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I must take issue with the Feb. 14 letter to the editor written by Greg Beale. For one thing, it was very insulting. Beale talks about " … stupidly voting the way we are ...". And then says, "It's time adults take command of the ship." Those comments are directed at those of us who support Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.

I can't speak about Trump and his supporters, except to say I believe they are as sick of the status quo as the left is.

I can speak about Sanders. I have had an interest in him for about 10 years. He is a man with principles and integrity. He does not stop telling what he believes is the truth because the polls say something different.

Sanders is a Democratic Socialist, not a Socialist. During his speech about Democratic Socialism he said, "I don't believe that government should take over the grocery store down the street, or control the means of production … But I believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal."

I believe the country is ready for someone who is willing to stand up to the big banks and billionaires who have been in charge for the past 40 years. Sanders is that person. He has a vision of what our country can be. He may not be able to get everything he wants to do through Congress. What president has? But, rest assured, he will continue to fight for us to the end of his presidency.

Bernie is talking to those of us who have had it with the establishment. Those of us who don't believe the so-called moderates have our best interests at heart. What have these "moderates" Beale talks about done for working people, seniors, and the poor over the past 40 years?

I am 68 years old and have seen trade deals take away American jobs, schools go downhill, the infrastructure fall apart, unions be destroyed, big banks be bailed out while the people paid for it, and politicians try to destroy or privatize Social Security and the U.S. Postal Service.

Most or all of the Western European countries have universal health care. Even Israel, to which we send billions of dollars yearly, has it. Yet even with the Affordable Care Act we don't have everyone covered. And our costs are still much higher than in other countries.

As for education, in the past a person needed a high school diploma to get a good job. Now he or she needs a college education. We need to make college free just as we have for students in first through 12th grades. Sanders has a plan for it. A tax on Wall Street speculation will pay the cost.

Germany has eliminated tuition. Chile is doing the same next year. Finland, Norway, and Sweden don't charge for college. Why can't the greatest country on Earth do what these countries have done? If we are going to compete in a global economy, we need an educated populace.

And what about fixing Social Security? All the politicians, except Sanders, make it sound so complicated. It's actually very simple to fix. I wonder how many people know that the Social Security maximum tax base is $118,500, yet those making more than $18,500 annually get to draw the maximum amount when they retire. Why not just raise that cap? That is Sanders' common-sense approach. It doesn't sound very extremist to me. We would then have Social Security on a sound financial footing for years to come.

Go to www.ontheissues.org/senate/bernie_sanders.htm and check on Sanders' voting record. Also, go to his website. You will find information on the issues and how Sanders plans to pay for the changes he proposes.

There are many Sanders volunteers in Shasta County. If you see them with a sign or at a table, say hello and pick up some information. Volunteers for Bernie Sanders in Shasta County has a Facebook page called Shasta County Working for Bernie Sanders.

Christine Mitchell lives in Redding.