'"Symbol of US Progressives" Sanders: "Democratic Party's Defeat for Abandoning Working Class Is Not Surprising"'

[US Election 2024]

Senator Bernie Sanders, a leading independent progressive politician in the United States, sharply criticized the November 5 presidential election results, which ended with the victory of Republican candidate former President Donald Trump, saying it was not surprising at all. Having secured his fourth term in the Senate election held alongside the presidential race, he pointed out that the Democratic Party's failure to adopt policies for ordinary people led to an 'electoral disaster' and urged that lessons be learned from it.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Senator Sanders, who supported Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris in this election, released a two-page statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account on the day after the election, November 6 (local time), saying, "It is no great surprise that the working class has abandoned the Democratic Party that abandoned them," adding, "First it was the white working class, and now the Latinx and Black working classes as well."

He pointed out that just as the white working class in the Rust Belt supported former President Trump in the 2016 election, in the 2024 election, even the Latinx and Black communities, traditionally considered 'Democratic strongholds,' have shifted toward the Republican Party.

Senator Sanders emphasized, "The Democratic leadership defends the status quo, but the American people are angry and want change," adding, "And they are right." He noted that 60% of Americans today experience greater income and wealth inequality than ever before, pointing out, "Surprisingly, the real weekly wages of the average American worker, adjusted for inflation, are actually lower than they were 50 years ago." He also expressed concerns that despite technological advances and productivity improvements, many young people expect their living standards to be worse than their parents', and that developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics could exacerbate this trend.

Along with this, Senator Sanders criticized the healthcare system, saying, "Despite spending far more per capita than other countries, we are the only major developed country that does not guarantee healthcare for all," highlighting issues such as medical services, high prescription drug costs, and paid family medical leave. He also criticized the Biden administration's Israel policy, stating, "Despite strong opposition from the majority of Americans, we continue to pour billions of dollars into the extremist Netanyahu government (Israel), which is waging an all-out war against the Palestinian people, causing a horrific humanitarian disaster."

Senator Sanders questioned, "Will the big-money donors and high-paid conservative consultants who control the Democratic Party learn any real lessons from this disastrous campaign?" He lamented, "Can they understand the pain and political alienation experienced by tens of millions of Americans? Do they have any ideas on how to fight against politics where economic and political power is concentrated? Probably not." He urged, "In the coming weeks and months, those concerned about grassroots democracy and economic justice must engage in very serious political discussions."

Senator Sanders, who serves as an independent in Congress, collaborated with the Democratic Party in support of Vice President Harris's campaign ahead of this election. However, he has criticized the Biden administration's stance on Israel aid and has actively encouraged the administration to adopt progressive economic policies in healthcare, education, childcare, and workers' rights. At 83 years old, older than President Biden, he defeated Republican candidate Gerald Malloy in the Senate election held the day before and was elected to his fourth six-year term, which will keep him in the Senate until the age of 89.