Saving Capitalism Page #7

---

Because if people don't trust

that our society

is working for most people...

then they are very vulnerable.

We're at a critical turning point

in this country.

And we're either going to go

toward authoritarian populism...

over the long-term,

or we're going to go

in the direction of a democratic...

a fundamental democratic change.

A democracy is a very fragile thing.

The other day,

I was going through the airport.

Somebody came up to me -

a complete stranger.

She said to me,

"So, what are we gonna do?"

I said, "I don't know."

And then other people in other airports

and other places,

they come up and say,

"Can you believe it?"

The way we get our economy back...

really is about the way

we get our democracy back.

And that is getting together

and creating institutions

that countervail the power

of the biggest corporations,

and the biggest banks

and the wealthiest people.

Citizenship is more than just voting

and jury duty and paying taxes.

Citizenship really is participating

and engaging

and making a ruckus

when a ruckus is necessary.

It's all of our responsibilities

to make sure for ourselves,

but also for our children

and grandchildren...

that we make this thing work.

Thank you.

Thank you for coming tonight. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

I stay positive,

first, because I know American history.

I know that every time

capitalism gets off the rails,

our instinct in this country

is to put it back on the rails.

We are seeing the same kind of

concentrated income and wealth,

the same kind of political corruption.

We saw the same thing

in the 1880s and 1890s.

And the rules added to the wealth.

You saw a similar kind of vicious cycle

to the vicious cycle we have now.

People became so angry.

And that anger was channeled

in a positive direction.

People organized themselves

and changed the organization

of the political economic system.

The first major

antitrust legislation was passed,

which broke up huge monopolies.

And then President Teddy Roosevelt

signed a law that prohibited

corporate donations

to political campaigns.

We don't succumb,

as other countries have,

to fascism or communism.

We are much more pragmatic than that.

And I think we'll do it again.

I'm also optimistic because I teach.

I surround myself every day

with young people.

And I see in young people today

a huge yearning,

a huge dedication

to making the system work.

It's a time of great, great opportunity

and great, great danger.

Some of you,

and I don't know who it is,

and I don't know how many of you...

will be part of the solution.

Some of you will be leaders.

Does everyone have a seat? I can't...

This is the most extraordinary...

historic period I've lived through.

And I'm old enough

to have lived through a number.

This summer marks the 50th year for me

that I've been involved

in and out of government.

And so it's a little bit humbling

to think that it's been 50 years,

and we're in deeper sh*t...

...than we were then.

If you've got young people

who don't have the experience

of a system that is actually working,

then where do they get

their idealism from?

Where is the next generation

going to draw its...

strength from?

I wouldn't say that American history

has had a golden age and we've passed it.

But I do think that at least there was

a sense that we were better together.

A sense of shared identity.

I don't think that exists so much anymore.

Certainly, there are moments of despair

and hopelessness

and the sense that, like,

all of this is for nothing.

So, like, that... That comes, too.

But you have to believe things

will get better.

Or...

Or you'll just always

be living in hopelessness.

But it's also an opportunity

because people are also getting more aware

and more understanding of the challenges,

and that's mobilizing people, also,

into making people act

and reflect on and...

participate in politics.

So, it's... It's hope.

I wish, with hindsight,

that when I had had the opportunity...

in government...

I wished I had pushed harder.

But at the time, I thought

I was pushing as hard as I could.

As hard as I dared.

It's now up to the next generation.

All social change occurs

when people become aware of a tension

between the ideal

that they carry around in their heads

about how the system really ought to work,

and the reality they see around them.

And when that tension becomes too great,

that dissonance becomes too intense,

they are willing to take action.

Affordable care!

-We want it now!

-We want it now!

It's getting a bit better

because we are doing something

to make a change.

I've been fighting for $15 in the union

for about three-and-a-half years.

What do we want?

$15 in the union!

When do we want it?

Now!

My friends, this is about power.

It's about reclaiming our democracy

and reclaiming our economy.

This is a huge victory. I feel very proud.

Because now the rest of the nation

is looking at us.

And they're seeing that $15 per hour...

It's achievable.

We can do it.

We're getting hardened on how to organize.

When they start trying to discredit you,

and belittle you,

you know you're making an impact.

My question is,

how can I be sure that you will

advocate for me as your constituent,

and can you guarantee for me

quality affordable healthcare, at age 26,

with a pre-existing condition,

as I live below the poverty level?

It's Office Hours Live .

A lot of people who, until now, have said,

"Well, politics is out there,

politics is for other people",

are now understanding

that they can't sit back.

The people in control

have reason and means

to keep us in separate groups

and keep us angry at each other.

The strength you have is in numbers.

- Right.

-It's not just in guts.

That's right.

I ask you all

to take five minutes out of your day

and make at least one phone call

to your congressperson,

one phone call to your senator,

and I guarantee you,

that if we continue doing so,

we will succeed.

Do your job! Do your job!

Do your job! Do your job!

The only way forward to a system

that works for the majority of us,

is to get organized

and politically active.

The moneyed interests

are doing what they do best -

making money.

The rest of us need to do

what we can do best...

Use our voices.

Our vigor.

And our votes.

It's up to us to change the rules.

If you're gonna be a citizen activist,

three things...

Number one,

you've got to be tenacious and patient.

Social change does not happen quickly.

Number two,

talk to people who disagree with you.

Get out of your bubble.

Maybe they will convince you

that you are wrong,

or you'll convince them

that they are wrong.

But you've got to talk to them!

Number three,

have some fun.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes