Liz Wolfe: Bernie Sanders: American Success Story

"Fighting oligarchy from the P.J.: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) and I actually have a lot in common: We both think private jets are super cool. The only problem is that he's trying to brand himself as "fighting oligarchy," whereas I have no interest in being a foot soldier in that fight.

Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D–N.Y.) have been traveling the country doing speaking events and rallies on their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, which aims to "take on the oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country."

On Fox's Special Report with Bret Baier, Sanders was asked about his choice of transport. "You run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week. [It is] the only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people. You think I'm going to be sitting on a waiting line at United…while 30,000 people are waiting?" Sanders replied. FEC filings show that Friends of Bernie Sanders, his campaign committee, spent over $221,000 chartering private jets during the first quarter of 2025.

Sanders—who enjoys a house in Burlington, Vermont, another one in D.C., and a third at Lake Champlain, all of which he says are modest properties—might be part of the very oligarchy he claims to want to smash. He mentions on Lex Fridman's show that he didn't receive some massive inheritance; he grew up poor, but it's his book deals, his royalties, and his $175,000 annual salary that allow him and his wife to afford their homes. He notes that he drives an old car and just has a watch and a wedding ring, but that now they're financially secure such that they don't have to worry about surprise medical bills, which is "enormous" for their family. Good!

What Sanders appears to dislike is vulgar wealth. But what he doesn't understand is that his spending, justify it as he might, probably looks showy to those who are poorer than him. How many Americans have ever been on a private jet or owned a vacation home?

More importantly, what Sanders is describing—his slow crawl up the socioeconomic ladder, due to writing books that people value and want to read and representing ideas that people value and want to circulate and his ability to enjoy the attendant conveniences—is exactly what capitalists like me want more of (though ideally the ideas themselves would be better). If you subtract all the socialism-peddling, Bernie Sanders is an American success story who went from rags to (modest) riches. More of this, please!

Plenty of fellow politicians are be-clowning themselves by suggesting that, of course, Sanders has to fly private:

But Sanders and his defenders should ask themselves why this logic applies to politicians but not CEOs making decisions about billion-dollar businesses, which surely generate more economic value than the Fighting Oligarchy tour ever could. By misunderstanding who creates value in our economy (and how), Sanders is showing how ill-suited he is to restructure it. And by making excuses for why he gets to enjoy the spoils of his success, Sanders is showing that, actually, he too believes in the upward-mobility promise of the American dream... 

Source:Reason Magazine with a look at U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Democratic Socialist, Socialist Republic of Vermont)

From Reason Magazine

You can see Senator Sanders interview with FOX News anchor Bret Baier right here: 

"Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., explains why he considers the nation's political system 'largely corrupt' and aims to fight 'authoritarianism' under President Donald Trump's administration on 'Special Report... 

Source:FOX News talking to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Democratic Socialist, Socialist Republic of Vermont)

From FOX News

So FOX News anchor asked Senator Sanders about spending $221,000 dollars on private jets to help him do this "Fight The Oligarchy" tour and Senator Sanders responded to that with a question of his own: 

"When was the last time that you saw Donald Trump in a campaign mode at National Airport?' 

And Bret Baier had the perfect response to that: 

"No, no, no, it doesn't. But he isn't fighting the Oligarchy". 

Donald Trump is proud to be an oligarch and doesn't hide from that... generally. 

But this is how Senator Sanders answered Baier's question: 

"You think I should wait on line at United? No apologies for my private jets."

From what I wrote about today's Socialists on Wednesday: 

"But could you imagine if Socialists, even in the Democratic Party ever came to power in America? I mean their whole lifestyle, their culture, their way of life, is dependent and completely subsidized by the American capitalist and liberal democratic system. And most of them know that. Most of these folks are educated. Most of these folks make good livings for themselves, even millionaires. 

Representative Alexandria O. Cortez couldn't even afford to pay her own rent in Washington, when she moved here in 2019. Now she's worth $30 million dollars. That's what can happen to you become famous and have a large following of young hipsters, who think you are the coolest thing since skinny jeans and smartphones and you write a book or 2. 

So 1, I don't see Socialists ever coming to power in America, even if they're "Democrats". Because once people start thinking about what it would mean to have a socialist government in America, voters stop being impressed by all the hipster catch phrases and other fashion statements that these folks make and start thinking about how much a socialist government would cost them. 

And 2, the left-wing in America, when the rubber meets the road, when everyone is at the starting gate, when the 2 warriors meet in the ring, etc... when it's time to get down and do some business... they don't want a socialist government either, because that would destroy their way of life and ability to joy life and afford all the high-end things that consumes them. But it's cool to sound like a militant hipster, (especially with young people) who wants to "take down the man" and wipeout poverty, disease, bigotry, etc. But when it gets down to how you do those things and how you pay for them, not even Socialists are interested in doing that in America." 

From The New Democrat

If there's such a thing as an "honest Socialist", (I would like to meet that person) Bernard Sanders is probably that person. But at the end of the day, Senator Sanders is a proud American, with a lot to be proud of: 

Son of poor Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants

He came from very modest means in Brooklyn

He worked his way through college and got a degree from both Brooklyn College and the University of Chicago 

Bernie Sanders built a career for himself: 

as a left-wing political activist 

before getting elected Mayor of Burlington, as a Socialist, in the 1980s

before getting elected to Congress in 1990, in the House of Representatives, before getting elected to the Senate in 2006. 

Before "The Squad", Bernie Sanders was the only self-described Socialist in the entire U.S. Congress (House or Senate) and now he's 1 of maybe 10 self-described Socialists in Congress, with the rest of them in the House. 

But, again at the end of the day, Bernie Sanders is a proud American, who has taken advantage of every opportunity that has come his way in this country, as well as creating a few opportunities for himself. And now he's probably worth $20 million-dollars, (give or take) with multiple homes. And he doesn't want Big Government taking away his way of life and lifestyle. And he's earned all that money while being a member of Congress, with base salary of around $200,000 a year, paid to him by taxpayers. 

So I just refer you to my point about this discussion about Socialists and reality, as well Socialists versus "the American way of life": 

"And 2, the left-wing in America, when the rubber meets the road, when everyone is at the starting gate, when the 2 warriors meet in the ring, etc... when it's time to get down and do some business... they don't want a socialist government either, because that would destroy their way of life and ability to joy life and afford all the high-end things that consumes them. But it's cool to sound like a militant hipster, (especially with young people) who wants to "take down the man" and wipeout poverty, disease, bigotry, etc. But when it gets down to how you do those things and how you pay for them, not even Socialists are interested in doing that in America." 

So is the "Fight The Oligarchy" tour... really that? Or is it just another political rock show, with everyone appearing in it, is 1 of the most popular political "rockstars" in the country, primarily funded by some of "coolest" and wealthiest celebrities in America? I think I just answered that question myself. But you are entitled to believe whatever you want as well. 

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