Bernie Sanders’ presidential platform mirrors America’s earlier beliefs
Bernie Sanders is running for President and calling for the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes, pay equity for women, a livable minimum wage and expanded Social Security. Fifty years ago, President Eisenhower said that labor is the United States and the tax rate was 90 percent. The Republican Party platform assured equal pay for equal work regardless of sex and proudly described Ike's accomplishments — the Federal minimum wage was raised, Social Security was extended and benefits raised, and unemployment insurance was expanded.
Things change over 50 years, but the ideas that everyone should pay their fair share and that the government has a role in helping everyone, not just those at the top, have not changed. While jobs come and go and programs like unemployment insurance and Social Security are threatened, the big banks get bigger and the rich get richer. Enough is enough.
Rick Patelunas, Myrtle Beach
This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Bernie Sanders’ presidential platform mirrors America’s earlier beliefs."