Bernie Sanders addressing empty house on 1st Gulf War
Today I watched Bernie address congress in a passionate speech that is over 25 years old. One might think that Nostradamus was giving this speech because his predictions have proved more accurate than any foreign policy speech I’ve ever heard.
- Bernie spoke of the children then starving all around the world while we were to waste so many resources in the art of killing.
- Bernie spoke of the animosity the war would engender in the Middle East and that the people there would not soon forget our transgressions.
- Bernie feared that War and the destructive power of our armed forces would become our preferred tool to solve international crises
- Bernie spoke of the homeless sleeping under bridges, the poor with no healthcare, the elderly whose social security may be impacted.
- Bernie spoke of supporting our troops in the most basic way: “by bringing them home alive and well”
- Bernie urged the Congress to demand that we negotiate instead of waging war.
Bernie Sanders spoke to an empty House.
In the frame you can see only a single congressman in his seat listening to his wise foreign policy speech.
Why? Might it be that even in 1991 the Military lobbyists had so influenced congress that there could be no resistance. We often see today a lack of true debate in our branches of Congress even more troubling in the Senate. I sometimes watch the British Parliament debate weighty issues, listening and responding with fiery rhetoric, and become quite saddened that our politicians no longer speak to each other.
Everything today is about money. Raising money, and by consequence, enacting the policies that lobbyists desire.
Such a poignant moment seeing the sea of empty seats while Bernie gives such an enthusiastic speech. It must have been, and probably still is, disheartening to give a speech to an empty House.