“I’m just one person what can I do?”

I’ve heard variations of that comment from a number of people who are frustrated with what they see going on in Washington D.C. They feel helpless to do anything about the chaos, turmoil, and long-term damage this administration is doing. As an individual, they want to do something, but they don’t know what they can do. There are times I feel that way myself.

Last Friday I spent the evening with a few thousand other individuals who were wondering what they could do. They came together to see if Bernie Sanders could help them answer that question.

Before we go any further let me state, for the record, that I’ve never been a big Bernie fan. I’ve always considered myself to be a right-of-center guy. Fiscally conservative and socially liberal. I couldn’t believe that I was actually spending a Friday night standing in the cold to hear a politician speak. Sure, I’ve done that a lot in the past as part of my media career, but that was work-related during election cycles.

This time was different. I was not there as a member of the media; I was there as a private citizen worried about the future of my country.

The 83-year-old independent senator from Vermont was in Omaha to kick off his “Fight the Oligarchy” tour.

I was truly surprised at the size of the crowd. By the time we got there the downtown Marriott’s ballroom was at capacity, with hundreds more standing in the lobby outside the ballroom unable to see Bernie. Those of us in the lobby listened intently to his comments coming through a speaker. Published reports said that over three thousand people were in attendance and hundreds had to be turned away.

So, what can one person do?

Senator Sanders gave a history lesson during his speech that shows they can do a lot.

He started by talking about the Revolutionary War. The thought of a country in its infancy taking on the established and powerful British Empire was unthinkable, but they got it done.

He continued his journey through history and mentioned other seemingly insurmountable problems that were resolved by individuals who worked together. The movements that ended slavery, gave women the right to vote, and provided equal rights for minorities were all accomplished by “One Person” being joined by other individuals to get the job done.

I grew up in the sixties and early ’70s. I remember watching the news and seeing the campus demonstrations against the Vietnam War. I listened to Martin Luther King Jr.’s

speeches about racial inequality. I sang along to the music that addressed the social ills of the day.

I saw that changes can be made if enough people come together and demand it.

Bernie Sanders gave another example of what one person can do during his speech.

He talked about that one person named Elon Musk. Senator Sanders warned about the dangers of what Musk is doing. He spoke of the jeopardy our democracy is in when an unelected billionaire can unilaterally and in some cases illegally fire government workers without having a clue what they do or if their departments are important.

Here’s something I never thought I’d say, but Bernie Sanders is right, at least when it comes to putting too much power into the hands of the super-rich.

Our founding fathers put checks and balances in the Constitution in order to form a more perfect union. Nowhere in that hallowed document does it say a thing about Oligarchs calling all the shots.

So, it gets back to the initial question. What can one person do?

They can do a lot if they band together to write their congressmen and senators and fight to regain a balance of power. Fight to maintain checks and balances. Work to treat people with respect and dignity regardless of their color, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or lack thereof.

Throughout history we the people ended slavery, ended segregation, ended the Vietnam War, and more to fulfill the promise of America.

There’s a lot one person can do if we work together to do it.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

Opinions expressed by columnists in The Daily Record are not necessarily those of its management or staff, and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Any errors or omissions should be called to our attention so that they may be corrected. Contact us at news@omahadailyrecord.com.