The good news is that on Thursday
afternoon, at a beautiful and moving event, I had the privilege of swearing in
Zohran Mamdani as the next mayor of New York City. I also had the opportunity
to meet with some great people who will be part of his administration, the most
progressive in the history of that city.
At a time when people in the United States and around the world are losing faith in democracy, 100,000 New Yorkers volunteered for Zohran’s campaign and knocked on millions of doors. Together, they took on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, the president of the United States and some enormously wealthy oligarchs - and defeated them in the biggest political upset in modern American history. They showed the world the most important lesson that can be learned today: when working people stand together, there is nothing that can stop us. This is a lesson that will and must be replicated in cities and states across the country.
Zohran’s opponents have called the agenda that he campaigned on radical, “communistic” and unachievable. Really? That’s not what I believe.
In the richest country in the history of the world making sure that people can live in affordable housing is NOT radical. It is the right and decent thing to do. And, in the midst of a massive housing crisis, it is exactly what the people of this city and country want and need.
Providing free and high quality childcare is NOT radical. Countries around the world have done it for years. It is what our kids require if they are to be well-prepared for school and what working parents desperately need. It is, in fact, what every city in America should be doing.
Free bus transportation is not radical. It will save workers time and money, protect our environment, and make the city more efficient.
Making sure that every family in New York, regardless of income, has access to decent quality food at an affordable cost is not radical. Good nutrition keeps us healthy, and helps prevent chronic illnesses. In the long run, city sponsored grocery stores will save society money.
Lastly, demanding that the wealthy and large corporations start paying their fair share of taxes to help fund the needs of working families is certainly not radical. Today, while 60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck, we have more income and wealth inequality than we have ever had. While tens of millions of Americans struggle to pay for food, health care, housing and other basic necessities of life, the top 1% have never ever had it so good. And, yet, there are billionaires and large corporations that pay almost nothing in taxes. That has got to end. And that’s what Zohran intends to do.
That is the good news. And, for those of us who believe in democracy and economic, social and racial justice, it is very good news.
But here’s the bad news.
On Saturday Donald Trump, once
again, showed his contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law with his
attack on Venezuela. Let’s be clear. The President of the United States does
NOT have the right to unilaterally take this country to war, even against a
corrupt and brutal dictator like Maduro. The United States does NOT have the
right, as Trump stated, to "run" Venezuela. Congress must immediately
pass a War Powers Resolution to end this illegal military operation and
reassert its constitutional responsibilities.
Trump's attack on Venezuela will
not make the United States and the world safer. Quite the contrary. This brazen
violation of international law gives a green light to any nation on earth that
may wish to attack another country to seize their resources or change their
governments.This is the horrific logic of force that Putin used to justify his brutal attack on Ukraine.
Trump and his administration have made it clear that they want to revive the Monroe Doctrine, the belief that the United States has the right to dominate the affairs of the hemisphere. They have spoken openly about controlling Venezuela's oil reserves, the largest in the world. Let’s not hesitate to call this policy out for what it is. This is rank imperialism. It recalls the darkest chapters of U.S. interventions in Latin America, which have left a terrible legacy. It will and should be condemned by the democratic world.
As many will recall, Trump campaigned for president on an "America First" platform. He claimed to be the "peace candidate." Well, at a time when 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, when our healthcare system is collapsing, when people can’t afford housing, and when Artificial Intelligence threatens to wipe out millions of jobs, it is time for the president to focus on the crises facing this country and end military adventurism abroad. Trump is failing in his job to "run" the United States. He should not be trying to "run" Venezuela.
So. That’s what we’ve seen this week. On one hand, we celebrated a major victory for our progressive movement. On the other hand, we witnessed a reactionary oligarchic government at its worst.
Needless to say, these are crazy and tumultuous times - and everyone feels a bit overwhelmed. But this is what I honestly believe. If we are smart, disciplined and focused the future will reflect the vision that Zohran laid out in his speech on Thursday, a vision that many of us have espoused for years. The American people do not want oligarchy, authoritarianism, hatred and a massive level of income and wealth inequality. They want to live in a vibrant democracy with a government that represents all Americans, and not just billionaire campaign contributors.
The struggle we’re in will not be easy, but keep the faith. We will win.
Thanks so much for all you do and your ongoing support.
Happy New Year,
Bernie
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