March 28, 2024

Campaigns end on Election Day — revolutions don’t

Bernie Sanders’ truly revolutionary campaign for president ended in July after the last Democratic primary election. Corporatists, cynics and most of the media assumed that the grassroots populist revolution he inspired was over as well.

They couldn’t imagine that the diverse mix of young people, working-class voters, independents, progressive mavericks and millions of others whom Bernie energized as an independent political group could stay together, much less mount any serious challenge to the business-as-usual elites.

But far beyond the little negative bubble where those scoffing prognosticators dwell, something called "Our Revolution" is rising across America's political horizon.

That’s the name of the new organizational structure Bernie’s forged to continue his electoral storm. As civil rights leader Ben Jealous said when he joined the board, “Bernie’s transformative campaign was just the beginning.”

Not only will the revolution continue, but it’s going to spread throughout the country, grow, and gain strength by bringing the populist issues, grassroots methods, and small-dollar funding of Sanders’ presidential run to local and state politics.

Our Revolution (on the board of which I also serve) will be an independent political network of 50 interconnected state networks. Each state group will recruit, train, and support candidates, as well as run state and local issue campaigns.

The Revolution’s goal isn’t just to run and raise issues, but to rally America’s workaday majority to win, govern, and transform our society from plutocracy back to democracy. Those who join can help inspire a nation of social, racial, and environmental justice.

OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker. He's the editor of the populist newsletter, The Hightower Lowdown. Distributed by OtherWords.org.