Wednesday, September 9, A.D. 2009

Bernie Sanders and Duct Tape

Yesterday, I took a walk to the lovely National Garden aside the United States Botanic Garden. If you are ever in D.C. in the warmer months and you want a break from politics and the city, take a stroll through the Botanic Garden or the National Garden outside. They are some of my favorite places in town.

As I was walking back from the garden, I passed the Senate office buildings. By Dirksen, I noticed a beat up old car with a dent in the driver’s side. The dent had been duct taped. While such a scene would not have been odd in Cincinnati, it was certainly out of place in a Senate parking lot, especially that lot, where only members and high ranking staffers park. Who would own such a car?

Senator Bernie Sanders, that’s who. The car had the plates of the Green Mountain state along with the special senator plate in the windshield.

I may disagree with almost everything politically that Sanders does, but I respect certain aspects of the man. He is so, so wrong, but he has qualities rather rare among men in his station. He seems honest, frank, and concerned with the common good—though he misperceives what that good is. Unlike most members of Congress, I think that he actually believes and cares about the positions that he supports. I despise socialism, but I respect principled politicians.

That Sanders patches up his dented car with duct tape only increases my positive estimation of him. Leftists would be far more tolerable on a personal level if more of them were like Burlington Bernie.

Posted by Joseph on Wednesday, September 9, Anno Domini 2009
Philosophy | Politics • (0) Comments