U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke to a full house at the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling, West Virginia, as part of his “Fight Oligarchy” tour. He addressed issues like the stress of living paycheck to paycheck, which he said severely impacts health and family well-being in the U.S., where 66% of people face financial insecurity.
Sanders shared personal anecdotes from his upbringing in a working-class family, emphasizing how financial stress affected his childhood. He highlighted the paradox of the U.S. being the richest country yet having a lower life expectancy compared to other nations, attributing this to systemic inequality and stress-induced health problems, including “diseases of despair.”
He criticized wealth concentration, noting that one individual, Elon Musk, has more wealth than 52% of American households combined. Sanders urged citizens to challenge the oligarchs and called for action against the Citizens United ruling, which he said allows corporations undue influence in politics.
Additionally, he advocated for reforms in health care, proposing a more equitable system and better compensation for educators, suggesting a minimum wage increase to $17 an hour. Prior to his speech, four speakers addressed the crowd, including anti-poverty advocate Amy Jo Hutchison, who emphasized community rebuilding efforts following recent flooding.
