Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was photographed flying first class on Tuesday with fellow Vermont Senator Peter Welch. Many people online are calling the self-described socialist Sanders a hypocrite for flying in a premium class of service, while the working classes suffer coach.
Look who I found. pic.twitter.com/OwPzj6NZRP
— Senator Peter Welch (@SenPeterWelch) March 18, 2025
There are (5) reasons why this isn’t actually problematic at all.
- He needs to work. Socialism in our time doesn’t just happen on its own, it’s hard work, and he needs to maximize his labor value to the extent possible.
- Flying first class is consistent with his principles. Even North Korea’s Air Koryo has business class. A Democratic People’s Republic doesn’t, in fact, mean abolishing class. In socialist paradise “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
- He wants first class for all, and for the rich to pay for it. People think he’s being hypocritical because first class is what he’s against but that’s not true, he just wants corporations to give first class away to everyone free.
- Central Committee members travel in luxury, and Sanders wasn’t taxing the poor to do it He was either upgraded, or his first class ticket was paid for by donor dollars (e.g. DSCS or a campaign). It’s either the same upgrades available to all based on elite status, or a matter for donors to decide whether they’re getting value for their investment or not, rather than being an issue of well-spent public funds.
- He was flying domestic first class, not luxury. The product can hardly be considered luxury.
Bernie Sanders has been spotted in American Airlines first class and flew private and insists that his suites have bath tubs. So, no, this isn’t going to undermine his popularity among his base one bit – nor should it.
There’s also nothing wrong, by the way, when AOC flies first class either.
“Many people online are calling the self-described socialist Sanders a hypocrite…”
Because that’s what he is, regardless of his decision to fly first class.
Give me a break. The man is in his 80s. He’s earned it. Somehow people equate supporting socialist programs with taking a vow of poverty. It’s not.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was a socialist, folks.
He’s a complete nutsac politically, but if I saw a Senator sitting in Economy, I’d think it was weirder than not being in First– or some kind of stunt.
Plus yes, he probably got upgraded or someone else bought the ticket. Definitely who cares.
Now if he chartered a a private jet to go bang Hookers in Colombia on the government dime, I’d have an issue.
The unanswered question is how did he pay for it or did he pay for it at all?
Bill’s right (as is Gary), I’m in my 50’s and avoid flying in the back whenever possible. If you have the means, or you know someone that does, then absolutely, fly in some comfort (‘some’ being the operably word, AA domestic first is nothing remotely special, just enough space for a laptop.
This is so dumb. Senators get special fares and fly first regardless of politics.
You still have time to delete this.
@Bill Dwyer – That’s odd, because the Socialists of the day criticized him as a State Capitalist. Stop trying to claim people from the past for your failure of an ideology. What are you, Mormon? At least Mormonism seems to work for Mormons.
Evidently some people can’t spot sarcasm
FWIW, the only airline that flies nonstop from DCA to BTV (Burlington) is AA, so given how often Congresspeople fly back to their home districts, I imagine he has AA status.
Petty non sense , like always . Bad metaphor folks .
Fascists really hate Bernie because he’s principled and that’s something they don’t have. they put their stock in an unhinged lunatic and we’re seeing now how that’s going. Love u Bernie!! keep doing your good work it’s nice to see somebody unselfish and not just a moneygrubbing fascist
I don’t think he’s hypocritical just for flying domestic F, I think he’s hypocritical for becoming a multimillionaire by profiting off of public office, while pretending to be a man of the people.
Most of you online socialists are also hypocritical because during last Trump you soiled your adult diapers when a cabinet member was flying in domestic first, yet never any outrage for comrade Bernie or any other Dem politician. I guess it’s just (D)ifferent.
Bernie never was and never will be a socialist.
By global standards, he’s a social democrat.
