“What democratic socialism means to me is we expand Medicare, we provide educational opportunity for all Americans, we rebuild our crumbling infrastructure. In other words, government serves the needs of all people, rather than just wealthy campaign contributors.”
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner among 2020 Democratic presidential contenders who have declared a run for the office, took questions from college students Monday during a CNN Town Hall, including one where he was challenged on his views of democratic socialism.
Sanders didn’t hesitate before asking the Harvard student, “Is it your assumption, that I supported or believed in authoritarian communism that existed in the Soviet Union? I don’t, and I never have and I opposed it. I believe in a vigorous democracy, but you have asked me the question about democratic socialism, a fair question, and left me to answer it.”
Sanders went on to say he believes in the Bill of Rights, but that “it doesn’t guarantee you economic rights. So Samantha, let me be very honest with you, I believe that in a democratic civilized society, health care is a human right. Government should make that happen.”“I believe that every young person in this country, regardless of his or her income, has the right to get all of the education they need.
In a follow-up question, CNN moderator Chris Cuomo asked Sanders why the senator no longer supported nationalizing energy companies, factories, banks and drug companies as he did in the 1970s.
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