Leaders in the Fight Against Oligarchy Are Emerging, and Bernie Sanders is at the Top of the List

He's 83 years old, and he puts to rest the misinformed discussion about the capabilities of older people with regard to carrying the mantle of political leadership.  Senator Bernie Sanders, still holding the confidence of the overwhelming majorty of voters in the state of Vermont, still standing absolutely firm in convictions regarding how American values should be affecting and shaping our culture, still calling out the immoral, inhumane, and patently unfair practices of a corporate-dominated government that one Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United in 2010, caused to completely push American politics over the edge of unbridled corruption.  

The Democratic primaries prior to both the 2008 and 2016 elections were difficult ones for me.  Having to choose between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton was tough, since there wasn't a whole lot, other than personality, experience and leadership ability, that distinguished them, and even in those areas, both brought assets to the table that made them strong leaders.  For me, in 2008, the choice was based on who I perceived would be the stronger candidate against whomever the Republicans would run, and I voted for Obama.  

In 2016, there was a distinctive philosophical difference between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.  Clinton represented the mainstream core of the Democratic party, while Sanders has always been on the left, which is where I find myself being aligned, from a political perspective.  My Dad was a union member, and belonged to two different local chapters of the International Chemical Workers Union Council (I.C.W.U.C.) founded in 1944.  He was a World War 2 naval veteran, was one of the two members of his extended family who went to college, cast his first vote for President for F.D.R. in 1944, and his party affiliation and support reflected his belief that the working class was the backbone of America.  

And it was his influence over my political perspective that pushed me in Sanders' direction.  And of course, being a loyal Democrat, when Sanders lost in the primary, I supported Clinton's candidacy.  I don't know if we made a mistake back then, in not nominating Bernie.  Clinton brought her own strenghts to the campaign, and would have made an excellent President, unquestionably far superior to the corruption, lies, dishonesty and incompetence we got from Trump in his miserable first term.  But Bernie would have been a risk taker, and he would have led the way toward making some foundational changes, starting with the Supreme Court, that would have prevented what we are experiencing now.  

His age doesn't seem to be an obstacle, does it?  He's not concerned about protecting his turf, or hanging on to what power he can hold, he's willing to put that at risk to save American democracy and to bring about the kind of legislative reform necessary to protect the American middle, working class as the lifeblood of the nation.  He doesn't look at polling numbers before launching out into rallies where he simply tells the truth.  He is the most consistent liberal politician of my lifetime, and he's doing exactly what I expect, as a rank and file Democrat who believes that the time to stop Trump is to jump on it now and get it done.  

The DNC and Democratic party had better embrace this, and give it support that it deserves. Beyond that, we'd better examine the messaging here and how it is being delivered, and start bringing pressure to bear on vulnerable Republicans in Congress.  We need to put a stop to Trump now, we need to get Elon Musk out of the government, and nullify his ability to buy it for himself.  Yeah, I know, Bernie is an independent, not a Democrat, but he is doing a whole lot more to put a stop to the Trump oligarchy than the entire Democratic party delegation in Congress.  

I've been getting a lot of appeals, asking me for money.  Following the 2024 election, during which I gave far more than the average Democrat did, though a drop in the bucket compared to individual Republican contributions, and I did it because I am a loyal Democrat and I believe our candidates are best for this country, by far.  But that stopped shortly after the election. I still don't see that Democrats in Congress have a strong or unified approach to stopping Trump, which, according to their own rhetoric, should be a priority.  Bernie does, and he's not waiting for approval from the party protocol police to move forward.  

Trying to Be Optimistic, I Do See Some Glimmers of Hope 

The first contributions I've made since the election went to David Hogg's Leaders We Deserve PAC.  There's a young Democrat who knows what he is talking about, isn't bound by meaningless and ineffective party and political protocols and demonstrates party leadership potential.  I am hoping that his presence, along with Ken Martin, as leaders of the DNC will revive that moribund organization and make it the effective communicator of the Democratic party messaging, figuring out how to use its resources to get our candidates elected.  

I'm also contributing to the campaigns of the Democrats running to take the congressional seats in the upcoming special elections, two in Florida and one in New York.  It seems that the hunkering down and interest protecting stance of Democrats in Congress is precluding any public push to support those running for the three seats that strategically would put a stop to any initiative to cut budgets and strip federal agencies of workers, as well as to getting rid of Elon Musk as a, whatever it is he does, menace.  

The clearest message coming out of anyone in Congress right now, other than Bernie, is being laid out by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.  Democrats are overdue in getting her into some place of more influence in the party.  She, along with Jasmine Crockett, are who we want in front of the cameras when the media isn't focusing on its "Trump, Trump, Trump, Musk, Musk, Musk" theme.  She's one who can get the attention of those cameras and she has a way of turning media negativity and bias back onto the reporters who awkwardly put themselves in position of having to keep up with her thought process and her speech.  

And if she can get media attention, which she does, Crockett, too, why can't the Democratic party leadership? 

Genuine and Unselfish

Given the treatment Bernie has had to endure, including criticism that falls outside the parameters of acceptable for those on the left, including most Democrats, his continuing push to set things right and to stop Trump is very unselfish and genuine.  He could also be protecting his interests, clutching his pearls, and collecting checks, enjoying congressional perks and simply letting the days pass while enduring whatever stupidity transpires in Washington, hoping it won't affect him.  He represents Vermont, so he doesn't have to travel far and the scope of the work of a Senator from a small state should be easy.  

But he's out there, one of the few who is finding an effective way of fighting against this criminal and corrupt Trump oligarchy.  

My advice is to pay attention and learn something, because he is getting this right.