I'm waiting for this "Oligarchy" to be replaced with the actual problem word which is "capitalism" (and really imperialism). I love Bernie and understand why he uses this word. But we need to stop pretending that the US has not always been an oligarchy.
It confuses people into thinking that we need to "return" to a previous stage of capitalist exploitation. Instead of making them understand that we need to abandon it altogether.
The audience he is speaking to is entirely different than those that will read this comment. So I understand his language. But I think the current generation should understand that his use of Oligarchy is strategic. He is using language that is not tainted by red scare propaganda that still exists in many of your parents.
Bernie is fighting against the capitalist class and using the terminology that he sees fit. But that doesn't mean we need to in our conversations. The problem is capitalism.
My dad, who is a fiscal conservative, says that we’ll come out of this socialist. I think what he just means is that we’ll have universal healthcare and other social safety nets. But it’s interesting to hear someone who is a fiscal conservative and grew up during the Cold War say they think America will become socialist.