opinion

Letter: Bernie Sanders urges voters to get to work

GREEN BAY - Last Saturday night, Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke at the Weidner Center.

His speech was full of the passion and excitement of his presidential run in 2016.

He spoke of issues that are important to Americans and to our planet: universal health care, equal educational opportunities, women’s rights, including equal pay for equal work and the right to choose, the inequality of wealth, an unfair tax system, a broken justice system. He fervently indicted the fossil fuel industry for their death grip on the economies of the world which, if left unchallenged, will likely render our planet uninhabitable.

Sanders reminded us that in spite of the billions of dollars the Republicans have to influence elections, they cannot win against a progressive electorate. We must say “No” to those who would throw out 100 years of progressive legislation, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, laws to protect workers, the environment, and laws such as Glass-Steagall, that protect our economy by regulating the banking industry.

Sanders implored us to inform ourselves. We must learn which candidates want to take us backwards, and which candidates are progressive and want to move our country forward. He urged each of us to see ourselves as capable of holding elected office, and to challenge ourselves to run for offices at all levels.

To me, Sanders’ message was an urgent call for all voters, in the words of former Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, to “roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Michael Van Ryzin