I recently watched an interview with Bernie Sanders, who is announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president. He is an Independent senator from Vermont. He speaks plainly about the great income gap between the richest and the poorest in this country, and about the influence of money in our elections.

His concern is that while the rich get richer, millions work longer hours for smaller wages. He is trying to organize a great grassroots movement of the working class and middle-class people of this country to take back our democracy from the richest 1 percent, who are getting richer.

Jesus told us that the poor are always with us. That has certainly been true throughout the ages. But, today, the working class of America has a real weapon: its votes. If enough of us come together with a purpose, we can accomplish miracles. If we work together to nominate Sanders as the Democratic candidate, we have a good chance to make America once again what it should be: a land of opportunity for all.

I urge you to investigate Bernie Sanders for yourself. I am sure you’ll be positively impressed.

Ruth Calkins

Newport