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bigtree

(85,998 posts)
Sun Jul 13, 2014, 06:54 PM Jul 2014

Bernie Sanders: Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution [View all]

Bernie Sanders ?@SenSanders 1h
Please 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
64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I love this guy tymorial Jul 2014 #1
I think the 1% oligarchs have already done a political revolution on the rest of us nolabels Jul 2014 #2
Fighting fire with fire . orpupilofnature57 Jul 2014 #5
Time for a counter-revolution. nt MannyGoldstein Jul 2014 #17
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
Time for agreement. nt Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #21
I suggest we organize protests from 9/13 - 11/4 with the focus on getting the money out of elections Dustlawyer Jul 2014 #28
Another idea you might want to consider is power is never given nolabels Jul 2014 #33
you make a good point, nolabels bigtree Jul 2014 #40
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
As far as i can see, we only have one life to live nolabels Jul 2014 #61
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #3
An American Patriot !!!! orpupilofnature57 Jul 2014 #4
Senator may be our finest spokesperson for American Democracy. nt ladjf Jul 2014 #6
K&R Babel_17 Jul 2014 #7
We vote, that's how. sheshe2 Jul 2014 #8
Yes, that's exactly what Sanders said the problem has been. Those are satisfied with the status quo, freshwest Jul 2014 #19
If they are satisfied and don't need a change then, sheshe2 Jul 2014 #20
It's not the satisfied sitting things out hootinholler Jul 2014 #37
In total agreement JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #34
Voting for Bernie would be awesome! AAO Jul 2014 #9
K&R trof Jul 2014 #10
March to the beat, and move out. Half-Century Man Jul 2014 #11
It sounds like a whisper Bluenorthwest Jul 2014 #14
+ 1 - Such A Talent - The Troubadour For The 99% cantbeserious Jul 2014 #16
I don't know if it's a memory I inherited or just a vivid image I constructed. Half-Century Man Jul 2014 #26
Go, Bernie! Enthusiast Jul 2014 #12
Sanders/Warren ticket Pharaoh Jul 2014 #13
Now, your talking. If they can show up in a peanut field in N. Florida... Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #22
Thank You Bernie cantbeserious Jul 2014 #15
It's SO EASY.... Plucketeer Jul 2014 #18
He's my hero. MoonchildCA Jul 2014 #23
How is using the political process to deal with policy issues a revolution? brooklynite Jul 2014 #24
Because the policies have gone so far in opposition of the people that morningfog Jul 2014 #27
Remember the "Reagan Revolution". We're still in it. grahamhgreen Jul 2014 #29
We need hundreds like him in office. How to get them elected is the problem sabrina 1 Jul 2014 #25
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
Bernie wins Vermont because he works for his voters no matter who they are. JDPriestly Jul 2014 #55
Rich liberals should adopt a state riverbendviewgal Jul 2014 #30
Huge K & R !!! WillyT Jul 2014 #31
The true revolution would be... N_E_1 for Tennis Jul 2014 #32
Excellent post. davidthegnome Jul 2014 #36
I love Bernie but this is no solution bread_and_roses Jul 2014 #35
Around these parts we've been seeing camps at government locations for some time.... Bluenorthwest Jul 2014 #54
K & R davidthegnome Jul 2014 #38
K&R raouldukelives Jul 2014 #39
one of the things Bernie discussed recently was the benefit of running as an independent bigtree Jul 2014 #41
He describes the dilemma very well here. polichick Jul 2014 #43
Just wondering bigtree BobbyBoring Jul 2014 #44
I don't think there's enough organization to do much more than divide the Democratic Party's vote bigtree Jul 2014 #45
Well, now we're talking! k&r polichick Jul 2014 #42
Well this us encouraging. redqueen Jul 2014 #46
Start the revolution by refusing to vote for Hillary. L0oniX Jul 2014 #47
He needs to enter the Democratic primary. n/t Comrade Grumpy Jul 2014 #48
"In the coming November elections, it is estimated that 60 percent of Americans will not vote." blkmusclmachine Jul 2014 #49
K&R johnnyreb Jul 2014 #56
"The first duty of a revolutionary is to be educated." - Che Guevara Joe Shlabotnik Jul 2014 #57
Sanders/Warren 2016! 'nuff said (nt) NorthCarolina Jul 2014 #58
Reality: freebrew Jul 2014 #59
Something constructive to do in a week of destruction... polichick Jul 2014 #63
Easy, remove politicians from tho political process, and follow a LEADER NM_Birder Jul 2014 #64
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