Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are calling for uprising against Trumpism

It is the talk of his life. Bernie Sanders has performed the combative Philippika against the greed of the rich and social injustice in the country in the course of its 50-year politician life for a thousand times-but never before as much audience as last Friday, March 21, and with such a strong current echo.

« When I used the word ‘oligarchy’ a few years ago, many people didn’t know what I spoke of, » the senator calls the crowd: « Now everyone knows it. » The 83-year-old stands on a stage in the park in front of the Capitol of the state of Colorado. A few years ago he spoke here before. At that time there were 10,000 listeners. On Friday afternoon there were 34,000 in Denver alone – the largest amount he ever spoken.

Sanders is the old rocker of the American left. Twice, the non -party from Vermont has in vain for the democrats’ presidential candidacy. He doesn’t want to compete again.

But with the billionaire Donald Trump in the White House and Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, at the steering button of the demolition bulb of the American constitutional state, the aged socialist suddenly has a momentum. Four weeks ago, he started a protest tour in Nebraska under the name « Fighting Oligarchy » (fight of the oligarchy). Instead of the expected 800 spectators, 3,400 came. Since then he has been going through the republic on weekends. Long snakes form everywhere and the halls are overcrowded.

Little can be heard from the Democrats in Washington

The white -haired revolutionary revolves five appearances in front of a total of well over 70,000 people this weekend in the west of American. But Sanders does not come alone: ​​he brought Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the hopeful of the left Democrats, who only call her followers « AOC ». When he strikes the arm of the 35-year-old MPs in Denver and praises them as « inspiration for millions of young people », it almost looks like a relay handover in the progressive camp.

The city at the foot of the Rocky Mountains is one of the strongholds of this voter clientele. The applause is correspondingly enthusiastic. Otherwise, the appearance is remarkable. For two months now, Trump has been firing any decree every minute that shines half of the country in fear and horror. But there is little to hear from the Democrats in Washington. They even helped the President to adopt a transitional budget. The country also seems disturbingly calm.

« The whole world wants to know when America is finally getting against trumpism, oligarchy and autocracy, » says Sanders. The 83-year-old, who exudes even more fire in old age than some twenty-year-olds, wants to give the impetus.
The agenda with which Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez fight for change in the USA sounds old-fashioned. There is a lot of talk of the working class, unions and solidarity.

Both politicians largely focus on social issues: the gap of society, the « greed of the rich », the high rents, the poor health care. Your answers are also not new: health insurance for everyone, a higher minimum wage, a fairer tax system. In between, Sanders briefly falls into the style of his past campaign speeches and promises that he would reduce the drug costs.

In the past elections there were no majority for these positions in the United States. The two politicians apparently rely on the fact that under the impression of mass terminations and massive cuts in social insurance, the willingness of the population for a radical departure from capitalism grows.

They counter the nationalist right-wing populism of the Trump government an empathetic, left-wing populism. Her attacks are directed primarily against « the oligarchs » and musk (for most applause). Trump does not play the leading role for them.

« I have bad news for you, » calls Sanders of the crowd once when she cheers him up with « Bernie »- cheering on: « It is not Bernie. It is! » He calls on his listeners to engagement in grass root movements, unions and parents’ councils. The wake-up call not only applies to individual citizens: « The Democrats have to fight harder for us, » Ocasio-Cortez criticizes the anxious reluctance of their party.

The crowd cheers. Laurie McKenney looks similar. The former Air Force soldier and her husband drove an hour’s drive from Colorado Springs to the rally in Denver. She is very concerned about the announced cuts in veteran care. McKenney believes that many Americans have not yet understood what they were coming. And the democratic politicians in Washington would also misjudge the situation.

« They behave as if we had a traditional government. But the times are over, » judges the Democrat voter. The opposition must adapt: ​​ »We need more Bernie and AOC! »