In a political age marked by polarization, disillusionment, and increasing economic inequality, a fresh wave of populist fervour is sweeping the United States—and it’s being powered by the unmistakable voices of Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Their recent appearances in Colorado attracted tens of thousands of supporters, marking that the struggle against oligarchy is hardly finished—and indeed may be just coming into its most powerful expression yet.
At the centre of their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour is a straightforward, powerful question: Who is the government really working for? In Greeley and Denver, the response from thousands of working-class Americans has been a loud, “Not us.”
In Greeley, the arena reached capacity soon, with thousands more waiting outside—an image that epitomized the increasing sense of exclusion that many Americans feel in today’s economy. One of the attendees, a federally funded atmospheric scientist, discussed the stress and insecurity surrounding impending government cuts. For him and many others, this tour was not simply political theatre—it was personal.
Denver saw a record 30,000 plus attend the rally, the biggest ever held by Sanders. The senator made no time to waste. In raw anger, he berated billionaires such as Elon Musk, who, he asserts, are making national policy with little consideration for the average citizen. Sanders painted a stark picture: “a government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, and for the billionaires.” It’s a narrative that resonates, particularly in an era when the cost of healthcare, housing, and education continues to rise while wages stagnate.
Ocasio-Cortez shared that indignation, excoriating unresponsive lawmakers and calling on communities to hold their leaders accountable. “If this is the best you’re getting, you deserve better,” she declared to the crowd in Denver, prompting thunderous applause.
Their words are not rally slogans; they are a call to take back democracy from corporate America. Recent statistics from the National Institutes of Health and NPR surveys support their worries: poorer Americans live shorter, more stressful lives, and faith in both parties is evaporating. But Sanders and AOC think this moment—this suffering—can give birth to something strong: unity.
“We will not let this nation be an oligarchy,” Sanders vowed. Based on the crowds, America may be listening.
Also Read: Trump vs. Fox News: The Battle Over Media Loyalty Grows More Fierce
