You would never think a tiny bird could make a monumental impact at a presidential rally, but think again! On Friday afternoon, Bernie Sanders’ speech was interrupted by an unaccompanied bird, causing the crowd to go crazy for the cute coincidence. News outlets such as the Guardian even made reference to the Oregon-based comedy show, “Portlandia,” which coined the phrase “put a bird on it” as a way to satirize the state’s hipster stereotype.
Sanders, being the hippie he is, of course took advantage of the situation.
“I think there may be some symbolism here. I know it doesn’t look like it, but that bird is really a dove asking us world peace.”
I don’t know if the bird was a symbol for peace, but it definitely made me like Sanders more. Watching the crowd point and “aww” at the unexpected occurrence was somewhat refreshing after hearing nothing but criticism and hostility among the presidential hopefuls. After the memorable moment, the presidential candidate discussed topics such as making higher education tuition-free, targeting the fossil-fuel industry and increasing the minimum wage to $15.
As a millennial, I make an effort to look at all sides to the story, and although a lot of Sanders’s viewpoints mirror my own, I realize that not everything a presidential candidate advocates is guaranteed. Sure, making college free would be an awesome reality, but think about how much the economic landscape would change after such a drastic shift of money-flow. Of course the idea of making higher education more accessible is a worthwhile goal, but such an adjustment could have many societal and economic implications, both positive and negative.
Similarly, increasing the minimum wage has been a long-debated topic, and although a higher hourly salary is a dream for most college students, retirees and others, other components to the matter prove not all change is positive. Take Seattle, Washington for example. The state recently passed a $15 minimum wage law and according to a recent piece published in the The Seattle Times, although recent restaurant closures were not directly caused by the imminent wage hike, experts anticipate restaurants will have no choice but to “raise their prices by 4 or 5 percent” in order to accommodate new labor costs (Business).
I don’t know about you, but I’m a frugal shopper to begin with, especially when it comes to food. Sure, an expensive meal is nice every once in awhile, but in the end, the cheaper my food is, the happier I am. After all, who wants to spend more money on food when rent, groceries and utilities are hard enough to keep up with? While an elevated minimum wage is tempting, I don’t know if I’m prepared to pay more money for my food, clothes and miscellaneous items.
Although Bernie Sanders’ publicized moment of becoming “Birdie Sanders” is entertaining and heartwarming, it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s bringing up important issues, and instead of focusing on a cute bird making an unplanned appearance, the public needs to focus on the issues at hand. After all, the future of the U.S. lies in Sanders’s and other presidential candidates’ hands. Sure, “Birdie Sanders” has a nice ring to it, but can such a character take on a nation in need of a desperate make-over?
Featured image via Flikr by Phil Roederer available under a Creative Commons license
