Bernie Sanders Warns Rising Wealth Inequality Threatens Democracy: ‘An Extremely Dangerous Global Oligarchy’
In a stark address late Monday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) warned that the world is rapidly descending into an “extremely dangerous global oligarchy” where unprecedented wealth and political power are concentrated in the hands of a few, endangering democratic institutions, the environment, and humanity’s future amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Sanders argued that today’s oligarchs—worth hundreds of billions and with global investments—“fervently believe that they are the masters of the universe, and that they, through their enormous wealth and power, have been ordained to rule the world.” His remarks underscore a growing concern that democracy itself is under siege by a billionaire class that prioritizes profit over people.nnSanders’ warning comes as new figures reveal a staggering surge in billionaire fortunes while billions remain in poverty. A jaw-dropping study found that $79 trillion has been siphoned away from the vast majority of Americans into the pockets of the top 1%. According to the study’s author, three key factors drive this shift: economic growth that disproportionately benefits the wealthy, rising inflation that accounted for roughly $10 trillion in lost income, and a declining share of income going to the bottom 90% despite overall GDP skyrocketing. In 1975, the bottom 90% received nearly two-thirds of all taxable income—a share that has since plummeted. Sanders emphasized the individual impact: if income distribution had remained as it was in 1975, every full-time worker in the bottom 90% would be earning $32,000 more per year.nnEchoing Sanders’ concerns, venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya argued that the system is “out of balance,” noting that capital owners have gained far more wealth than wage earners while taxes on labor remain higher than on investment income. This imbalance not only fuels inequality but also erodes faith in democratic processes, as the ultra-wealthy wield outsized influence over politics and policy. Sanders’ speech serves as a rallying cry to address this crisis before it’s too late, warning that an oligarchy of this magnitude threatens the very foundations of democracy and the planet’s
Shimanta Das 
