Sen. Bernie Sanders (I.Vermont) gave a wake-up call to progressives on Wednesday night via livestream. He stated that despite seemingly insurmountable problems that the far right, and the ruling classes are posing for the country and the world, it is not the time to retreat from action or become discouraged.
“Look. These are very tough times,” Sanders told viewersThe livestream was about the future for the progressive movement. “But these are not the only tough times that the country has experienced.” He then pointed out that the world was able to climb out of the Great Depression in the 1920s and 1930s and, in a broad sense, defeat the all-encompassing threats of Nazism and Japanese imperialism during World War II.
Those were also seemingly insurmountable threats at the time, he said, and the threats that the country faces now are real — threats of the climate crisis, extreme income inequality, corrupt elections, abortion rights, far right authoritarianism, and more. Sanders acknowledged that the actions of the ruling classes are demoralizing and said that they include not only Republicans, but also Democrats who are in constant step with corporations and the rich. He pointed to conservative Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-West Virginia) moves to obstruct the Democratic agenda as an example.
Sanders stated that there is too much at stake for progressives to abandon building on the progress made by previous generations of activists.
“It is not appropriate for us to live in despair because what all of this is about is not just us,” he emphasized. “We are fighting for not just ourselves but for the future, the future generations. So it seems to me that despair is not an option.”
Sanders stated that he believes progressives will be able enact positive change if they keep fighting. “We have a moral obligation to continue to stand up and fight — to recognize that, yes, these are tough times, but as human beings, we cannot turn our backs on future generations, we cannot turn our backs on the most vulnerable people in this country who are really hurting right now,” he said.
Sanders highlighted many areas where progressives can fight to make a difference. The burgeoning labor movement is a “bright spot” amidst the current moment, he said.
He also mentioned that campaign finance is another area in which progressives could work for change. Because of government rulings like Citizens UnitedElections can be sold to the highest bidder. Further, the Democratic Party is often complicit in this practice because they don’t want people who have the “courage to stand up to the ruling class of this country,” he said.
Progressive candidates like Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) Andy Levin (D-Michigan)they are fighting with moneyed interest, often associated with Democrats that are trying their unseat despite the fact that they’re incumbents. In fact, the Democratic Party is the only party that supports progressive candidates in races across the country against Democrats. pours money into defeating the progressive — even if the progressive is slated to lose, Sanders observed.
He explained that this tactic was to tell progressives who are considering running that the party establishment disapproves. “By the time we’re through with you we’re going to have ugly, dishonest 30 second ads on TV and on the radio and all this stuff. We’re going to make your life miserable,” he said. “Because we are the ruling class of this country, and we don’t want you messing with us.’”
Instead, the Democratic Party needs to be run from the bottom up, he said — and progressives can’t achieve that goal by being complacent.
“We cannot simply, in my view, remain on the defensive,” Sanders said. “We as progressives cannot let other people define who we are…. We don’t have to accept that. We must define who and what we are. And we must not be shy about demanding the bold and systemic changes this country desperately needs.”
