US Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders’ Storm against Society’s Inequality

Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders’ storm is adding depth to the U.S. presidential election. Although Sanders, as expected, lost the Iowa caucus to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a very close battle on Feb. 1, yesterday he took control of the flow of events by winning the New Hampshire primary by more than a 20 percent margin. The Sanders’ storm considers itself socialist, and it can be argued that some of the electorate are now sympathetic to the term socialism. It proposes to break down income inequality and charges itself with restoring the middle class. It rejects cutting taxes for the wealthy and the current limits on minimum wage. Instead, it seeks to raise taxes on the wealthy, increase the value of labor, and prevent the further weakening of labor unions. This indicates that current U.S. sentiment is to seek solutions for the ills of neoliberalism. It remains a toss-up whether or not Sanders will win the presidential election on Nov. 8. There is still strong and robust support for Hillary. Even if he wins the Democratic nomination, he must still win the final election against the Republican candidate.

Not only is it necessary to observe this trend of public sentiment in the U.S. presidential election, but also in the upcoming general elections in South Korea. According to analysis by reporters in the field, U.S. public sentiment does not make any distinction between opposing parties when it comes to demonstrating the grievous anger being expressed against the inequalities affecting their lifestyles.

In Korea, this polarization has been intensifying, and the life of the common people remains impoverished. Nevertheless, the government does not serve the will of the people. The current regime remains far from resolving the ills of neoliberalism. Rather, it continues to highlight the trickle-down approach and the need to strengthen capital. However, the opposition party still remains too weak to challenge the ruling party. There should be no difference between the way Korean public sentiment rises to the level of discontent and anger and the way public sentiment rose to the level of discontent and anger in the United States. A government this disconnected from public sentiment must come to an end.