The word revolution is typically associated with radical shifts in government and politics, however history itself seems to revolve periodically as the forces of good and evil ebb and flow. This world is insanely complicated, and geopolitical struggles only grow more and more intricate as we become more globalized. There are points in history where we have a chance to take part in shaping the future. Bernie Sanders is calling for a political revolution, which is an exciting opportunity for the citizens of the United States to take part in a pivotal moment in history. However his revolution is far more profound than a political one: it is also a temporal one.

The history of the United States is littered with a spectrum of heroes and villains; champions of peace and deceitful con artists performing for the political theatre. Our nation has become so polarized and has transformed so dramatically, and yet there are perennial ideas that endure and emerge in politics time and time again. History may not be the most exciting topic to explore, but it allows humanity to record our achievements and our mistakes, and (hopefully) gives us a chance to prevent these mistakes from being repeated.

The election of Richard Nixon in 1972, and subsequent resignation, unequivocally altered the trajectory of history, and paved the way for the monolithic power structures that are throttling the throat of our democracy. The saga of Nixon is the narrative that history remembers, but his contender George McGovern remains largely forgotten.

The tragedy of this is that George McGovern stood for everything that symbolizes the foundation of the American dream. Instead of fighting a pointless war in Vietnam, which was a waste of life and yet another blemish on the track record of our country, McGovern wanted to use this money alternatively on providing opportunities for a stronger education system, making healthcare affordable for every American, revitalizing domestic agriculture, providing affordable housing to ensure people have a roof over their heads, public works projects to mend the cracks in our infrastructure while also providing jobs and expanding social security.

Instead of a crook we could have elected a man who wanted to close the loopholes that allow corporations to avoid paying taxes, a fundamental part of what makes a society function, a man that wanted to address issues of racism and sexism and to give power to labor forces and the individual. Hunter S. Thompson described him best, saying that McGovern saw the potential of America to be “a fantastic monument to all of the best instincts of the human race”. It was this honesty, truth and empowerment that ignited the largest grassroots political movement until the Sanders campaign of 2016.

The rallying cry of the Bernie Sanders campaign for a political revolution in this context is a double entendre; the American people are tired of dreaming and we are presented with a rare chance of redemption. The shining light of the monument Thompson so eloquently portrays simultaneously casts a shadow of greed, deceit and ignorance that has plagued this election cycle. The contrast between the candidates is so blatant, and the message that resonated decades ago remains the same.

Can we learn from the past? Instead of dropping bombs and allowing the rich to get richer we have been given a second chance to pick a sincere candidate that represents the soul of American ideals once again.

Bernie Sanders is shouting the same message because the blasphemy of this nation has gone on far too long. Investing in educating the next generation of citizens, raising the minimum wage, creating affordable housing, providing health care to every citizen, ensuring equal pay for women, rejuvenating domestic agriculture, rebuilding our infrastructure, ending self destructive and manipulative trade agreements, expanding social security to allow the elderly to enjoy the fruits of their labor…That is the beating heart of the American Dream.

The past cannot be erased, but the future is still undecided. There is enough evil in this world, and no additional bullets or bombs are going to end it. Greed and misinformation have convoluted our collective goal to provide prosperity for all. In 2016 a stage has been set full of crooks and hustlers who want to keep treading along the same venomous path that offers false hope and the same solutions that have failed repeatedly. We were fooled once decades ago, and now we cannot afford to be fooled again.