In 1787, in response to Shay’s Rebellion, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” While I do not share Mr. Jefferson’s view that violent revolt is necessary from time to time, I do share his believe that the people have the right to disrupt the political status quo when it is failing the people.

My earnest belief is that our political system is broken and no longer serves the people. Members of our political elite have failed to heed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s admonishment that “power without love is reckless and abusive… power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” My decision to support a presidential candidate fundamentally rested on the candidate I believe is best situated to lead a revolt against a broken political system as well as use the power of the presidency to correct those things that cause injustice and stand against love.

For me, that candidate is Bernie Sanders. While I do not agree with him on each of his policy positions — in fact, I suspect I’m more conservative than he is on many fronts — at the end of the day, I’m convinced of his sincerity of commitment to fighting injustice in all its forms. I’m convinced of his sincerity of commitment to directly confront a political system that is now committed to pursuing power for power’s sake.

Perhaps my support of Bernie Sanders reflects an idealism within me that I thought had died after years of fighting brutal political battles. If my support for Bernie Sanders is pure unadulterated idealism, then I fully embrace that idealism.