Sen. Bernie Sanders is speaking with middle America, pushing against false narratives that divide us from neighbors, friends and families. He is talking with thousands of voters who are afraid, feel betrayed and abandoned. He is holding space, listening, connecting and validating lived experiences. He is tapping into the “felt sense” of working, everyday Americans, not the elite, nor those who want to tear the whole thing down. They are constituencies, like you and me, who want to see the government work for “we the people.” He shouldn’t be the only messenger.

President Donald Trump tapped into fear and anxiety differently. It was intended to manipulate and convince Americans that the problem was “woke,” “elite,” “deep state,” and immigrants. Trump is a master at psychological warfare, deception and exploitation, fueling hate and resentment, seducing and converting our disillusionment into seeing false rivals to fear and hate. Simultaneously, he courts the Wall Street capitalists, big tech moguls and corporate elites for his personal gain.

Democrats, for their part, are answerable for playing last century politics, lacking charisma, persuasive rhetoric and the capacity to knock through the bulwarks with a credible and digestible reframe. Let’s say it, the Democratic Party was outstrategized by a dirty fighter who was spewing lies as fast as he could open his mouth. Like Sonny Liston against Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in 1964, lacking the tactics for the moment, they were outmaneuvered.

It doesn’t matter how we got here. The trance is breaking. Watching the reckless actions and chaos of our current government, voters are feeling, if not seeing, the economy slowing and inflation rising. Measles is spreading, bird flu is intensifying and research into curing and managing diseases is defunded. Departments protecting our food, water, air and monitoring severe weather forecasts are gutted. Our global friends and partners are alienated. We are less safe, less healthy and less protected. These are not red or blue issues, they affect everyone. We are not separate, we are one.

The severe collapse in our social fabric, estranging us as we retreated into insular communities, is both heartbreaking and an opportunity.  Betrayed by corrupt leaders, divisive media and technological algorithms, our American identities have been rebranded as us and them. The rupture. However, can be repaired, because this is not “making America great again.”

People show greatness not through coercion, dishonesty and retribution. They show greatness when they unite us, not divide us. When they are kind, caring and shine a light on truth and understanding. Greatness is civil engagement and constructing solutions, despite differences. Greatness is telling the truth, being self-reflective, willing to admit when we are wrong or have hurt someone. It recognizes radical abundance, not scarcity.

Bernie has always argued it is class, not culture war. Focusing on economic inequality, universal health care, framing the billionaires and big pharma, and now tech, as the enemies of the people, not fallacies of “deep state” and “woke” culture. Outspoken about the rigged system of and for the financial elite, he blames bad government and bad policies as the problem.

The point is, Bernie is modeling for us all. He is listening, connecting and accentuating the shared values of our American identities. We seem to have forgotten how to be empathic, that we are more alike than different. We need to remember and come out from our disparate bunkers, joining together to repair the schism. Or, if you will, what we were taught in churches, synagogues, classrooms by our grandmothers, Mr. Rogers, Scouts and the Golden Rule.

Working together, differences in tow, for our collective dignity, autonomy and freedom is greatness, not weakness. Sovereignty and authority belong to us. Only we can fix it.