Gandhi said, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” He might have been talking about Bernie Sanders’ run for president. Bernie has attracted massive crowds, much more than any other candidates. In a straw poll at the Wisconsin state Democratic Party convention, Clinton got 49 percent and Sanders got 41 percent. The corporate media dismisses him because he is a democratic socialist but his positions are shared by strong majorities of Americans, as Juan Cole has pointed out. Yes, he is a “radical” but in the original sense of the word (“going to the root of society’s problems”).

He is the only major party candidate to come out for free college tuition, a ban on fracking, single-payer Medicare for all, a $5.5 billion proposal to employ one million young people and a bill to support co-ops and worker-owned businesses. He is a leading opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He supports legislation to make it easier to join a union. He supports paid family leave, pay equity and genuine progressive tax reform.

As Bernie says, “We must stand up and fight back. We must launch a political revolution that engages millions of Americans from all walks of life in the struggle for real change. This country belongs to all of us, not just the billionaire class.” Vote in the Democratic Party caucuses for Bernie in March. If you aren’t registered as a Dem, please do it as soon as possible. Hey! Sometimes longshots win!

Dave Anderson

Boulder