This is inspiring?

What we learned Monday night

IT ALWAYS struck some of us as strange that a non-Democrat would get a prime-time speech at the Democratic National Convention. But it’s their circus. They can let independents have the stage if they like.

So it happened that Bernie Sanders got a so-called “prime time” spot the other night. (Note to our friends at Democratic HQ: When the speeches bump the local 10 o’clock news, they’re no longer prime time.)

What did we learn from this so-called inspiring, exhilarating speaker, this man who had all the kids agog, this man who was this close to upending the establishment on his side of the aisle? What did we learn from Bernie Sanders’ speech on Monday?

First, as he mentioned, many people in that arena that night, and around the country, are disappointed that the Democrats have nominated Hillary Clinton for president. That must’ve gone over well at Hillary & Co. But no doubt he was, and is, right about that.

Other notable lessons, if we can learn from Senator and now no longer candidate Sanders:

The United States government represents only 1 percent of the people, and the rest are struggling against that indignation. For 40 years (since the Ford administration!) the middle class in this country has been on the decline. The gap between the wealthy and the poor in this country is “grotesque.” And it’s not going to get better without a transformation.

Also, the minimum wage must be raised and millions of more jobs must be created. (The two are apparently not mutually exclusive.) Our infrastructure is crumbling. Our water systems and wastewater plants not doing the trick. In America, don’t drink the water.

Higher education must be free—or at least tuition-free. (Somebody will have to pay for it.) Obamacare isn’t enough. The country needs universal health care. And as bad as the country is, the Republicans will only make it worse. This is inspiring? Once again, not a Morning In America moment to be found. For some of us, these political conventions can’t be over fast enough. They’re depressing.