Jacqueline Hart Gibson, Denver. According to the Denver Fire Department, on February 16, 2020, over 11,000 “Berners” gathered to rally for the election of the first self described Democratic Socialist US President since FDR served from 1933 to 1945. The scene was somewhat confusing. One would expect by the noise and excitement in the room, that a popular rock group was being introduced. Instead, an old, white, Jewish, Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, took the stage. And the crowd went wild. 

How do we explain the rise of Bernie Sanders? The powers that be fought hard to keep him, his policies, and message, from resonating with voters. He is feared and disliked by the leadership in both parties, including the party whose nomination he’s currently competing for. Mainstream media outlets generally ignore, dismiss, or smear him. So why do his poll numbers keep going up, along with his support across racial and generational divides? Could it be the powerful have lost some influence over the masses? Is it possible Americans are connecting to Bernie because they dislike both political parties as much as those parties dislike Bernie? 

The results of this year’s primaries and caucuses will answer those questions in June. At the time of Bernie’s Denver rally, Bernie is the front runner in the democratic presidential nomination, having won the popular vote in Iowa and the primary election in New Hampshire, earlier in February. 

Senator Sanders’ speech began with pointing out some of the problems he sees with President Trump. “We cannot continue to have a President who is a pathological liar, who is running a corrupt administration, who has no clue what the constitution of the United States is about, who is a bully, who is vindictive, who is a racist, who is a sexist, who is a homophobe, who is a xenophobe, and who is a religious bigot. And those are his best qualities. It goes down from there.” 

Despite years of media coverage on the atrocities of Trump, or maybe because of it, the crowd roared when Sanders quickly moved on saying, “Trump is not only a liar, he is a fraud, and putting together the strongest grassroots movement this country has ever seen, we are going to defeat him.”  

Bernie pointed out the economic injustices that have become the norm in the US. “We will create an economy that works for all of us, not just the 1%,” Sanders exclaimed. “The American people understand there is something fundamentally wrong with this country, when three people own more wealth than the bottom half of American society. There is something wrong when the top 1% own more wealth than the bottom 92%.” 

Bernie also empathized with what working class Americans live daily, but what other politicians often steer clear of, like; half of the country’s workers living paycheck to paycheck, people working two or three jobs, and acknowledging the increasing number of homeless people in the US, up to about 500,000 people. All of this while billionaires, continue to get richer, and the wage gap continues to grow. 

“We will end the corrupt political system in which billionaires buy elections. Democracy to me, means one person, one vote,” Sanders said, possibly eluding to the still unresolved chaotic caucuses in Iowa, as well as Bloomberg’s multi million dollar ad buys nationwide. “We will overturn the disastrous Citizens United.” Citizens United is the 2010 decision of the Supreme Court that states, “money is speech” and “corporations are people.” The decision is responsible for escalating corruption in Washington by essentially selling democracy to special interest groups, corporations and even foreign governments. “We will move to publicly funded elections.” Sanders campaign has received more contributions from more people than any campaign in the history of the United States. 

“This is a campaign of the working class, by the working class, and for the working class,” Bernie states almost drowned out by cheers of “Bern-ee! Bern-ee! Bern-ee!”. It’s here that the Senator reminds the crowd of the camping’s slogan, “Not Me. Us.” “We are all in this together,” Bernie continues. “There is not a family in America that doesn’t have problems. We have to move forward understanding that my family has gotta care about you, your family has gotta care about my family. We are all Americans. We are in this together. The only way change ever takes place in this country is from the bottom up, not from the top down.” 

“This campaign understands, and you won’t see this on television (because) this isn’t what the corporate media talks about, we have got to address the incredible power of the corporate elite. That means we need to take on the greed and corruption of Wall Street, the insurance industry, the corrupt drug companies, the fossil fuel industry, the military industrial complex and their endless wars.” The crowds cheered loudest for the end to endless wars. 

