Third party picks up the Bernie or bust

Out of 100 senators there are only two independents that are currently in office. Angus King, the senator of Maine and Bernie Sanders who ran for president in 2016. Sanders is a member of the Independent party, and represents Vermont.

I feel the Bern, do you?

One of the many reasons why I choose Bernie is because he is for college students and honestly we as college student needs a U.S. Congress member who gives us a voice.

A big aspect of Sanders campaign is free tuition and for college graduates to be debt free. Graduating college students in 2015 will own an average of $35,000 in loans.

Bernie second biggest issue is taking the big business aspect out of government to restore Democracy. The reason why is the Democratic and Republican parties both get money pump into their representatives or party chair member. Our government is controlled by billionaires and special interests groups.

Any candidates who does not register under the two parties system has to fund their own campaign unless they receive 5 percent of votes in the general election and can accept grants for campaigning. Unlike the Democratic and Republicans, each contender can only accept hard money which is $5,000 given to them. Soft money has no limitations of cash amount except the donator has to give the money to the chair of either party.

The requirements for any nominee to join in debates they have to receive 15 percent of votes in a number of ballots. Hillary Clinton won 42 percent, Donald Trump 34 percent and Johnson had 11 percent deeming him not eligible for presidential debates.

The last third party candidate to participate in a presidential debate was Ross Perot in 1992, he faced Bill Clinton (D) and George H. W. Bush (R). Perot gained 19 percent in the presidential election.

Do we as citizens want our government to be controlled by big business and interest groups share common interests who actively influence decisions in the three branches of government?

No we don’t we want a government system like Sanders wants to run, taking the big money aspect out of government and really represent the people without corruption.

The third party candidates are left out of presidential debates and have to fund their own campaign, while Democratic and Republican members get constant support from interests groups and those who have money.