From Gladiator: “He’ll bring them death, and they will love him for it” (talking about the Emperor)
It’s not the fact they he is flying first class that is the issue. It is the cost difference between economy and first class that is the issue for me. Taxpayers pay for those tickets.Additionally he is entitled to a government rate for his ticket which makes the cost difference even greater. If he is paying the diffefrence in fare cost good for him, he can afford it. He should let his voters know how he is spending their tax dollars them you wouldn’t be having this conversation.
The argument that he needs to work while in the air is rediculous. He can get just as much work done in an economy seat as in a first class seat. Why is a larger seat condusive to reading more words on a page.
I was on a flight to El Paso once and Beto O’Rourke was onboard. I found it odd that he was in coach. I assume he asked AA not to upgrade him because it was during a campaign and surely he wanted to seem as approachable as possible. Personally I like Beto a lot, but even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have cared if he was seated up front on the RJ for the 49 minute flight.
Here are a few quotes from the “never was a socialist”.
From a letter in 1973. “It is extremely clear that these companies, owned by a handful of billionaires, have far too much power over the lives of Americans to be left in private hands. The oil industry, and the entire energy industry, should be owned by the public and used for the public good – not for additional profits for billionaires.”
And during an interview in 1977. “I favor the public ownership of utilities, banks and major industries. In Vermont we have some $2 billion of deposits in our banks,” Sanders told the paper. “In Vermont, as well as nationally, it is not tolerable to me that the control of capital would remain in the hands of the richest two or three percent of the population to do with it as they like.”
Yep, there’s nothing socialistic about those views.
How many houses is he up to now, four?
Personally I don’t care if a politician sits up front. That being said if this had been a CEO we would have heard from Sanders all about the greedy corporate types that fly first class while their serfs toil for pennies on the dollar. The are greedy corporate types, they are out there. But it’s not all people in business. Typical communist rules for thee but not for me.
First: Socialism has never worked and never will. Look at the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics, Cuba, Venezuela… and the list goes on. I’ve been to the USSR. It was an eye opener. Sanders has been a hypocrite since I can remember listening or watching him. There is no such thing as “one size fits all”. What the hell does this article have to do with a “View From The Wing” anyway? More clickbait and I fell for it.
No worse hypocrites than the enablers of MAGA Lord Trump and MAGA.
Every accusation coming from Republican/Trumpublican apologist is a suspected confession or case of projection.
Nicely said. I especially enjoyed your 5th point! ;-
Ricardo got it correct.
And there is a huge chasm between so-called socialists in some countries and Communist Party types in Communist Party-controlled countries.
He’s been a leach on the taxpayers for his entire life and a total hypocrite. Or a two-bit freeloader! He checks both boxes.
Hilarious! Doubleplusgood
Senator Sanders is one of the greatest servant leaders that the United States of America has. I admire him for his defense of democracy, his activism for progressive causes, and his overall moral clarity, for decades and decades. When Bernie speaks, I believe him–he wants to actually make our country and the world it all better for all of us, not just a few at the top.
If Bernie wants to fly in First, and if he can, then good for him. Same for any of us, for now, at least. This is not inconsistent with his political beliefs or the causes that he supports. He has never advocated for ending ‘capitalism’ as our economic system–rather, he and those like him have warned against its excesses and abuses.
So, no, Gary and others, this is not hypocrisy. Not in the least. And also no, Mike P, government oversight or management of a company or industry for a period does not make us communists (recall that the US took a majority stake in automakers following the Great Recession–we didn’t become the USSR or CCP.)
Yet, some ‘folks’ like Mike P seem to genuinely fear and dislike Bernie (and others like him, such as US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), likely because Mike knows, deep-down, that a left-wing economic populism is actually what a majority of Americans want and need in order to survive and thrive in this era and in the future (that includes greater consumer protections, worker rights, a robust social safety net, including universal healthcare, etc.). Regardless of what Mike P thinks, I and many others are eager for a new Progressive Era after this horrifyingly inequitable 2nd Gilded Age that we’ve been living through, which has become increasingly worse decade by decade since the 1980s (supply side economics, trickle down, deregulation, the rise of oligarchs, regulatory capture, monopolization, etc.)
