We Still Need Bernie

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) may have dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race, but he's not going away. 

Announcing his withdrawal from the race on Wednesday, Sanders said:

"While Vice President (Joe) Biden will be the nominee, we must continue working to assemble as many delegates as possible at the Democratic Convention, where we will be able to exert significant influence over the party platform and other functions."

That's a good thing for the American people. And a logical, smart move by Sanders to stay on the ticket.

The Covid-19 pandemic, that's killed nearly 15,000 and infected 430,000 Americans, has not just exposed the criminal fraudulence of President Donald Trump, who for months inexplicably denied the reality of the enchroaching deadly virus.

It's exposing in real time the very same gross economic and healthcare disparities between the haves and the have nots in this country, which Sanders has long decried louder and more consistently than any single presidential candidate in recent history.

Sanders' movement for social equality captures the character and compassion of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt "New Deal," which was instrumental in facilitating our nation's economic recovery from "The Great Depression" of 1929.

Now, more than ever, as the death count mounts daily from the Covid-19 outbreak, and society shuts down, the need for a universal healthcare system, a living wage and a government that actually gives a damn about its people is abundantly clear.

Prior to the pandemic, some 140 million people have been living below poverty or right at the cusp, just paycheck away from going bust and tens of millions were uninsured. But now, as Americans "shelter in place" amidst the Coronavirus epidemic, millions more have lost their jobs, as well as employer health benefits.

A record nearly 17 million workers have filed for unemployment in the past three weeks. Those millions of jobless and furloughed workers now face the uncertainity of keeping enough food on the table and paying bills.

But just as crucially, despite empty promises from the Trump administration, it's still unclear to what degree the suddenly uninsured will get stuck with hospital bills if they get sick.

The $2.2 trillion relief package that Congress passed at the end of March for businesses, government agencies and citizens will help. But it won't be enough to offset expensive hospital stays.

On top of that, it's America's low-wage workers admirably working the front lines at Dollar General's and various essential businesses, who are most vulnerable.

Many of these underpaid workers putting their health on the line to serve the people, face a double or triple whammy.  Not only do they lack lack a living wage. They don't have healthcare either. And sick day pay is either scant or in some cases, non-existant.

So, what to do if they get sick?  They can't afford hospital bills. And they can't afford to not work either. Chances are they'll work sick, risking the spread of the virus to the community.

Americans may have allowed the right's fear mongering of Sanders as a "socialist" to force them to play it safe with Biden, but Sanders' Democratic socialist (there's a difference) ideas have gained wide traction across the homeland, nonetheless.

“It was not long ago that people considered these ideas radical and fringe,” Sanders said on Wednesday. “Today they are mainstream ideas.”

"I want to express to each of you my deep gratitude for helping to create an unprecedented political grassroots campaign that has had a profound impact in changing our nation,” Sanders told his supporters.

And Biden, acknowledging the success of the Sanders's movement of "Not me, Us," appears to be graciously welcoming Sanders input in shaping future Democratic policy.

“Bernie gets a lot of credit for his passionate advocacy for the issues he cares about,” Biden said. “But he doesn’t get enough credit for being a voice that forces us all to take a hard look in the mirror and ask if we’ve done enough.”

Said Biden: “While the Sanders campaign has been suspended — its impact on this election and on elections to come is far from over."

Amen to that.