EDIT: I did not anticipate the amount of attention this article has received. Thanks to everyone who has shared! I really think finding common ground with people who think differently than you is healthy on an individual level and can lead to a healthier society. Maybe it can lead us to elect the right leader too.

I know this seems like a stretch to Republicans or libertarian independents. I know Bernie Sanders has views which frighten economic conservatives like me. However, if you believe that Trump is not a choice we can afford to make, (not to mention Clinton) then allow me to try and convince you that Bernie Sanders isn’t as scary as you’ve let yourself believe, and if you care about America, you should support him.

Like my economically conservative friends, I see markets as a tremendous tool for innovation and even progress. Unlike my economically conservative friends, I see greater forces at play here outside of electing a candidate who will champion my economic views.

There have been many times over the past few months where my conservative / libertarian friends have rolled their eyes at me when I speak positively about Bernie Sanders. I think even the most liberal libertarians are still susceptable being drawn in by a culture which stems from the right. This leads their dissapproval of Bernie to be more than just philosophical. I had a conservative upbringing and consider myself a libertarian, but I see value in this candidate. This post will help me express how I came to this conclusion and why I hold this opinion.

Ok, enough context. Here goes:

1. His “Socialist Democrat” economic views DO NOT MATTER —

These are arguably Sanders’ most unattractive qualities to those on the right. As conservatives, we feel threatened by his collectivist solutions for issues like income inequality, but conveniently these views are also benign due to the limited powers wielded by the President of the United States. If understand limited powers and the constitution then you know that Sanders would have to pass his FDR-esque bills through what is likely to remain a Republican congress. There’s no chance that would happen. Even most Democrats wouldn’t stand for it.

Even if Bernie tries to popularize these ideas, they don’t concern me as a cataclysmic danger to our country. The U.S. has been a little socialist all along and although I think it’s gone too far in many ways, we aren’t falling apart because of it… Who knows, when AI takes all our jobs away, maybe something like a basic income might seem more attractive to moderate Republicans.

But seriously, this is perhaps the most overblown issue we have with Mr. Sanders not because his ideas aren’t legitimately concerning here, but because they’re completely unrealistic in America’s current political climate. The American people wouldn’t have it and neither will their representatives in DC. Central planning can be scary, but let’s not be frightened by these moot economic views! What Hillary has said on this topic actually reflects most Democrats’ feelings towards capitalism anyway, so let’s quit pretending we’re going to be Sweden any time soon.

When it comes to economics, when Sanders opens his mouth what we see is that his heart is in the right place. Frankly, his message of “We care about each other!” is an attitude which free market systems are just now beginning to practice with things like “conscious capitalism.” I would argue that Trump as president would be worse for capitalism and liberty than under Bernie. Now, someone please send him a copy of the Wealth of Nations and let’s get over this.

2. His views on foreign policy DO MATTER —

Ok, so he’s no Rand Paul on foreign policy. But he’s at least moderate on foreign policy, and conservatives should love this. He’s for protecting “America’s vital strategic interests, but … will do it responsibly.” He’s pretty aggressive on fighting terrorism, but “strongly believes that we must pursue policies that uphold the core values that make us proud to be Americans.” Come on, conservatives. We love this!

Again, knowledge of the offices comes into play here. This issue is the reverse of the overplayed economic concerns in that the executive office in the U.S. system wields significant power as commander-in-chief. In other words, as president, Sanders could make a real difference here. He called on both Bush and Obama for troop withdrawals in Afghanistan, is against quagmires like Iraq, and understands the Middle East in general is a quagmire. Clinton and Trump surely do not have this attitude as over-aggressive interventionists. Russia would love to be messed with right now, and acting like we’re the best thing on the planet is arrogant, regressive and unrealistic.

If a free democracy is what we believe in, let’s let that speak for itself and stay out of other people’s affairs unless absolutely necessary. We have created enough terrorists. Stop the madness. #FEELTHEBERN because it’s legit on this topic!

3. His views on civil liberties DO MATTER —

THIS is a crucial bonus and significant power that Bernie would have as holder of a veto pen! His views on restoring civil liberties should be celebrated by the right. He“voted against the Patriot Act when it was first passed, [and] voted against the Patriot Act when it was renewed.” It’s also why he opposed the so-called USA Freedom Act this past spring. “We must not trade away our constitutional rights and civil liberties for the illusion of security.”

He understands the struggles of African Americans are in and wants to help them. He understands that it is through plurality that we can attain liberty and social stability, not be receding into our cultural or racial tribes. Again, a clear contrast from Trump’s attitude and behavior.

