Growing up in the UK - but in the US for the last 27 years - I do not think there are many liberal politicians in this country. The US is generally quite conservative, especially on social matters. I would still put Sanders left of center, Clinton as a centrist, and the republican candidates as right of center.
As someone from Ireland, I agree with this (regardless of my allegiance to Arsenal :-P ) I consider myself pretty liberal in america, although I'm decidedly centre, perhaps even a little to the right in Ireland.
I have to admit I associate with a lot of the Sanders rhetoric so far, primarily the need to reverse the ever growing gap between rich and poor. Another mentioned already here is free education, I could not have afforded to study engineering if I had lived here in the US and am grateful for the opportunity I had in Ireland. It can and does work and offers those from the lower end of the income classes the opportunity to achieve.
Coming from Ireland, our two largest parties both have an ideology I'd consider liberal conservatism (the parties are virtually undifferentiated and the two exist simply from civil war disagreement over a united Ireland)
Personally I feel the US needs someone who is of that liberal conservative mold (Obama? :-) ), I don't think Sanders is that guy (slightly further left) but a lot of what he is saying fits.
Since moving here things that have left me awestruck and I feel need to be addressed in the next 8 years:
- Wealth Gap - I have never seen poverty like I have in the US for a 1st world country.
- Minimum Wage - essentially a government subsidy to american corporations, for example if Walmart employees are on public assistance please argue how that isn't true!
- Medical Costs - The bill is how much? If it fit in our timeline I would have kids in Ireland/UK, unfortunately is does not
- Tuition Costs & Student Loans - Wow!! Crippling!
- K-12 Education - Soooo poorly funded. My wife is a teacher, it probably doesn't help that we are in the Tea Party experiment that is Kansas but if I listed her classroom expenses for the year'd I'd likely cry
- Trade Skills - As an engineer in a manufacturing setting I was astounded at the low level of technical understanding of recent high school graduates in comparison to Ireland/UK and finding qualified staff for semi skilled operator positions. More emphasis needs to be given to trades as a viable option to college
- Racism - Is this the 60's? I'm white and English speaking, people forget I'm an immigrant.....I have been included in some pretty shocking conversations. Tramp has made it public with his campaign
- Guns - A whole bunch of crazy. I actually think Sanders gets a bad rap from liberals here but I agree with his stance on guns and rural vs urban areas...two totally different uses. Hand all guns into the sheriff when entering town ala the wild west!! Also nobody needs an assault rifle for hunting!
- Abortion - personally I am pro-life if it were my child (I am a man btw, wife shares same views), but then I am also for the whole-life which is something Sanders touches on, nor do I feel it right for me to dictate to others where I have no comprehension of what they are going through at that time or the circumstances...so I guess I lean pro-choice on policy!! It does confuse me that most conservatives consider themselves pro-life but have no issue kicking that child to the gutter when born, with a fend for themselves sort of attitude, no social support for their mothers/family.
Going back to liberal conservatism ideology, Ireland is generally pro-enterprise/capitalism with low corporate taxes which I associate with conservatives here in the US (Microsoft, eBay, Apple, Google, Intel, Facebook, Yahoo, Linkedin, AirBnB, Twitter, Paypal all have their EU HQ there and others such as Pfizer, Medtronic and Eaton controversially relocated their head office there for tax purposes with merger deals)
But we also have many social safety nets consistent across Europe and what I see Liberals here pushing towards such as free healthcare, good unemployment, pension and disability support, 26 weeks paid maternity leave and free college/third level education. Benefits are based on what you have already paid into the system which prevents freeloaders, particularly for unemployment benefit, and something I feel is good, I'm all for basic safety nets but those capable and with offers of work should. Ireland may be considered a tax haven for corporations but is the opposite when it comes to personal income tax 20% lower rate and 40% above ~$47k (median income is ~$31k so 40% is aimed at the wealthier end of the scale) VAT or sales tax is also 23%
On the Social freedom policy such as Abortion, same sex marriage and gun ownership etc Ireland has traditionally been pretty conservative until recently given the dominance of the catholic church. However that is changing quickly and certainly leans toward the left now on same sex marriage and is slowly going there on abortion. Gun rights have never been a hot topic like here, farmers/sporting enthusiasts have them but seldom does it even cross the mind for much of the population.