Bernie and AOC: Fight the Oligarchy with Your Own Political Involvement

Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered passionate speeches condemning the growing inequality, political corruption, and threats to democracy. They focused on the struggles of working-class Americans, the dangers of oligarchy, and the need for collective action to reclaim the country from corporate and billionaire influence.

They drew an audience of 20,000 people at Catalina High School in Tucson.

On Working-Class Struggles and Inequality:

• Bernie Sanders:
  “Today in America, we got more income and wealth inequality than we’ve ever had… Three people on top—Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg—own more wealth than the bottom half of America, 170 million Americans. Does that make sense to anybody?”
• AOC:
  “We shouldn’t be one accident away from catastrophe, one natural disaster from losing everything. We don’t have to live this way.”

On Political Corruption and Oligarchy:

• Bernie Sanders:
  “Right now in America, you have what we call an oligarchy. And what an oligarchy is about is a handful of billionaires controlling our government.”
• AOC:
  “We are witnessing an oligarchy in America when those with the most economic, political, and technological power destroy the public good to enrich themselves.”

On Fighting for Working Families:

• Bernie Sanders:
  “We are the wealthiest nation in the history of this world, and we want and will have an economy and a government that works for all of us, not just the 1%.”
• AOC:
  “I believe that in the wealthiest nation in the world if a person gets sick, they shouldn’t go bankrupt. Common sense.”

On the Role of Community and Collective Action:

• AOC:
  “Community, solidarity, and labor unions are the antidote to the billionaires and the oligarchy.”
• Bernie Sanders:
  “Our fight is to make sure that we remain a democracy—one person, one vote—not billionaires buying elections.”

On the 2025 Political Landscape:

• Bernie Sanders:
  “We will not allow Donald Trump to create an oligarchy in America… You’re not going to destroy Social Security, Medicaid, or the Veterans Administration.”
• AOC:
  “Now that Trump is back in power, we can see it clear as day. He’s handed the keys of this country to Elon Musk and is selling off the United States for parts to the richest people on the planet for a kickback.”

Five main themes

• Economic Inequality and Corporate Greed:
  1. Sanders highlighted the extreme concentration of wealth, pointing out that three billionaires—Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg—own more wealth than the bottom 170 million Americans.
  1. Both speakers condemned the widening wealth gap, where the top 1% thrive while millions live paycheck to paycheck, struggling with housing, healthcare, and education costs.
• The Rise of Oligarchy and Political Corruption:
  1. Sanders argued that America is becoming an oligarchy where billionaires control the government. He criticized the influence of big money in politics, including Elon Musk’s massive financial support for Donald Trump’s campaign.
  1. AOC warned that Trump’s return to power has led to the privatization of public institutions and the erosion of democratic norms, handing control to billionaires at the expense of working people.
• Protecting Social Programs and Public Institutions:
  1. Both leaders pledged to fight against Republican-led efforts to dismantle Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits.
  1. They condemned attempts to defund public education and privatize essential services, arguing that these programs are promises Americans have made to each other.
• Empowering Working People and Collective Action:
  1. Sanders and AOC emphasized the power of grassroots organizing and labor unions to combat corporate exploitation.
  1. They called on the audience to engage in their communities, defend public education, and support candidates who prioritize the working class.
• Defending Democracy Against Authoritarianism:
  1. Sanders criticized Trump’s efforts to undermine the Constitution by consolidating executive power and attacking the judiciary and free press.
  1. AOC framed the fight as a struggle to preserve the values of fairness, dignity, and democratic accountability against the forces of authoritarianism and greed.

Call to Action

Both speakers urged the audience to get involved politically—through voting, community organizing, and supporting progressive candidates. They emphasized that real change comes from collective action and a commitment to defending democracy and the rights of working people.

In closing, AOC and Sanders framed their movement as a moral fight for the soul of the nation—ensuring that no one is left behind and that the government works for the many, not just the wealthy few.