1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Democratic Party must take decisive action to combat the alarming rise of oligarchy and corporate capture of government. We are witnessing a disturbing trend where the ultra-wealthy and powerful corporations exert undue influence over policymaking, undermining the interests of working-class Americans. The rallying cries of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expose this harsh reality - the nation is being ruled by a government of the billionaire elite, for the billionaire elite. This corrosive system of oligarchy perpetuates massive income inequality, exploits workers, and jeopardizes the very foundations of our democracy. It is imperative that the Democratic Party charts a new course rooted in economic populism that prioritizes the needs of the working class over corporate profits. This means unequivocally rejecting the grip of wealthy donors and special interests, and instead fighting for policies that uplift ordinary Americans - from strengthening labor rights and raising wages to affordable healthcare and quality education for all. The party must put forth leaders willing to "brawl for the working class" and confront head-on the monopolistic practices of powerful corporations. Incremental reforms are no longer tenable; the crisis demands bold, transformative change to dismantle oligarchic control and create an equitable society that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. A reinvigorated Democratic Party aligned with the people can catalyze this urgently needed systemic overhaul.