For a country whose citizens generally oppose war, the US is the most feared throughout the world and polled as most likely to start WWIII. That reputation isn’t just about Trump. Our reputation globally is about this country in general and it makes sense. Our military spending budget dwarfs all other nations on this planet. According to data collected by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation in 2019, the US spends more, at 649 billion, than China, Saudi Arabia, India, France, Russia, UK, and Germany, at 609 billion, combined. 

Senator Sanders addressed the crowd with statistics, skipping empty moral platitudes often used by politicians in place of facts. “In the last forty-five years we have seen an explosion in technology and worker productivity. In the last three years of the Trump administration, the billionaires in this country have seen an 850 billion dollar increase in their wealth. The average American has seen less than a 1% increase in his or her income. A 1% increase in wages is not a booming economy.” He goes on to say, “The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage. We are going to raise that minimum wage to $15 an hour. Women are not going to make 80 cents on the dollar. Equal pay for equal work!” More cheers from the crowd. 

On education Sanders promises universal, quality, child-care and an end to funding charter schools over public schools. Many charter schools nationwide, not all, have been revealed to be frauds, collecting federal taxpayer money while failing to educate students. Sanders plans regarding education also include paying teachers a minimum of $60,000 a year and tripling funding to lower income schools, so education is equal, “regardless of zip code,” Bernie says. “All people, regardless of income, deserve a higher education. We will make public colleges, universities, and trade schools, tuition free, and cancel all student debt.” Student debt relief will be funded by a small tax on Wall Street speculation, attached to the buying and selling of stocks. Because average Americans don’t “play” the stock market continuously, this tax will fall primarily on the wealthy. Bernie justifies the student debt bailout by referencing the trillion dollar Wall Street bailout he voted against in 2009. “If the government can bailout the crooks on Wall Street, the government can cancel all student debt in America. Billionaires will start paying their fair share of taxes.” 

“It is an international embarrassment that the United States is the only major country on earth, not to guarantee health care to all people as a human right. Bernie states. “Because of the greed and corruption of the pharmaceutical companies, Americans pay more for prescriptions than any other nation in the world. Eight-seven million Americans are either uninsured or under-insured and 30,000 Americans die each year because we don’t get to a doctor when we should. Another 500,000 Americans go bankrupt every year because of medical debt. An American should not go bankrupt because they are dealing with heart disease, cancer, or Alzheimer’s.”

Sanders continues, “Last year the healthcare industry made over 100 billion dollars in profit. The function of a rational and humane healthcare system is to guarantee healthcare to all of its people. Not to make huge profits for the drug and insurance companies. According to a recent medical publication from Yale University, Medicare for All would save 450 billion dollars per year and 61,000 lives. Presidents, from Roosevelt to Obama, (Republican and Democrat), have been talking about Universal Health Care for over 100 years in the United States. The time for talk is over. Let’s pass it.” Medicare for all was recently endorsed by National Nurses United, and the American College of Physicians.

“I believe that Donald Trump, not climate change, is a hoax. Our administration will listen to science, not right wing extremists. Scientists are telling us if we do not act boldly in the next several years there will be irreparable damage done to this country and the planet.  Australia is still burning right now.” Sanders said. Australia fires in 2020 have burned so long and widespread, the smoke from the fires has created its own weather patterns including “firenadoes.” Firenadoes, also known as fire tornadoes, look and behave like tornadoes, but consist of fire.  

“Look at what happened in California, unprecedented levels of fire. Increased drought, increased precipitation on the ocean, increasing rising sea levels, and increased extreme weather disturbances.” Sanders continues, “The UN says if we don’t get our act together we will be looking at hundreds of millions of climate refugees. People will be forced to flee because they do not have drinking water or land to grow their crops. The issue of climate change is a fundamental moral issue. As human beings, as inhabitants of this planet, we have a moral responsibility to leave a healthy, habitable, planet to future generations. Our campaign has introduced the most sweeping climate change proposal that has ever been introduced by any other candidate. It is based on the principals of the Green New Deal and will introduce 20 million good paying jobs as we move away from fossil fuels and towards energy sustainability. We will say to the fossil fuel industry, “Your short term profits are not more important than the future of the planet.” 

