Sanders calls for ‘courage’ to fight for middle class

IOWA CITY - Listening to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders talk about the current state of the nation could be a real downer - the decline of the middle class, the rise of the oligarchy, money in politics, double-digit 'real” unemployment, climate change deniers and the collapsing infrastructure.

'These are tough times for our country. No ifs, buts and maybes about it,” the second-term independent told an Iowa City audience Thursday evening.

'On the most significant issue facing the nation - whether America will have a middle class with a decent standard of living,” he said, 'that struggle has not yet been won and, in fact, to be honest with you, we are losing that struggle.”

Or Sanders could be an inspiration.

That's because the longest-serving independent in the history of Congress has 'absolute confidence … when we come together as a people there is very little we cannot accomplish.”

And that's what like-minded people must do, he told about 150 people at Prairie Lights Books. Later he spoke at a fundraiser for domestic abuse intervention and to a University of Iowa student group.

Sanders, 73, talked to about 150 people at the bookstore about the need to get money out of politics, address climate change, rebuild the nation's infrastructure and the possibility of leading those efforts as a candidate for president.

For 16 years in the U.S. House and eight years in the Senate, Sanders has been an independent who caucused with Democrats. Responding to encouragement to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sanders said upside would be an easier time getting on the ballot and being invited to debates.

There are advantages to running as an independent, however, 'because people are not enamored with the Democratic and Republican parties,” he said. 'The disadvantage is that it takes a lot of time and energy and money.”

'So I'm trying to figure out if I do make the run, what's the best road for me,” he said.

Phyllis Ward, who was visiting from Denver, would like to see Sanders run with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren as Democrats.

'Boy, that would be a hot ticket,” her friend Miriam Kashia of North Liberty said. 'The American people are starting to see the truth that democracy is corrupted.”

'We have to act and act boldly,” Ward said.

Sanders endorsed bold action.

'The only antidote that I know to big money is the ability of people to come together, to organize, to educate and stand up and fight, not just for ourselves, but for our kids and our grandchildren,” he said.

Change, Sanders continued, has happened 'when people all over this country stood up, occasionally died, often went to jail … it happened because people had the courage to stand up and fight.”

Sanders will be in Cedar Rapids Saturday to speak to the Hawkeye Labor Council and Cedar Rapids Building Trades at 11 a.m. at RDSI-UFCW 110, 526 F Ave. NW, and at noon to the Linn Phoenix Club.

At 2:30, he'll meet with Cedar County Democrats at the Courthouse in Tipton.