We will be exercising the word “socialist” a lot in the coming 2016 presidential election because Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, a declared Democratic Socialist, is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination. On the ballot as an Independent, Sanders’ whole political career from mayor to congressman to senator has been guided by socialist thought. As the election cycle moves forward, when we study the facts of the matter, we will come to appreciate just how socialist we are: roads, streets, parks, public lands, fire departments, schools, police, defense, Social Security, medical care, our local television district, irrigation water, municipal water, sewage and waste disposal, wildlife, farm advice, the land grant university, the other state colleges, Native American treaty responsibilities, libraries, clean air and water.

Sanders, who favors making government social institutions serve the people well, is the candidate for those of us in the 99 percent.

William Hendrickson

Cortez