Bernie Sanders - Champion of the Free World

“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” - Thomas Jefferson

US Senator - Bernie Sanders

We live in exceedingly challenging times. Challenging, because of one man, Donald Trump. The world will always be in conflict for one reason or another. Electing the President of the United States is a grave responsibility. When you have a President, the fake leader of the free world, who openly sides with dictatorial Russia, by claiming Ukraine started the war; it is as Bernie Sanders called it, “the big lie.” 

There are no upcoming elections, it is early in the electoral cycle, yet Birnie Sanders is so concerned about what is happening in his country, he feels compelled to tour, to openly express his concerns. There are others who share similar views; watch David Brooks “How the Elite rigged Society (and why it’s falling apart).”

As an outsider looking in, people like Bernie Sanders and David Brookes give me hope for the future of the free, democratic world. A world not subjected to oligarchy, authoritarianism and dictatorship, a world that has blighted humanity since humans walked out of Africa. Underlining dictatorship and authoritarianism is violence, as has been clearly demonstrated by Putin invading Ukraine.

I will leave it to Bernie Sanders himself to express those concerns. Watch ‘Bernie Sanders warns Iowa City about the Rise of Oligarchy Power by Forbes Breaking News, YouTube; or ‘Bernie Sanders Dismantles Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos by electron media group on YouTube.

Here is a summary of Bernie Sanders' speech in Iowa City on February 22, 2025, courtesy of Google AI Studio.

Bernie Sanders: Fighting Oligarchy and Authoritarianism

In a speech delivered in Iowa City, Iowa, Senator Bernie Sanders addressed a large crowd, emphasizing the urgency of the current political moment. He argued that the United States is facing unprecedented crises under President Trump, and that the coming months will determine the future for generations. Sanders stated that Trumpism cannot be defeated by politicians alone, but only by a strong grassroots movement of Americans standing up against oligarchy, authoritarianism, and devastating cuts to crucial programs.

Sanders painted a stark picture of economic inequality, describing America as rapidly moving toward an oligarchic society where a handful of billionaires wield extraordinary wealth, media control, and political power. He noted the presence of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg behind Trump during his inauguration, symbolizing the influence of the ultra-rich. While the wealthiest Americans are thriving, Sanders highlighted the struggles of working families to afford basic necessities like housing, healthcare, childcare, and education. He argued that this economic stress leads to significantly lower life expectancies for working-class individuals.

He criticised a broken healthcare system prioritising profit over patient care, and a system burdening young people with crippling student debt. He also highlighted the plight of older workers with insufficient savings and senior citizens struggling to survive on meagre incomes. To illustrate the extreme disparity, Sanders cited the wealth of Elon Musk increasing dramatically since the election, giving him unprecedented political power, including influencing elections.

Sanders warned against the concentration of political power in the hands of billionaires, enabled by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. He condemned the influence of billionaires, both Republican and Democratic, as a corruption of the two-party system and called for overturning Citizens United and moving toward public funding of elections. He contrasted this with the economic reality that average working people are earning less in inflation-adjusted wages than they did 50 years ago, with almost all new wealth going to the top 1%.

Referencing Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, Sanders urged a commitment to a government "of the people, by the people, for the people," not one controlled by and benefiting the billionaires.

Sanders also condemned Trump's slide toward authoritarianism, citing his statement that "he who saves his country does not violate any law" as evidence of his belief that he is above the law. He criticised Trump's attempts to suspend federal grants and loans, undermine federal agencies, and challenge the role of the federal courts, exemplified by Vice President Vance’s assertion that the courts cannot stop the President’s unconstitutional acts. He attacked Trump's attacks on the media, including lawsuits against news organisations for unfavourable coverage, as intimidation tactics characteristic of authoritarian regimes. He discussed the rise of "the big lie," including false claims about the 2020 election, the January 6th insurrection, and climate change.

Sanders specifically targeted a Republican "reconciliation bill" that would provide massive tax breaks to the wealthy at the expense of programs benefiting working families. He urged constituents to pressure their congresswoman to vote against the bill. With a narrow Republican majority in the House, he argued that a few dissenting votes could defeat the legislation.

Beyond fighting against specific threats, Sanders called for a broader vision of a society that provides a decent standard of living for all. He advocated for healthcare as a human right, a living wage for every worker, easier unionisation, the best public education system in the world, affordable childcare, tuition-free public colleges and universities, and millions of units of low-income and affordable housing. He also stressed the need to address climate change and challenge the greed of the fossil fuel industry.

Sanders emphasized the need for unity and solidarity, warning against allowing Trump and his allies to divide Americans by race, religion, or other factors. He drew parallels to historical struggles, reminding the audience that Americans have overcome insurmountable challenges in the past, from winning independence from the King of England to abolishing slavery and securing women's suffrage.

In closing, Sanders urged the audience to take action, contacting their members of Congress and demanding town hall meetings. He expressed confidence that by standing together, Americans can defeat Trumpism and create a nation that lives up to its ideals, as 99% is a larger number than 1%. He ended on a note of hope, urging people to stand up, fight back, and create the kind of great nation they know they can become.