WATCH: Sen. Sanders speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention | 2024 DNC Night 2

Summary

The speaker reflects on the Biden-Harris administration's response to the COVID-19 crisis, highlighting significant policy achievements like the American Rescue Plan, expanded Medicaid, and reduced child poverty. They emphasize the need for continued political will to address current struggles, advocating for economic reforms, healthcare as a human right, raising the minimum wage, and combating corporate monopolies. The speech calls for action against oligarchs, supports public funding of elections, and sets a vision for a more equitable America, urging support for Kamala Harris as the next president.

Takeaways

• 🇺🇸 The speaker emphasizes the significant challenges faced by the Biden-Harris administration upon taking office, including the COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn.
• 🏥 The administration's swift response included passing the American Rescue Plan, which provided financial aid and health care coverage to millions.
• 🏡 Measures were taken to prevent evictions and support small businesses, highlighting the government's role in crisis management.
• 🍚 Emergency food programs were established to address hunger, especially among children and the elderly.
• 👶 A notable achievement was reducing childhood poverty by over 40% through an expanded child tax credit.
• 💼 The speaker calls for continued political will to address ongoing struggles faced by everyday Americans, advocating for an economy that works for all.
• 💰 There's a strong critique of the wealthy and a call for progressive policies such as taxing the rich, addressing price gouging, and expanding Medicare.
• 🗳️ The script advocates for political reforms, including overturning Citizens United and moving towards public funding of elections to reduce the influence of money in politics.
• 🌍 The speaker outlines a vision for a more equitable society with universal healthcare, a living wage, and stronger public education and union rights.
• 💊 A commitment to reducing prescription drug costs and ensuring affordable access to insulin for all Americans is highlighted.
• 🌱 The script contrasts the administration's agenda with what is deemed a 'radical' approach by opponents, focusing on social welfare and environmental protection.

Q & A

What was the situation in the United States 3.5 years ago according to the script?

The United States was facing the worst public health crisis in 100 years due to COVID-19, with 3000 Americans dying every day. The economy was in turmoil, with businesses shutting down, unemployment soaring, and hospitals overwhelmed. Additionally, there were issues with evictions, hunger among children, and financial strains on state and city budgets.

What actions did the Biden Harris administration take within the first two months of taking office?

The Biden Harris administration passed the American Rescue Plan, which provided financial aid to individuals, extended and expanded unemployment benefits, offered emergency assistance to small businesses, expanded Medicaid coverage, provided rent and mortgage relief, established emergency food programs, and protected union workers' pensions.

How did the American Rescue Plan impact childhood poverty?

The American Rescue Plan cut childhood poverty by over 40% through an expanded child tax credit.

What is the main point the speaker is trying to make about the role of government?

The speaker emphasizes that when there is political will, the government can effectively deliver for the people, highlighting the need to summon that will again to address ongoing struggles faced by many Americans.

What are some of the economic challenges that the speaker claims the average American is facing?

The speaker mentions that many Americans are struggling to put food on the table, pay rent, and get necessary healthcare, indicating a need for an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy.

What is the speaker's stance on taxing the rich and addressing income inequality?

The speaker advocates for taxing the rich, opposes the notion of not taxing the wealthy, and criticizes oligarchs who argue against such measures. They also mention the need to take on price gouging and expand social security benefits.

What does the speaker propose in terms of healthcare reform?

The speaker calls for joining the rest of the industrialized world in guaranteeing healthcare as a human right, not a privilege, and mentions the need to expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision.

What are the speaker's views on labor rights and the minimum wage?

The speaker supports raising the minimum wage to a living wage and passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to allow workers to form unions and gain decent pay and benefits.

How does the speaker propose to address the issue of high prescription drug costs?

The speaker suggests taking on big pharma to cut prescription drug costs in half, ensuring Americans no longer pay more than other countries for medications.

What is the speaker's position on the Citizens United Supreme Court decision?

The speaker argues for overturning the Citizens United decision, which allowed for more corporate spending in elections, and moving towards public funding of elections to reduce the influence of big money in politics.

What is the speaker's call to action for the audience regarding the upcoming election?

The speaker encourages the audience to support Kamala Harris as the next president and to work towards creating a nation that addresses the needs and rights of all its citizens.

Outlines

00:00

🇺🇸 Overcoming Crisis and Delivering for the People

The speaker begins by expressing gratitude and pride in the administration's efforts to address the dual crises of public health and economic downturn. They recount the dire situation 3.5 years prior, marked by daily deaths from COVID-19, overwhelmed hospitals, business closures, soaring unemployment, and widespread hunger. The Biden-Harris administration is credited with swift action, including the American Rescue Plan, which provided financial relief to individuals, expanded unemployment benefits, supported small businesses, and expanded Medicaid coverage. Additionally, initiatives to reduce evictions, establish food programs, and protect pensions are highlighted. The speaker emphasizes the reduction of childhood poverty by over 40% through an expanded child tax credit. The paragraph concludes with a call to action, urging the summoning of political will to address ongoing struggles faced by many Americans, advocating for an economy that serves everyone, not just the wealthy.