And to Win Whitmire, the countries you listed are and were totalitarian authoritarian dictatorships, for all intents and purposes. It has nothing to do with their economic or political ideologies, other than to have a strong man or committee at the top, largely unaccountable to the people. Bernie has never advocated to become that at all–he has defended democracy and representative government. Whereas, the current administration is operating more authoritarian, ignoring and overtly attacking the rule of law, so please, dear sir, do take a step back from your personal preferences (your ‘team’) and consider objective reality. Then, come back when you’re ready.
I like Bernie and don’t have a problem with him flying first class.
Yes, he’s crazy and his politics of demanding rich people pay for EVERYTHING is childlike nonsense.
Bernie was always lambasting against millionaires until he became one himself.
Now he lambastes against billionaires.
Yeah Gary, you are a republican. Let’s luck at Trump flying to golf aboard Air Force One at a taxpayer cost of $200,000 per hour. Better than first class.
@Mantis totally agree 100%
I don’t begrudge someone buying F or getting upgrades with status they earned. But my understanding is that a number of airlines “gift” top-level status (like GS with UA) to important Representatives and Senators of both parties. Apparently, it is not considered a violation of congressional ethics because they assert it has no value. I do have a problem with that. I don’t know if Sanders got an upgrade that way, but I do think that kind of thing is little more than a bribe.
@Mantis @Travelgirl — If you folks want to actually get dark money out of politics, I’m all for it, but I don’t think that’s what you meant at all.
Like, for instance, most people want to stop the insider trading that goes in with our elected officials. Former Speaker Pelosi is a prime example of someone that both the left and right correctly despise for what she has done to profit off her access to information in her positions of power. He trades are objectively disgusting because she clearly has used what she learned to her excessive personal profit, even if technically it is her husband literally making the trades. Like, come on, Nancy… sheesh.
However, while he doesn’t own individual stocks, a financial disclosure showed Sanders and his wife own stakes in several mutual funds as part of retirement accounts. That is perfectly reasonable under our current system and relatively tame by comparison, not the blatant corruption that we should all be upset with like insider trading. So, Bernie is indeed different and morally sound here. Y’all need to attack the actual problem here, and it ain’t Bernie. He has indeed been true to the people and his causes.
@Gary – I expected better from you.
1990…another left wing whacko! Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republic. I went there. I spent 10 days living with a Russian family before the fall of the wall I saw for myself how socialism works. “Socialism is an economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse economic and social systems characterized by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes the economic, political, and social theories and movements associated with the implementation of such systems.” There was no “competitive” in the USSR. There is no “competitive” in Cuba. There is no “competitive” in Venezuela. When I was in the USSR, Gorbachev had just taken over to, hopefully, disband the “union”, which he ultimately achieved. Bernie Sanders would have great glee in turning this country from a freedom loving, entrepreneurial country into one where everyone is equal. Well, except those who have wealth will pay for those who don’t. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”…George Orwell. I agree with OnePatriot77. Bernie seems like a nice guy but he’s bat shit nuts politically.
@OnePatriot77 — He never said the rich should pay for everything…he repeatedly, clearly, and simply says ‘pay their fair share.’ This isn’t hard, folks. But, sure, vilify him, and folks like myself. Call us names. Crazy. Yet, he’s still right: The loopholes that billionaires, and yes, multi-millionaires (like not those with a couple million, like 10s and 100s of millions), use to offshore via shell companies and to borrow on their stocks to effectively become exempt from paying taxes–it’s disgusting, especially while those at the bottom pay a disproportionate share. Billionaires are people, too, yet all-too-often, they don’t ‘earn’ that wealth so much as they ‘take’ it through exploitation of law, of business, of resources, and of people. Let’s reign them in, peacefully and in an organized way, instead of allowing the people to do to them what the French did back in the day. There is a better way. So, will we learn, or just repeat history?
