Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders drew a staggering 30,000 people to a rally in conservative California, proving that socialism sells best to those who haven’t actually experienced it.
At a Glance
- AOC and Bernie Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” tour attracted up to 30,000 attendees in Republican-leaning Folsom, California
- Rep. Kevin Kiley slammed the tour, noting it appeals to “far, far left radical elements” not representative of the majority
- California Assemblyman James Gallagher pointed out the irony of their visit, stating California has already adopted their policies with disastrous results
- The rally took place in a district where the current Republican congressman has stopped holding in-person town halls
- Conservative counter-protesters displayed pro-Trump and anti-Newsom messages nearby
The Socialist Revival Tour Hits California
Only in America could two of the most ardent champions of socialism draw massive crowds in a conservative area while railing against the evils of capitalism – all while enjoying its fruits. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders brought their ironically named “Fighting Oligarchy” tour to Folsom, California last week, where an estimated 26,000 to 30,000 people formed lines stretching three miles long. Apparently, nothing says “fight the power” quite like two career politicians who’ve spent decades inside the system they claim to despise.
The spectacle took place at Folsom Lake College, drawing supporters from across the region despite the area’s traditionally Republican-leaning demographics. This “Fighting Oligarchy” roadshow has been making stops throughout California, including in Los Angeles and Coachella, with equally impressive turnouts. One has to wonder if these attendees understand the irony of attending an anti-oligarchy rally in a state where Democratic policies have created one of the most stratified economies in America, with tech billionaires thriving while homeless encampments multiply.
Local Republicans Call Out the Hypocrisy
Representative Kevin Kiley, who represents the district where the rally was held, didn’t mince words about the socialist spectacle in his backyard. “I think that Bernie and AOC, they’re certainly appealing to a kind of far, far left radical element, but that simply is not the vast majority of the folks around here who believe in balance, who believe in common sense, who want to protect the quality of life that we have,” Kiley told CBS Sacramento.
“I think that Bernie and AOC, they’re certainly appealing to a kind of far, far left radical element, but that simply is not the vast majority of the folks around here who believe in balance, who believe in common sense, who want to protect the quality of life that we have.” – Kevin Kiley
California Assemblyman James Gallagher delivered an even more devastating critique, pointing out the painfully obvious: California has already implemented the Sanders-AOC agenda, and the results speak for themselves. Gallagher noted on social media: “As Bernie Sanders and AOC stop off in Folsom today please keep this in mind: We have adopted all of their policies in California. How’s that working out for you? We have the highest cost of living, the most poverty, the most homeless, second highest gas prices, housing costs soaring out of sight.”
California: The Failed Socialist Experiment
Gallagher’s comments cut to the heart of the matter. California has become the perfect case study of what happens when progressive economic policies run amok. The state has the nation’s highest poverty rate when adjusted for cost of living, rampant homelessness, sky-high housing costs, and energy prices that make working families choose between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table. Yet here were Sanders and AOC, selling the same failed policies to an enthusiastic crowd apparently untroubled by the evidence of failure all around them.
“As Bernie Sanders and AOC stop off in Folsom today please keep this in mind: We have adopted all of their policies in California. How’s that working out for you? We have the highest cost of living, the most poverty, the most homeless, second highest gas prices, housing costs soaring out of sight.” – James Gallagher
During their speeches, both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez attacked Rep. Kiley for his support of Trump’s cost-cutting policies, with AOC claiming he would cut Medicaid and Social Security. Meanwhile, Sanders urged the crowd to oppose tax breaks for billionaires, apparently forgetting that California’s high-tax policies have driven wealthy residents and businesses to flee to states like Texas and Florida. The crowd, naturally, ate it up, demonstrating once again that socialism’s greatest strength is its immunity to evidence of its consistent failures.
The Bigger Picture
While some would point to this crowd size as evidence of a shifting political landscape, it more accurately reflects the Democratic Party’s desperate attempt to energize their base ahead of what could be a brutal 2024 election. With President Biden’s approval ratings underwater and inflation ravaging household budgets, the Democrats are turning to their most radical voices to generate enthusiasm. What’s truly astonishing is that after watching California’s decline under progressive policies, there are still tens of thousands willing to stand in line to hear more of the same failed ideas.
“The world is falling apart, but Bernie gives all of us hope. It’s really exciting to be around people who feel the same way as we do.” – Jazmin Davis
As one attendee, Jazmin Davis, told reporters: “The world is falling apart, but Bernie gives all of us hope.” There’s a certain tragic irony to finding hope in the same policies that have accelerated California’s collapse. Perhaps the most telling detail from the entire event: nearby conservative supporters displayed pro-Trump and anti-Governor Newsom messages, highlighting the stark choice facing California voters – continue down the path of progressive failure or try something different. For now, it seems, many Californians are choosing hope over experience.
