty and millions more are forced to work two or three jobs just to pay their bills,” said Sanders. “In the year 2015, a job must lift workers out of poverty, not keep them in it.”

Clinton has said she supports a US$12 federal minimum wage, but has not been active on the issue.

3. On International Policy

On the international stage, Sanders also has a more progressive approach, which has pleased the likes of Moore. While serving as senator, Sanders voted against sending troops to Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, where as Clinton chose to support the majority in Congress and voted yes in all cases.

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Sanders also voted against the major trade deals the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, and the more recent Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP—both of which have been controversial for the amount of power they allot to corporations, at the expense of public interest laws.

Clinton’s husband Bill helped usher in NAFTA while he was president, while she, until very recently, was a staunch advocate for the TPP. Since citizen opposition to the trade deal has grown—and since she started running for president—Clinton has shifted her position and joined critics, saying the lack of regulation on currency manipulation is a concern, among others.

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4. On the Climate

Sanders has also shown to be a better friend to the environment. In December, ahead of the climate talks in Paris, he unveiled an ambitious environmental plan in which he proposed a carbon tax system, a 40 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2013, and big investments in energy-saving technologies and renewable power sources.

Sanders also voted against the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, a proposed oil pipeline system that would run from the Canadian tar sands through a large part of the U.S. The plan has been condemned by environmentalists, and was finally rejected by President Obama in November because the plan showed dismal results in environmental assessment studies.

Clinton initially approved of Keystone, claiming it would provide a wealth of jobs for the country, but has since come out against it. Her clean energy plan remains unimpressive compared to Sanders, but she has called for the U.S. to get 33 percent of its electricity from clean energy by 2027.

5. On Security

On the issue of security, Sanders is a man of the people. He voted against the 2001 Patriot Act, saying it resulted in a loss of individual rights, and said he is against spying on U.S. citizens.

Clinton, on the other hand, supported the Patriot Act, saying it was needed and even voted in favor of reauthorizing the Act in 2006, although she was against extending its wiretap provisions. She has also been vague on the issue of national security, saying the first job of the president is to “protect and defend the U.S.,” but has steered clear of quantifying whether this should be at the expense of civil liberties.

Sanders is also a staunch supporter of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Although he admits that Snowden “broke the law,” he said also “played a very important role in educating the American public” and that this should be considered if he is ever brought before a court. Sanders also added that if he is elected president that he will end the NSA spying programs.

Clinton has sparred with Sanders over this issue. In an October presidential debate, Clinton emphasized that Snowden broke the law and “stole very important information” and “should not be brought home without facing the music.”

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