SAN FRANCISCO, 21 December – Senator Bernie Sanders, activist, environmentalist, democratic socialist and leader of the American Resistance has penned an outstanding account of the consequences of hyper-wealthy people taking over the world.
Oligarchy is a system in which a small number of extremely affluent individuals control the economic, political and media life of a country. The people on Main Street have very little power to determine the future of their country.
We journey and cheer with Sander’s “Fight Oligarchy Tour” that took place across the United States this year. Citizens want change. They eschew fear and divisiveness, the mainstay of the Trump Administration. Americans are concerned because the cost of food – no matter where you reside – has risen dramatically since 20 January 2025.
We learned from Sanders latest book, Fight Oligarchy, that since 2015, three thousand individuals have increased their wealth by a gobsmacking $33.9tn. And, the loot is stashed in tax havens, offshore. That money could wipe out world poverty and bash global heating on the head.
To put the number one trillion into perspective, consider this: one million seconds = 12 days; one billion seconds ~32 years; and one trillion seconds ~32,000 years.
Why are the most loaded Americans not paying their fair share of taxes?
America is the wealthiest country in the world, yet 16 million children, or, one in five kids live in food insecure households.
Why is there not an existing universal U.S. healthcare system to ensure that every citizen is taken care of?
The answer to these questions is simple. Instead of the most deep-pocketed people paying their equitable portion of income tax, they have begged and are receiving trillions of handout federal dollars.
Hey, hold on a moment. Don’t the stinking rich detest the abject poor for needing a handout? Plainly, the shoe is firmly on the other foot – sanctimonious sons of bitches.
There’s a new religion sweeping the world, its insatiable God is money. Morals and ethics have been tossed out the window. Hand in step with this new breed of nouveau riche are greed, meanness, racism, hubris and a repugnant sense of entitlement that loathes the less fortunate.
In actual fact, with moneyed privilege comes a responsibility that strengthens communities. Lending a helping hand to those in need is not only the right thing to do, it’s what Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Mohamed all taught and practised.
When one of us in the Animal Kingdom hurts, we all hurt. That’s why supporting animal shelters (unconditional best friends forever), creating community food forests (jobs and food), building community living spaces for those who are homeless (dignity) and providing food for every child (humility), is requisite. Serenity for all.
Rapid movement of oligarchy, income and wealth inequality and authoritarianism has gone global. Unelected billionaires are affecting political policies and neglecting their responsibilities as empathetic and caring community citizen leaders.
Bernie Sanders virtuous actions are casting a beacon of optimism, especially amidst the climate and extinction crises. Sanders has spent his life fighting for workers’ rights, universal healthcare, water safety, removing money from politics; tackling food insecurity, poverty, affordable housing, global heating, consolidation of media, guardrails for AI, banning fracking that is poisoning water, terminating fossil fuel subsidies and promoting free college education. Each of these issues are solvable.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done,” said late South African President Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid activist, Resistance leader.
Fight Oligarchy offers a comprehensive list of how together we can resist and what you, in particular, can do. No one, today, has the luxury of pessimism. So, don’t get depressed, get active. Join millions of people in the movement for justice, peace and protecting Mother Earth and the remaining wilderness.
And remember this: We outnumber the bastards about a billion to one – People Power.
If you only read one book this holiday season (or 2026 for that matter) choose Fight Oligarchy. It’s my favourite informative and mobilising read of 2025.
Agitate. Disrupt. Defend.
Reese Halter is a bees/trees/seas defender.
Unearthly Wails is a special edition, a collection of poetry
illustrated by renowned Ojibwa artist Terry McCue.
Email: HalterBooks@gmail.com to order