@Steve – regular readers know I am not a Republican?
@Win Whitmire — Please call me names, if you’d like. I can take it. When folks like yourself get worked up to the point of engaging in ad hominem attacks, I know that I’ve got you good.
On your odd position, sir, the ‘name’ of the country does not mean it is that way in-practice. Take the DEMOCRATIC Peoples’ Republic of North Korea. Nothing ‘democratic’ about the DPRK. It’s a hermit kingdom, and the people have no meaningful say in how their country is run. Kim decides everything. And sadly, it seems #47 wants it to be that way here. Hopefully, our judiciary reminds him that it is not possible. And if not them, then the military, because otherwise, he’ll get his way. This is my greater point: Ideas are nice, but they are human constructs. Enforcement, raw power, definitely matters. Sometimes restraint can be power, too. Clearly, #47 has no restraint.
As to your confusion over the concept of ‘equality’–neither Bernie, nor anyone has advocated for literal equality in everything, but some folks like yourself enjoy making that strawman argument, here and elsewhere. Bernie and the progressives positions on this are consistent with the United States Constitution. In the United States, the pursuit of equality encompasses legal, social, and economic dimensions, with ongoing efforts to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all, regardless of race, sex, religion, or other characteristics. However, there are those who prefer inequity because either they see themselves as a higher status in some manufactured hierarchy that doesn’t even really exist in nature or law here, or ever should exist again. Civil rights still matter, sir, and should be defended and expanded, not restricted or eliminated.
@Gary Leff — Your (or anyones’) political or partisan affiliation shouldn’t matter at all–unless circumstances have changed (eep!). It’s your website, you can publish whatever you want–in fact, you can also moderate our speech as commenters however you wish. I respect that you’ve allowed a relatively open space for healthy debate on here. If you ever feel anything I’ve said is out of line, feel free to remove it, any time, no problem with me. Anyway, thank you for what you do.
He can fly biz/first all he wants, I really don’t care as long as he doesn’t lecture me about paying more in taxes to help the poor or the illegals. If Bernie can fly biz/first, then he isn’t being taxed enough to achieve true equality like socialists like him should want. With true equality should come everyone in basic economy. If he’s flying biz/first that’s his business as long as he doesn’t wag his finger at me telling me that I’m somehow wrong and greedy for flying first, as I am in a couple of weeks on a nice, shiny new United A321NEO. By the way, isn’t Bernie the guy who owns three houses, is a multimillionaire, and has further millions in tax sheltered accounts as per his Congressional disclosures? Some socialist he is.
@Bob Moran — Since you went there, it should be said, that in general, undocumented immigrants (or, as you called them, ‘illegals,’ which is indeed a ‘pejorative’) are not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) coverage, but they may be eligible for Emergency Medicaid and other state-funded programs, because, you know, they are human beings, like you and I, and don’t deserve to die for lack of means, even if they do not have proper visas, or overstayed. So, if the rule of law exists, we, as a society, would ‘heal’ them, then proceed with due process via immigration courts, and perhaps, that may lead to an orderly deportation, in due time. Or, we can destroy the Constitution and our laws, rule by decree, have a king, and everyone STFU because the king said so.
“…up to the point of engaging in ad hominem attacks,”
Pot, meet kettle!
@Mike P — As you often like to say, ‘I accept your surrender.’
(I know, it’s silly, just like what you said about pots and kettles)
Got any better quotes for us, professor?
Thanks for the validation. It appears your level of ignorance has no bounds. Here’s a couple for you.
“If Socialists understood economics, they wouldn’t be Socialists.” Friedrich Hayek
“Socialism in general has a record of failure so blatant that only an intellectual could ignore or evade it. Thomas Sowell
It’s amusing to see you quote Orwell’s Animal Farm as critique of socialism. In fact, the work was a critique of the Soviet Union under Stalin, and the Soviet Communists’ betrayal of socialist ideas. Orwell was a critic of authoritarianism in all forms (left/right) and actually a democratic socialist….just like Bernie!
