Assert Good, Day 18. United States of America stuck in reaction feedback loops. “If You Sit Back And Do Nothing, They Will Take It All” - Senator Bernie Sanders with Stephen Colbert, May 15 2025 situ

MY QUESTION IS IF YOU HAVE ACHIEVED AN OLIGARCHY, OLIGARCHY 1:59 IS FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL POWER IN THE HANDS OF VERY FEW WHO 2:03 THEN USE THAT FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL POWER TO INCREASE 2:05 THEIR GRIP ON FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL POWER. 2:09 THAT IS A NEFARIOUS FEEDBACK LOOP.

2:11 HOW DO YOU BREAK AN OLIGARCHY? >> Senator Sanders: YOU DESCRIBED THE ISSUE EXACTLY ANYTHING LOOK IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND YOU LOOK AT THE ECONOMY, FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE NOT ONLY HAVE MORE WEALTH BUT CONTROL THE ECONOMY AND FEWER AND FEWER BILLIONAIRES CONTROL BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES.

2:28 THAT'S THE REALITY. THE ONLY WAY I KNOW AND WHAT ENDS THIS - ALEXANDER AND I ARE TRYING TO DO IS YOU GO ALL OVER COUNTRY TRYING TO INSTILL IN PEOPLE A SENSE THAT IN OUR COUNTRY YOU GOT TO STAND UP, ORGANIZE, ACT IN AN UNPRECEDENTED WAY BECAUSE THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT.

2:50 THEY THINK THAT IF YOU SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING, THEY WILL TAKE IT ALL. THEY WILL TAKE THE POWER. THEY WILL TAKE A WHILE. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS COMING. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO FEDERAL WORKERS, THROUGH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT ON THE

3:02 STREET. THAT THEIR MENTALITY AND THEY 3:04 WILL DO THAT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. 3:07 OUR JOB IS TO ORGANIZE PEOPLE IN EVERY WAY THE STAND UP POLITICALLY IN WORKPLACES, IN UNIVERSITIES, ON THE STREETS. 3:17 TO DEMAND THAT WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT WHICH REPRESENTS ALL 3:20 OF US AND NOT JUST A FEW. THAT MEANS, AND ONE OF THE 3:24 THINGS WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, STEPHEN, WE ARE URGING PEOPLE TO 3:27 START RUNNING FOR OFFICE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CONGRESS ON 3:32 AN AGENDA THAT SPEAKS TO THE NEEDS OF WORKING FAMILIES. 3:38 [APPLAUSE] 'S FUNERAL