Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a top contender for the 2020 Democratic nomination, has long criticized the wealthy. In 1971, he denounced millionaire senators as “immoral.”
But as was recently revealed with the release of his tax returns, Sanders is himself a millionaire in the Senate and part of the 1 percent he so routinely rails against … and his wealth came by way of capitalism, not the redistributionist democratic socialism he so often touts.
Sanders is a 1 percenter
An article in the Foundation for Economic Education questioned whether Sanders is a hypocrite, noting that despite Sanders’ demonization of the rich and his demand that the wealthy pay more in taxes, he himself is part of the 1% and recently scoffed at the idea of paying more in taxes.
When asked during a recent Fox News town hall-style event why he didn’t voluntarily pay more in taxes on his accumulated wealth, given his demand that the rich pay higher rates, Sanders replied, “Pfft, come on. I paid the taxes that I owe.”
Sanders’ recently achieved millionaire status came by virtue of our capitalist system via a best-selling book. Yet he espouses
Millionaire senators are “immoral”
Perhaps adding a bit more bite to the charge of hypocrisy for Sanders are his own words from nearly 50 years ago, when he railed against “immoral” millionaire senators who enriched themselves in public office while the working-class continued to struggle.
CNN uncovered Sanders’ remarks in a local Vermont newspaper, the Bennington Banner, in December 1971. At that time, Sanders unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate as part of a now-defunct socialistic party called the Liberty Union Party, a “radical political party” that sought to nationalize industry and redistribute the nation’s wealth.
According to the Banner, Sanders “said it seems ‘immoral’ to him that millionaires represent the people of their states.” He accused them of representing “the interests of corporations and big business — their fellow millionaires” instead.
He also suggested that members of Congress have their annual salaries reduced to whatever the average annual salary of workers in their respective states was at that time.
“Some animals are more equal than others”
A spokesman for Sanders issued a statement to CNN that attempted to spin the rediscovered remarks from decades ago — but there is no spinning out of this glaring example of hypocrisy.
Bernie Sanders preaches the virtues of socialism and wealth redistribution. Meanwhile, he himself has grown rich through capitalism and most certainly has not redistributed his own accumulated wealth through voluntarily higher tax payments. As for charitable donations, Sanders’ recently released tax returns reveal he donated just 2.26% of his income on average in the last ten years.
Like most politicians on the left — and certainly many on the right as well — Sanders is a Grade A hypocrite who doesn’t practice what he preaches. George Orwell’s suit-wearing pigs from Animal Farm come to mind: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
923 Responses
Hello, I do believe your site could be having web browser compatibility problems. Whenever I look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Aside from that, excellent blog!
I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and engaging, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something too few folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy that I came across this during my search for something concerning this.
Hiya! I simply would like to give an enormous thumbs up for the good info you’ve gotten here on this post. I shall be coming back to your blog for extra soon.
After going over a number of the blog articles on your site, I truly like your way of blogging. I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my website as well and let me know how you feel.
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a friend who has been doing a little research on this. And he actually bought me dinner simply because I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this subject here on your site.
This is a great tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Brief but very accurate information… Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read article!
Thanks , I’ve just been searching for information about this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?
You’ve made some really good points there. I looked on the web for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this website.
Good article. I definitely appreciate this website. Continue the good work!
I found your weblog website on google and examine a couple of of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the very good operate. I simply extra up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Searching for forward to studying more from you afterward!…
I am just commenting to let you understand what a brilliant encounter our daughter enjoyed using your web page. She realized a wide variety of things, including what it’s like to have an incredible giving heart to make many more effortlessly understand some impossible topics. You really did more than her expected results. Thank you for distributing such essential, dependable, explanatory not to mention easy tips on that topic to Mary.
I couldn’t resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Fortunate we discovered this excellent website, One other good website is Dbol will be certain to save this in order to check-out regularly.
Some genuinely nice and utilitarian info on this web site , likewise I think the layout has fantastic features.
Just what’s Occurring we’m a new comer to this, I ran across this I’ve found It completely beneficial and possesses helped me away loads. I am hoping to be able to lead & help some other users such as it’s aided me. Great career.
A very informative post and lots of really honest and forthright comments made! This certainly got me thinking a lot about this issue so cheers a lot for dropping!
Hi, I do think this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return yet again since I book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.
We still cannot quite believe that We possibly could come to be some checking important points available your webblog. Our family i are sincerely thankful with your generosity and then for giving me possibility pursue our chosen profession path. Just right information Manged to get in your web-site.
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve visited this website before but after browsing through some of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m certainly happy I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!
Very very good written information. It will be supportive to anybody who utilizes it, as well as myself. Keep up the very good work – can’r wait to read more articles.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this post! It is the little changes that make the most significant changes. Thanks for sharing!
926770 268570Some genuinely intriguing details, properly written and broadly user pleasant. 709889
I precisely wished to appreciate you all over again. I do not know what I would have followed in the absence of the type of ways revealed by you directly on that industry. It had been a difficult condition in my view, however , finding out this specialized manner you dealt with the issue forced me to leap for delight. I’m grateful for your help and in addition pray you find out what a great job you are always putting in instructing men and women through a blog. Most likely you’ve never come across all of us.
I like it when folks come together and share views. Great site, keep it up!
I am really enjoying the theme/design of your weblog. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A number of my blog visitors have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome. Do you have any recommendations to help fix this problem?
You have a great website right now there keep it up. I’m going to be looking out for many articles.
i wish to have some diamond necklace but they are quite expensive-
I dont think Ive scan anything like this before. So good to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. nice one for starting this up. This site is something that is needed on the web, someone with a little originality. Good job for bringing something new to the internet!
160129 624649Excellent post, thank you so significantly for sharing. Do you happen to have an RSS feed I can subscribe to? 720073
Good article. I’m going through a few of these issues as well..
I blog quite often and I really appreciate your content. This great article has truly peaked my interest. I will book mark your site and keep checking for new details about once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.
Thanks for this excellent. I was wondering whether you were planning of writing similar posts to this one. .Keep up the excellent articles!
I gotta favorite this site it seems handy very helpful
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t understand why I can’t join it. Is there anybody having the same RSS problems? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
It is really a great and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
I do not know the things I could possibly have implemented without these methods shown by you over such a area of interest. T
I think your blog is getting more and more visitors.,:”~,
You are so awesome! I don’t suppose I have read through something like that before. So wonderful to discover another person with a few genuine thoughts on this subject. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that’s needed on the web, someone with a little originality!
Hello, I just desired to take the time to make a comment and say Ive really enjoyed reading your site. That was a really great article Please keep writing because I love your style a lot.
Hi there, You have done a great job. I will definitely digg it and in my opinion recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this site.