If you’re new to the idea that our civil liberties need to be protected, welcome. Please stay. If you’re unsure, you’ll probably be fine with Trump or Clinton as they’re both essentially advocates of the police state.

4. He’s an honest person who cares about the country —

This may seem cliché, but it’s true and is important to note considering it makes him a rarity in politics. Ron Paul and Dwight Eisenhower were a similar archetype.

5. He’s principled —

I remember donating money to Ron Paul’s money bombs and holding up “LDS for Ron Paul” signs. There were leftists who attended our Ron Paul Meetup group! They didn’t exactly vibe well with some of the hard right you find in Ron Paul groups, but neither did I. The point is they found common ground in shared values and principles. Let’s return the favor.

Similar to the last point, his voting record and talking points correlate as he upholds core principles. We should remember there are indeed many principles held closely to the conservative heart are principles also shared by some on the far left. The two ideological camps meet on some points and although the individuals who advocate these ideals may not seem marketable to the mainstream, the values they uphold are worth defending.

6. Supporting a 3rd Party Candidate is futile —

Idealists like Gary Johnson are too much of a long shot. Bernie clearly isn’t beholden to the Democratic Party and ran as an independent for years, so he has the principles of a 3rd partier without the irrelevance of operating outside of the 2-party system. He’s the only independent candidate remaining who has a chance.

7. Conservatives could change history by electing Sanders, a Non-Establishment candidate —

It doesn’t take a truther to admit that the political establishment in DC is a real thing. Trump and Clinton are both part of this corporatist, political machine.

We need a non-establishment candidate in the White House! Corporatism is REAL and is a shared evil by the right and the left. The last time we had a non-establishment candidate was under Jimmy Carter or maybe Eisenhower? Many in our party lacked the wisdom to see the sense in supporting someone like Rand Paul, but there isn’t much time left and I don’t think supporting a non-establishment candidate like Sanders is a measure too drastic. Consider the common ground:

8. Hillary Rodham Clinton —

Look, sexism is very real. While I don’t think we should hate men or masculinity, we need to acknowledge that we live in in a society where masculinity is often ascribed to power and wisdom more than not just femininity, but women as a whole. Gender roles are messed up.

While I recognize that it’s much harder for Clinton to run this campaign than it would be for a man in her same position… It has also seems to have become a scapegoat. Do we need a female president? Absolutely. She shouldn’t even need to be feminine (Hillary doesn’t exactly exude motherly love and compassion). However, Clinton is not the candidate. She could actually damage the women’s movement due to her unlikability. More importantly, her track-record of dishonesty and corruption cannot be ignored. She’s not wrong because she’s different than some of our worst male leaders, she’s wrong because she’s the same. She just happens to have a vagina.

The only thing scarier than the thought of Hillary Clinton as president is the thought of Donald Trump as president, and that’s not saying much for either. Hillary is blatantly dishonest and manipulative but tries to conceal it. Trump is blatantly terrible as an actual person and flaunts it. Bernie Sanders is the biggest threat to both of these candidates. He fares better against Trump than Clinton does because he offers a clearer contrast. HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE!

9. Committing to vote for Sanders in the general election will help Democrats see that he is indeed a viable candidate —

Or even better, you could do whatever you need to in order to register to vote for him in the primaries! …At least tweet about him.

10. Hold your nose, and swallow your pride —

Look, I’ve never voted Democrat, supported Ron Paul in 2012, etc… Although I find myself supporting many progressive social movements, I understand the real dangers of excessive government in a pluralist society. I believe in capitalism, civil liberties, individualism, and natural rights. I understand that not all of these ideas are congruent with Bernie’s political philosophy, but I know he believes in protecting these values to some degree too. Conservatives have great values, as do liberals. Sometimes it’s just a matter of what order we prioritize our principles. Liberty, justice, and freedom = Things both sides believe in, but which neither Trump nor Clinton stand for; They are WRONG for America.

Perhaps the biggest threat from a Leftist in the Whitehouse is his Supreme court appointment. It really sucks that there will be a solid majority from the left, seeing that Obama will be making an appointment before his term is up. You may disagree with my lack of urgency on this issue and you may be right. If nothing else, the right deserves this for electing such terrible candidates over the past decade.

If you still aren’t convinced that you should vote for Bernie over Trump or Hillary, sorry I wasted your time. I’m convinced too many are entrenched beyond the ability to change their mind, but maybe this post can help you out of that.

Please share this with your friends, whether you’re conservative or liberal. If you’re conservative, your friends will say it’s crazy to hear this coming from you. All you’ll need to do is remind them of the alternatives.