Bernie Sanders: «I was always against the» authoritarian Soviet communism

The presidential candidate of the democratic party, Bernie Sanders calls himself a socialist, while being firmly convinced that between the modern American socialists and the Soviet Communists have nothing in common. However, not all Americans share the point of view of the Senator.

On Monday, during a Symposium organized by CNN in new Hampshire, raised this issue one of those present at the meeting students — a descendant of immigrants from the Soviet Union, escaped, according to her, from the same state system that supports Sanders. In response to her statement the Senator said: he was never a supporter of the authoritarian regime in force in the Soviet Union.

As told to Samantha Frankel-Poppel studying social science at Harvard, her father’s family left Soviet Russia in 1979.

«They fled from the same socialist system, which you seem to try to establish in the United States. said Frenkel-Poppel, referring to the Senator How do you plan to achieve, given that nearly all countries trying to come to socialism, have failed?»

«I hope you don’t assume that I am a supporter of authoritarian communism, which operated in the USSR? — said the Senator Is wrong, I have always been against him.»

«I think it is wrong that in the United States now there are three families whose income is higher than the 160 million poorest Americans. — continued Sanders, explaining its position — And I think it is wrong that the income of 1% of the population consisting of rich, more than 92%, belong to the working class. <…> Perhaps not everyone would agree with that, but I honestly believe that our government should represent the interests of the families of the working class — not just corporations and the 1%».

Bernie Sanders: «I was always against the» authoritarian Soviet communismshutterstock/a katzЧто said Sanders about the USSR and socialism in America

  • What I mean when I talk about democratic socialism? I definitely don’t mean authoritarian communism that existed in the Soviet Union. We, among others, value your bill of rights. But, said Roosevelt in a rather obscure reference about the situation of the country at the end of the Second world war. He said that we have a beautiful Constitution, however, although the bill of rights protects freedom of religion, freedom of Assembly and freedom of speech, something he still does not protect. It does not protect and does not guarantee our economic rights. <…> I believe in a civilised democratic society where everyone has a right to health care — the government is obliged to provide. And I believe that the youth in our country has the right to a decent education, regardless of their income.
  • I’m against the corrupt political system that has become even worse due to the horrific Supreme court decision to allow billionaires to spend unlimited amounts on the maintenance of those candidates [for the presidency], which represent the interests of the rich.
  • Need to solve the problem of class and economic inequality. While the rich are becoming richer, the middle class barely making ends meet, 40 million people live in poverty, and we need to do something.
  • I’m not saying that everyone should have a giant fancy house and a Cadillac, or something like that, but I really think we’ll be able to succeed in what has already succeeded in other countries. If you think about it, what I offer, not so much radically. Almost every major country in the world healthcare is a universal right. Does anyone know how many in Germany should study in University? That’s it, it’s free.
  • For me democratic socialism is the expansion of Medicare, providing equal chances for education to all Americans, rebuilding our collapsing in front of the infrastructure. A state that cares about the needs of everyone, not just the rich that invest in the presidential campaign — that’s what I’m talking about.

What about socialism, I think the Americans

  • According to a Gallup poll from October 2018, 23% of Americans perceive socialism as «equality for all» while 17% consider it a way of the state to control the economy and business. A similar survey was conducted in 1949, but then 34% of participants said that they think socialism is a manifestation of authoritarianism and state control — and only 12% he was associated with equal rights and opportunities.
  • The most positively to socialism are supporters of the democratic party: 57% spoke about it in a positive way, received a rather modest support in the face of 16% of Republicans.
  • Only 38% of respondents said that in America now operates a socialist system, compared to 43% in 1949-m. In this case, most often as Republicans (42%) and Democrats (36%).

The survey was conducted among 1,035 citizens aged 18 and older, living in all 50 States and the district of Columbia.

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