@Mike P — Ah, so you try to ‘re-educate’ me, yet again.
Not (Uncle) Tom Sowell. You always go to him, without fail. Friends don’t let friends cite Sowell. He’s the token black economist for right-wingers and libertarian chaos agents–and he’s friends with Justice Thomas, say no more.
And as to the Austrian (I presume that’s what you meant by referring to Hayek) those theories have to various ‘bubbles’ and recessions. Beware of false signals–that’ll getcha. Otherwise, you’ll think it’s always boom-boom-boom, but… the ‘bust’ always comes around at some point.
Here’s one for you: “No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.” US President, Theodore ‘The Trust Buster’ Roosevelt, the O.G. Progressive, a personal hero of mine.
@KidStarA — Well said, kid. The reality is that an entire generation of Americans were raised to fear and hate anything deemed ‘communist’ so much so that anything called ‘socialist’ is automatically ‘the literal Devil incarnate’ all while supporting a practical King who ignores our laws and now materially supports our former sworn enemies, the Russians. It really is some 1984 shit these days. Who are we allied with/fighting now—Eurasia or Eastasia?
ALL government employes are required to fly in Economy, even the President of the United States (Bill Clinton was caught sitting in Economy when he flew the US Air Shuttle from Washington to New York in fact). Maxine Waters is known for demanding free upgrades at the United gates at Dulles and gives the agent the evil eye until they relent. So, no, he’s not allowed to fly on the government’s dime in First Class, but we live in Trump’s America now where rules do not apply for the rich and well-connected, n’est-ce pas?
Gary is still conflating socialism and communism. Weird. Is Gary Leff saying that Danemark = USSR, Sweden = North Korea, France = Vietnam, Spain = USSR? Did he not realize there was a difference between East Germany and Sweden?
If it was a big nothing burger, why tell us about it?
Bernie is a hypocrite. He also has nothing better to do. Can’t believe maniacs vote for him. Seems he is a long islander that just knows how to work em.
I have found that a large percentage of people do not understand sarcasm so I have taken to labeling it (sarcasm).
Sweden still has the lower corporate income tax rate compared to the US.
Sweden has no inheritance/estate tax.
Sweden has no wealth tax, even if expatriating.
Sweden has negligible residential property taxes, such that a $1.25 million house in Sweden wouldn’t even crack $1,000 in annual property taxes while in Texas or Florida it’s likely to be in the $8k-$16k range annually for a house worth $1.25M.
Basically no healthcare bill-driven personal bankruptcies. And far less likely to encounter road raging on the roads and parking lots. And no Tr*mp/Vance/Musk-like lawlessness in the country.
This is what it was like during and following the last Socialist party-led government in Sweden.
USSR was not socialism. USSR was a dictatorship
USA is a mixed market economy with some degree of socialism as every major democracy
in the world. As every economist knows you need a blend. Some government programs and regulations while the majority of the economy is privity owned
@Sven — No.
@trkq — Yes.
From 1990…“…up to the point of engaging in ad hominem attacks,”
Also from 1990…
“Not (Uncle) Tom Sowell.”
“He’s the token black economist for right-wingers and libertarian chaos agents…”
The hypocrisy and lack of awareness is stunning. Another example of why 1990 is one of the most ignorant commentators on this blog.
Well now.. NYC Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on bribery charges for taking free First Class travel from Turkish Airlines. And he doesn’t have any power over how Turkish Airlines is regulated (FAA laws,etc.). So, did Bernie pay for that First Class seat?? If not..someone needs to explain some things.
It isn’t a hypocrite because he flew first class. He is a hypocrite because he owns three houses and complains about other people’s carbon footprint. If you believe in what you preach – limit your footprint. Be an example for others.
@Mike P — I stand by my positions. Thomas Sowell is not a credible source, as in, his theories are not backed by empirical evidence. He is indeed a propagandist for those ideologies.
