In the very first debate of the 2016 Presidential debate, Hillary Clinton declared herself not only a progressive but also a “progressive who likes to get things done.” This therefore implies that your typical progressive, namely Bernie Sanders who takes great pride in being a progressive, are not good at getting things done like passing laws. However, this may not be the case.

Over their careers, Hillary Clinton has served as a US Senator for the state New York between 3 January 2001 to 21 January 2009 for the Democratic party. Then served as Obama’s Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013. Where as, Bernie Sanders has served as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, from April 1981 to April 1989. Then Sanders became the Vermont congressman from January 1991. Until January 2007, when Bernie Sanders became a US senator for the state of Vermont.

Well during her time, as the ‘most experienced candidate’, Hillary has been able to pass an amazing three bills! Now that is a progressive who likes to get things done. I mean come on she was able to get a post office built, get a monument declared as historic, and most recently of all she got a stretch of road named after someone! Now if that isn’t real progression I don’t know what is.

All Bernie Sanders has been able to do is get three bills enacted! Two of which were getting post offices named. Although the third did raise the level of compensation for veterans injured for their country. Oh and while he was chair for the Senate Veterans Affairs (VA) committee, he was only able to pass thirteen bills which became law, between 2013 and 2014. Which is a lot more than the past twenty committees were able to pass, 8.5 on average. And during the second least productive congress of all time.

Okay thats impressive but what else did he do? Well he was able to pass $16.3 billion of bipartisan money in the VA reform bill. A bill which vastly expanded health care facilities, and got more veterans out of the system into private health care providers. In fact in 2015 he was awarded the highest honour by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, because he has been such an effective law maker.

And before he was even elected to the senate in 2006, Bernie Sanders was given the title by Rolling Stones journalist Matt Tiabbi, of the “Amendment King”. This is because since the Republicans took control of the House in 2005, no other lawmaker has passed as many roll-call amendments, which are those voted for on the floor, than Bernie Sanders.

Most amazing of all is that, Bernie Sanders has done all this as an Independent. Without the financial power, nor the power of name Hillary Clinton has. Bernie Sanders has done this through his seemingly relentless drive for progression and desire to do right by those he serves.

So maybe the “Amendment King”, the true progressive who likes to get things done, Bernie Sanders is the man America need to drive them onwards to a fairer and more progressive society.