05:02

💼 Addressing Inequality and Championing Progressive Policies

The speaker addresses the stark income inequality, where 60% of the population lives paycheck to paycheck while the top 1% enjoys unprecedented wealth. They challenge the notion that the rich should not be taxed and advocate for policies such as tackling price gouging, expanding Medicare to include dental, hearing, and vision coverage, and increasing Social Security benefits. The paragraph outlines a progressive agenda, including overturning the Citizens United decision to reduce the influence of money in politics, public funding of elections, guaranteeing healthcare as a human right, raising the minimum wage, and strengthening workers' rights to form unions. The speaker also calls for improvements in public education, including raising teachers' salaries and ensuring accessible higher education. The paragraph concludes with a commitment to reduce prescription drug costs and a pledge to work with Congress to pass this agenda, contrasting it with what they consider a radical agenda proposed by the opposition.

10:04

🌍 Standing Up to Corporate Monopolies and Pursuing Global Justice

The speaker emphasizes the accomplishments of the past 3.5 years, comparing them favorably to the era of FDR, and outlines the ongoing need for courage to confront wealth and power to achieve justice. They call for an end to the war in Gaza, the return of hostages, and a demand for an immediate ceasefire. Domestically, the speaker targets various corporate monopolies, including Big Pharma, Big Oil, and Big Tech, and advocates for policies that challenge their influence and greed. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for the audience to support Kamala Harris as president and to work towards a more equitable and just nation.

Keywords

💡American Rescue Plan

The American Rescue Plan refers to a legislative package passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at providing economic relief to Americans. In the script, it is mentioned as a significant action taken by the government to support the working class by providing direct payments of $1400 per person, extending unemployment benefits, and offering emergency assistance to small businesses, among other provisions. This plan is central to the narrative of government response and recovery efforts.

💡Medicaid Expansion

Medicaid expansion is a policy that broadens the scope of the Medicaid program to cover more individuals, often in the context of healthcare reform. The script highlights one of the largest expansions of Medicaid in history, ensuring healthcare coverage for tens of millions of Americans. This is a key component of the administration's healthcare policy, emphasizing the commitment to making healthcare a right rather than a privilege.

💡Child Tax Credit

The Child Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for low- and middle-income families to help offset the costs of raising children. The script notes that the Biden Harris administration expanded this credit, which resulted in a significant reduction in childhood poverty. This policy is portrayed as a successful measure in alleviating economic hardship for families with children.

💡Economic Inequality

Economic inequality refers to the unequal distribution of income and wealth among different segments of the population. The script addresses this issue by pointing out that while 60% of the people live paycheck to paycheck, the top 1% have never had it so good. This concept is integral to the video's theme, which advocates for policies that address and reduce such disparities.

💡Oligarchs

Oligarchs are individuals who are extremely wealthy and have significant influence over the political and economic systems. In the script, they are criticized for opposing progressive policies such as taxing the rich, combating price gouging, and expanding social programs. The term is used to criticize those who resist changes aimed at reducing economic inequality and improving social welfare.

💡Citizens United

Citizens United is a Supreme Court decision that ruled that corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts in political campaigns, equating such spending with free speech. The script calls for overturning this decision to reduce the influence of big money in politics and to advocate for public funding of elections, which is seen as a way to promote a more democratic political process.

💡Living Wage

A living wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs. The script mentions the need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, implying that the current minimum wage is insufficient for many workers to afford a decent standard of living. This concept is tied to the broader theme of economic justice and the struggle for fair compensation for work.

💡Public Education

Public education refers to the government-funded schooling system available to all children. The script emphasizes the need to strengthen public education and raise teachers' salaries, suggesting that current funding levels are inadequate. This is part of a broader call for investment in education as a means to ensure equal opportunities for all Americans, regardless of their income.

💡Big Pharma

Big Pharma is a term used to describe the large pharmaceutical companies that dominate the drug industry. The script calls for taking on Big Pharma to reduce prescription drug costs, indicating that current prices are excessively high and unaffordable for many. This reflects a broader critique of corporate power and the need for policies that protect consumers from excessive pricing.

💡Corporate Monopolists

Corporate monopolists are companies that have a dominant position in their respective markets, often due to the absence of competition. The script mentions taking on various corporate monopolists, including Big Farmer, Big Oil, and Big Tech, suggesting that their unchecked power is detrimental to progress and the well-being of working people. This term is used to underscore the need for policies that promote competition and prevent market dominance.

Highlights

Laying the groundwork for Kamala Harris to become the next president.

Recalling the dire situation 3.5 years ago with the COVID-19 crisis and economic downturn.

The Biden Harris administration's response to the crisis, including the American Rescue Plan.

Providing $1400 to every working-class individual.

Extending and expanding unemployment benefits.

Emergency assistance for small businesses to stay open.

Guaranteeing healthcare coverage through a significant expansion of Medicaid.

Preventing evictions through rent relief and mortgage assistance.

Establishing emergency food programs for children and the elderly.

Protecting union workers' and retirees' pensions from being slashed.

Reducing childhood poverty by over 40% through an expanded child tax credit.

The importance of government effectively delivering for the people.

The need for an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy.