Bernie continued addressing the need to de-privatize jails and prisons. Many refer to the current US prison system as modern day Jim Crow, as black and brown people are far more likely to be arrested than whites. Once arrested minorities are more likely to be found guilty, with less evidence, than whites. Once found guilty minorities are more likely to serve longer sentences, than whites found guilty of the same crimes. Additionally, the current bail system favors the wealthy and harms minorities and the poor. Bernie vowed to end cash bail and the failed war on drugs.

 On day one in office, Bernie vows to legalize marijuana nationwide. This is a simple measure that requires taking marijuana off the schedule one list of drugs that currently includes; marijuana, heroin, LSD, ecstasy, and mushrooms. Once marijuana is removed, Bernie says his administration will release all nonviolent marijuana offenders now in prison and expunge their records. 

“We will end the demonization of the undocumented people.” Bernie went on. “On day one we will sign an executive order restoring the legal status of the 1.8 million young people eligible for DACA.” Regarding the border, Bernie stated, “Under this administration no babies will be snatched by federal agents. Together we will pass comprehensive, bi-partisan, immigration reform, and a path to citizenship.” So much for those rumors about Bernie’s plan to open borders, pushed primarily by Tucker Carlson from Fox News. 

Regarding gun violence, Bernie Sanders stated, “Here is my promise to you. Our gun policy will be determined by the American people, not the NRA.” Bernie’s home state is Vermont. Vermont has a large community of hunters, and historically Sanders is not “radically leftist” when it comes to gun reform. Sanders revealed at this rally he supports “ending the sale and distribution of assault rifles, universal background checks, and closing the gun show loophole.” His position is known as “common sense gun legislation.”

Sanders pointed out an important and consistent hypocrisy in Washington among Republican Senators. Republicans preach about smaller government and getting the government, “off the backs of everyday people.” Bernie invited Republican Senators to understand, “That women have the right to control their own bodies.” Sanders vowed to never nominate anyone to the supreme court or the federal bench who is not 100% pro Roe v. Wade, to put Roe v. Wade into law, and to increase funding to Planned Parenthood. 

Bernie left the crowd at the convention center in Denver with these words, “Brothers and sisters here we are, facing the most consequential election in our history. I am here this evening to ask for your support to help us win the primary here in Colorado.” An extended, “Bern-ee, Bern-ee, Bern-ee,” chant followed. “Because of unprecedented grassroots support, we won the popular vote in Iowa. We won the New Hampshire Primary. We’re looking good in Nevada and South Carolina. With your help we’re going to win Colorado on Super Tuesday.” The crowd cheers. Bernie goes on, “Trump thinks he’s going to win the Presidential election by dividing the people up”. The crowd boos. “But we are going to beat him because we are bringing the American people together. You may have noticed the Republican establishment is getting a little nervous.” the crowd cheers. “Wall Street and the corporate elite are getting a little bit nervous.” The crowd cheers a little louder. “The Democratic establishment is getting a little nervous.” The crowd goes wild. “And all of these folks are trembling. My God the workers are standing up for decent wages. Young people are demanding a decent education. The American people want health care as a human right. The American people want us to lead the world in fighting climate change.” The crowd noise is now off the chart. 

“Brothers and Sisters, with your help, we are going to win here in Colorado, we are going to win the democratic nomination, and we are going to defeat the most dangerous President in modern history. Let’s get out and vote on Super Tuesday. Let’s go forward together. Thank you!” Thousands of supporters flowed out of the crowded reception hall, inside the convention center, carried on their way by the Bernie Sanders campaign song, Taking it to the Street. 

The Democratic Primary Vote in Colorado is March 3, 2020. Voters must be registered Democrat or Independent to vote in a Colorado Democratic Primary. 

(Originally published in the February 20, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)