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Showing Original Post only (View all)Bernie Sanders: Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution [View all]
Bernie Sanders ?@SenSanders 1hPlease share your ideas with me. How do we make that political revolution?: http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/we-need-a-political-revolution
The status of American democracy is frighteningly dismal.
In the coming November elections, it is estimated that 60 percent of Americans will not vote. Worse, 70-80 percent of those hurting most economically, low and moderate income workers, will not be participating in the election.
Further, political consciousness in this country is extremely low, with most people not knowing who their member of Congress is or which political political parties control the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
Meanwhile, while tens of millions of American workers have given up on the political process and no longer see government as relevant to their lives, the billionaire class is more active politically than ever before. As a result of the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson and other billionaires will be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to elect candidates whose main function is to help the wealthiest and most powerful people become even wealthier and more powerful.
In other words, the rich are becoming richer and spend huge sums on political donations. The poor are becoming poorer and don't even vote.
Our job is to make a political revolution. Our job is to educate and organize so that working people fight for their rights and for their dignity - and are actively participating in the political process. When we do that, when we stand together, we win: Health care for all, a fair distribution of wealth and income, a major federal jobs program, higher wages, reversing global warming and real campaign finance reform.
When we give up and don't participate, we lose. And what we will see is the continued collapse of the middle class and an increase in poverty, cuts in Social Security and Medicare, a growing gap between the very rich and everyone else, no increase in the minimum wage, no effort to make college affordable and more devastation because of global warming.
Please share your ideas with me. How do we make that political revolution? How do we bring people together to fight for their rights and a progressive agenda which represents the needs of all Americans, and not just the top 1 percent.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Bernie
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/we-need-a-political-revolution
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I think the 1% oligarchs have already done a political revolution on the rest of us
nolabels
Jul 2014
#2
If we can't get our message out to the people, we are lost. But most of all we need the help of
rhett o rick
Jul 2014
#53
I suggest we organize protests from 9/13 - 11/4 with the focus on getting the money out of elections
Dustlawyer
Jul 2014
#28
That is it also, people don't want handouts mostly, they want a hand in the game
nolabels
Jul 2014
#62
Well, until you have a better idea I think I will try to get everyone's attention with this idea.
Dustlawyer
Jul 2014
#60
Yes, that's exactly what Sanders said the problem has been. Those are satisfied with the status quo,
freshwest
Jul 2014
#19
I don't know if it's a memory I inherited or just a vivid image I constructed.
Half-Century Man
Jul 2014
#26
How is using the political process to deal with policy issues a revolution?
brooklynite
Jul 2014
#24
We need a nationwide, sustained, decentralized movement that last for years and years.
stillwaiting
Jul 2014
#50
I agree. The old way isn't working for a majority of the people, and that is a fact.
sabrina 1
Jul 2014
#51
We could make it fun. Weekly meetings and gatherings, potlucks, newsletters, etc…
stillwaiting
Jul 2014
#52
Around these parts we've been seeing camps at government locations for some time....
Bluenorthwest
Jul 2014
#54
one of the things Bernie discussed recently was the benefit of running as an independent
bigtree
Jul 2014
#41
I don't think there's enough organization to do much more than divide the Democratic Party's vote
bigtree
Jul 2014
#45
"In the coming November elections, it is estimated that 60 percent of Americans will not vote."
blkmusclmachine
Jul 2014
#49