Bernie Sanders exposes Hillary’s socialist views

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ quest for the Democratic nomination for president is gaining steam, and I could not be more pleased.

In New Hampshire, where presidential candidates are launched into national prominence, Sanders has all but pulled even with Hillary Clinton in the latest polling, as gleefully reported by CNN and other liberal media.

In the far left of the Democratic Party, he has surged from starting out 35 points behind Clinton to within seven percentage points of overtaking her.

She’s now running behind Sanders with voters under age 50 and way behind with men.

Although her surrogates dismiss the repeated scenes of overflow crowds showing up for Sanders’ rallies, Clinton has got to be worrying if the 73-year-old self-described democratic socialist is actually becoming a threat to her ascendency.

It’s that socialist label he wears so proudly that produces a roar from his throngs of followers, all excited about going after those people with money Sanders says they shouldn’t have.

He extols government bent on initiatives such a redistributing wealth — tax schemes to take from those who have and give to those who don’t — and confiscating the means of production, as in universal healthcare.

Cheers from the multitudes drown out the wisdom of history’s great leaders like Winston Churchill:

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”

Regardless of socialism’s failure every time it has been tried, Sanders wants to make the United States its latest victim.

Clinton now has to remind uncompromising liberals that she, too, rejects the principles of limited government and self-reliance, the essential values upon which our country was founded.

Undaunted by scandals that her supporters simply ignore or blame Fox News for reporting, Clinton simply cannot afford to lose the hard-left base.

Sanders really has little chance of taking the nomination away from her, but he surely will cause her to further embrace the policies of more federal control of the lives of free Americans.

Unmasking her plans to do just that is a good thing.

History teaches us that there is an ebb and flow in the body politic, and the people of this country have a way of keeping things in balance.

It’s like a pendulum that is compelled to move in the opposite direction of its recent leaning.

In all the dismay expressed by so many at the infamy of unelected justices ignoring the Constitution, substituting themselves for representatives in the legislative branch and defying the rights of the states doing the public will, there is an awakening that will bring consequences.

Adding the principles of blatant socialism to the mix of judicial activism has aroused voters to the reality that our inspired system designed to ensure the blessings of liberty and freedom is coming undone.

So, keep it up, Bernie. We greatly appreciate your service, forcing Hillary to let us all see her for who she is.

Although sometimes tempted by the siren call of class envy, Americans really don’t want government more in control of their destiny.

Their hands are reaching toward that pendulum and driving it back.

In the end, they won’t fall for politicians who will take from their children and grandchildren all hope that they, too, upon their own initiative, without the oppressive overreach of the state, can pursue the happiness that has long defined the greatest nation on Earth.

Richard Greene is a former Arlington mayor and served as an appointee of President George W. Bush as regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. mayorgreene@mayorgreene.com

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Bernie Sanders exposes Hillary’s socialist views."