Bernie’s success as a mainstream, socialist presidential candidate has taken most commentators by surprise; even after he’d been mathematically counted out of the Democratic nomination race, support for Bernie Sanders kept coming in.
One person who wasn’t surprised though, is this week’s guest, Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant. Kshama is a teacher, activist, organizer, and a member of Socialist Alternative. She was a visible presence in the Occupy Movement, and an activist in her union, the American Federation of Teachers Local 178.
In 2013, Sawant ran for Seattle City Council on a platform of fighting for a $15/hr minimum wage, rent control and taxing the super-rich to fund mass transit and education. She defeated a 16-year incumbent Democrat to become the first socialist elected in a major US city in decades, and the first socialist on the Seattle city council since 1877.
On the show, Sawant discusses the radical potential of Bernie’s politics, the possibilities for Socialism in America; and argues that the Democratic Party’s anti-Trump strategy, with Hillary at the helm, is critically flawed in the long run.
Also on the show, Greek alternative energy expert Ioannis Margaris discusses going from theory to practice in the Left government in Greece. All that and a few words from Laura on Liberal Democrats and Rosa Luxemburg.
