The Record recently ran a cartoon captioned "Bernie launches his campaign" that depicts Bernie Sanders standing on a cliff floating balloons with the words "Free Stuff" on them into empty space. Sadly, this type of dismissive mockery that characterized most of major media coverage of Sanders in 2016 has re-emerged. It's disgusting and dangerous.

Sanders is far and away the most deeply serious candidate in the race. His proposals are not empty promises that float off into thin air. He is not leading us off a cliff. The "free stuff" that he proposes, such as single payer health care, are the down-to-earth realities in nearly every advanced country. Far from walking us into an abyss, the deep systemic changes for which Sanders has been a lifelong champion represent the best hope of reversing our current plunge into oligarchy.

Bennett Weiss

Newburgh