my buddy bernie.

I don't have many living heroes. People who I greatly admire who can still surprise me with their selfless actions. But one of them is Bernie Sanders, who I would get all giddy about when he stopped by on Olbermann or Rachel Maddow. One of two Independents in the Senate, Senator Sanders is a Democratic Socialist—sharing my values about things like single payer healthcare, income equality, accessible and quality education (and I could go on and on). He makes me wish I lived in Vermont.

Today, the honorable Senator Sanders took to the floor of the Senate at 10:25am and eviscerated the proposed tax bill in what ended up being an 8.5 hour filibuster. He pointed out the ridiculous nature of giving tax cuts to the richest of the rich while the middle class in this country gets pushed further and further towards the poverty line. I tuned in on my C-SPAN radio app (YES, I HAVE A CSPAN APP—DEAL WITH IT) at the start and listened all the way through.

All the way through. Sitting at my desk, working and listening. Going home for lunch and listening. Getting home from work and watching on TV. Bernie was supporting me by speaking and I was going to support him by paying attention. Within 30 minutes of being home, I had sent emails to both of my own Senators—because in the end, that is what this about. Participating in your government.

This is where I really wish more people my age were like the young people in the UK. There should be rallies in the streets over this and so many other injustices that get passed because nobody cares, nobody bothers to understand.

Thank goodness for people like Senator Sanders. At 28, I couldn't imagine talking for 8.5 hours and he did so passionately at the age of 69.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/10/bernie-sanders-filibuster_n_795087.html