Now when Bernie talks about oligarchy, let us be clear about what we mean.

When Bernie talks about wealth inequality, he likes to throw around some pretty striking numbers.

Right now in the United States of America,

three families control more wealth than the bottom half of our country,

some 160 million Americans.

The top 1% own more wealth than the bottom 92% and 49% of all new income generated today goes to the top 1%. In fact, income and wealth inequality today is greater in the United States

than in any time since the 1920s.

But wealth isn't just wealth, it's power.

It's the power to decide what gets built and where.

Whether a key measure passes in your state's legislature.

How many minutes you, as an employee, are allowed for lunch or to use the bathroom?

Yes, we as Americans are free to voice our opinions, to vote in elections, and to pick up and move

to a new neighborhood, if you can afford it.

But take a moment to think about all the things that affect your life, often profoundly,

over which you have no power at all.

A basic economic presumption is that willingness to pay equals ability to pay. But anyone who's ever been

faced with an exorbitant bill for life-saving medical treatment knows that that's

less a maxim than a taunt. This is Here the Burn, a podcast about the people, ideas, and politics that are

driving the Bernie Sanders' 2020 campaign and the movement to secure a dignified life for everyone living in this country.

My name is Brianna Joy Gray and I'm coming to you from campaign headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Last week, on the heels of Bernie's big Democratic socialism

speech, we talked to Democratic socialism

...