The Socialist Delusions of Bernie Sanders. Central planning kills economic growth.

Reason ^ | February 19, 2020 | John Stossel

[karpov]

Bernie Sanders leads the race for the Democratic nomination.

He may become America's first self-described "democratic socialist" president.

What does that mean?

Today, when Sanders talks about socialism, he says: "I'm not looking at Cuba. I'm looking at countries like Denmark and Sweden."

But Denmark and Sweden are not socialist. Denmark's prime minister even came to America to refute Sanders' claims, pointing out that "Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy."

Both Denmark and Sweden do give citizens government-run health care and have bigger welfare programs than America has. However, recently, they've moved away from socialism. Because their socialist policies killed economic growth, they cut regulations and ended government control of many industries.

Sanders probably doesn't know that. He, like many young people, just loves the idea of socialism.

For my new video this week, Stossel TV producer Maxim Lott went through hours of Sanders' old speeches. What he found reveals a lot about what Sanders believes.

When Sanders was mayor of Burlington, Vermont, he went out of his way to defend Fidel Castro. "He educated the kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society!" Fortunately, Sanders added, "Not to say Fidel Castro or Cuba are perfect."

No, they are not perfect. Castro's government tortured and murdered thousands. By confiscating private property, they destroyed the island's economy. Life got bad enough that thousands died trying to escape.

Even now in Cuba, most people try to live on less than $2 a day

[Telepathic Intruder]

Bernie is counting on the assumption that most people don’t know the difference between socialism and infrastructure or welfare. So he can call them all socialism and they’ll think “that’s not so bad”.

[Maceman]

In May 2002, Reuters reported on a survey conducted by the Swedish Research Institute of Trade, known in Sweden by the acronym HUI. According to the article:

Swedes, usually perceived in Europe as a comfortable, middle class lot, are poorer than African Americans, the most economically-deprived group in the United States

"Black people, who have the lowest income in the United States, now have a higher standard of living than an ordinary Swedish household," the HUI economists said.

If Sweden were a U.S. state, it would be the poorest, measured by household gross income before taxes, [the report authors] said.

[blueunicorn6]

Bernie’s been inviting his homeless comrades to stay at his lakefront home.

[atc23]

Does Sanders know that socialism is unconstitutional? How do you take the oath of office and implement socialism? It’s ridiculous.
More stupid theatrics from the DC, blackface wearing “elite”

[GJones2]

I expected it to be better by most measurements, but was surprised at just how well the United States stacks up compared with other countries in disposable income, well above Sweden by all measurements (even with stats computed before the Trump boost to the economy) -- "Disposable household and per capita income" Wikipedia]

[GJones2]

2015 Per Capita Purchasing Parity

1 United States 46,903
2 Switzerland 38,469
3 Norway 37,729
4 Australia 36,156
5 Germany 35,935
6 Austria 34,491
7 France 32,057
8 Belgium 31,971
9 Sweden 31,276

[Wikipedia] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disposable_household_and_per_capita_income

[GJones2]

“Per Capita Purchasing Parity” — make that “Per Capita Purchasing Power Parity”.

[Carriage Hill]

He’s a COMMUNIST, NOT A SOCIALIST.

[Secret Agent Man]

It kills economic growth, freedom, innovation, privacy, living your conscience...