Addressing the issue of wealth inequality and the need for a fairer economy.

Plans to tax the rich, tackle price gouging, and expand Medicare.

Increasing Social Security benefits for struggling seniors.

The necessity to get big money out of politics and overturn Citizens United.

Joining the rest of the industrialized world in guaranteeing healthcare as a human right.

Raising the minimum wage to a living wage and strengthening workers' rights.

Strengthening public education and raising teachers' salaries.

Taking on big pharma to cut prescription drug costs.

Ensuring no senior pays over $35 a month for insulin.

The agenda is not radical but necessary for the American people.

Trump's project 2025 as an example of a radical agenda.

The accomplishments of the last 3.5 years and the need for continued progress.

The call to stand up to wealth and power to deliver justice.

The need to end the war in Gaza and address domestic corporate monopolies.

The upcoming selection of Kamala Harris as president and the vision for the nation's future.

Transcripts

Thank you.

Thank you.

My fellow Americans. It is an honor.

It is an honor to be with you tonight.

Because we're laying the groundwork. But Kamala Harris to become

our next president.

And let me. Let me tell you why that is so important.

I want you all to remember. Where we were

3.5 years ago. We were in the midst of the worst public health

crisis in 100 years.

And the worst economic downturn

since the Great Depression. 3000 Americans were dying every

day. And our hospitals were overwhelmed with COVID patients.

All across the country businesses were shutting down.

Unemployment was soaring. Workers were losing their health insurance.

Schools were closing state and city budgets were running out of money.

People were being evicted from their homes.

Children in America were going hungry.

That was the reality. The Biden Harris administration faced. As they

entered the Oval Office. A nation suffering.

A nation frightened and people looking to their government for support.

And within 2 months of taking office.

Our government did respond.

We passed the American rescue plan which provided $1400 for

every man, woman, and child in the working class.

We extended and expanded benefits for the unemployed.

We provided emergency assistance for small businesses to stay open.

We guaranteed health care coverage to tens of millions of Americans

through one of the largest expansions of Medicaid in history.

We've provided rent relief and mortgage assistance which prevented

tenants and homeowners from being evicted.

We established emergency food programs for hungry children and the

elderly. And protected the pensions of millions of union workers

and retirees from being slashed by up to 65%.

Oh, and by the way, We cut childhood poverty by over 40%

through an expanded child tax credit.

Thank you, President Biden. Thank you, Vice President Harris, thank

you, Democratic Congress.

Now I say all of this. Not to relive that difficult moment.

But to make one simple point.

When the political will is there, government can effectively deliver

for the people of our country.

And now we need to summon that will again.

Because too many. of our fellow Americans are struggling every day

to just get by. To put food on the table.

To pay the rents and to get the health care they need.

Brothers and sisters, bottom line. We need an economy that works

for all of us, not just the billionaire class.

My fellow Americans, when 60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck.

The top 1%. have never ever had it so good.

And these oligarchs, these oligarchs tell us.

We shouldn't tax the rich. The oligarchs tell us we shouldn't take

on price gouging. We shouldn't expand Medicare to cover dental,

hearing, and vision. And we shouldn't increase Social Security benefits.

For struggling seniors. Well,

I've got some. News for them.

That is precisely what we are going to do.

And we're going to win this struggle. Because this is precisely what

the American people want from their government.

And my friends

At the very top of that to do list.

Is the need to get big money out of our political process.

Billionaires In both parties should not be able to buy

elections including primary elections.

For the sake of our democracy. We must overturn the disastrous

Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

And move toward public funding of elections.

And let me tell you what else we must do. We need to join the rest

of the industrialized world and guarantee health care to all people

as a human right, not a privilege.

We need Yeah

We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage.

We need to pass the PRA

so that workers can organize the unions. Oh.

And gain the decent pay and benefits they deserve.

We need to strengthen public education.

Raise teachers' salaries. And make sure that every

American regardless of income, receives the higher education he or

she needs.

We need to take on big pharma.

And cut our prescription drug costs in half.

So that we no longer pay any more

than other countries. Joe and Kamala made sure that no senior in

America pays over $35 a month for insulin.

We need to make sure that reality is true for every American.

I look forward to working with Camlin Tim to pass this agenda.

And let us be very clear. This is not a radical agenda.

But let me tell you

what a radical agenda is.

And that is Trump's project 2025.

At a time of mass of income and wealth inequality, giving more tax

breaks to billionaires is radical. Putting forth budgets to cut Social

Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is radical.

Letting polluters destroy our planet is radical.

And my friends, we won't let that happen.

Fellow Americans in the last 3.5 years.

Working together. We have accomplished more.

than any government since FDR.

But much, much more

remains to be done. We must summon the courage. To stand up to wealth

and power. And deliver justice for people at home and abroad.

Abroad. We must end this horrific war in Gaza.

Bring home the hostages and demand. Immediate ceasefire.

At home. At home right here.

We must take on Big farmer. Big oil.

Big egg

Big tech

And all the other corporate monopolists whose greed is denying progress

for working people. On November 5th.

Let us select Kamala Harris as our president.

And let us go forward. To create the nation we know we can become.

Thank you all very much.