That’s not an ‘ad hominem’ against a fellow commenter on this site–you, however, do that frequently. Mike, I don’t call you silly names, like you call me. Yet, if you wish, you can call me whatever you’d like–I can take it. I’ve always said, if you can’t handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.
You know, or should know, that there is a difference between debating on substance, such as the sources and quotes and ideas that we exchange, verses mere calling a fellow commenter ‘ignorant’ without addressing the substance.
But, hey, you do you. Gary is generous to not micromanage us here. Thank you, sirs.
He’s not flying private like the entire US Cabinet!!
What’s wrong with him for not partaking in the grifting?
@mike apo — First, we have a king, and if he says ‘drop the case,’ then it’s dropped. Wave goodbye to bribery charges, etc., so long as the Mayor assists to roundup anyone deemed ‘undesirable.’
Second, according to Snyder v. United States, 603 U.S. 1, a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held 18 U.S.C. § 666 prohibits bribes to state and local officials but does not make it a crime for those officials to accept ‘gratuities’ for their past acts. So, technically, for a federal bribery charge, Adams can simply argue these were mere ‘gratuities.’ Now, for practical purposes, yeah, he totally engaged in a quid pro quo, like, do us this favor with our consulate, and you can fly anywhere you want in business relatively free. *wink wink nudge nudge*
Conclusion: The rule of law is dying. The obscenely wealthy and powerful are abusing it into submission, and the rest of us are just ‘letting it happen’ because folks like @Mike P hate unions.
Finally, Adams flew ‘Business’ class, not ‘First,’ because Turkish only has ‘Business’ (it’s a lie-flat, so very nice, regardless) on it’s long-haul from NYC-IST. I know, I know… nuance. Sheesh.
@Mary — Good point. It’s almost like the hatred for Bernie is ‘performative’ and the ‘facts’ don’t really matter to a lot of folks, because ‘lies’ are easier and beneficial for them. I can recall several posts recently where Gary was referring to the wealthy elected officials taking their private jets to DCA, just before the midair collision even. Wasn’t it WV Senator Justice that was abusing those privileges? Hmm. Yet, folks on the right don’t seem to ‘bash’ him. Odd. Double-stand, even. Curious. No, no, Bernie’s the hypocrite. If only hypocrisy were an actual crime–it’ ain’t. And if only shame worked–it doesn’t anymore.
I don’t hold your material to journalistic standards, though one could argue I should since you report opinion AND news, but these potshots would be a lot more (or less) effective if you bothered to contact Bernie’s office to find out who paid.
Such a shame that we can’t have discussions and difference of opinions without someone resorting to name calling for not agreeing.
Lots of opinions shared, but maybe we should look at our selves before we throw stones.
@Leeman — And because Bernie is a class act, and because of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a federal law that grants the public the right to request access to records from federal agencies, with certain exceptions, to ensure transparency and accountability, we probably could actually identify, with relative ease and veracity, who did in-fact pay, and it would likely not be salacious at all, especially compared to other politicians and oligarchs who probably spend tens of millions of dollars on their transportation and security, just to play golf at their own resort each weekend. Hmm.
For example, according to federal campaign finance reports, Friends of Bernie Sanders, the senator’s official 2018 Senate campaign committee, spent $297,685.50 with Apollo Jets, a private charter jet service headquartered in New York. Does this make him a communist? Nope. Will that stop anyone from suggesting that anyway? Of course not. We are living in a 2nd McCarthy era. Bernie can do no right, #45/47 can do no wrong, to some folks. Then there’s the rest of us who can at least root for whoever is President to succeed, because we still live here, and want the country and its people to do well, even if it is not our ‘guy’ or our ‘team’ in charge today.
I would be shocked if any of our politicians did not fly first class. They All feel entitled. They feel they deserve such treatment for the sacrifices they make serving their constituents. Yet ironically they all believe they are better than most Americans. This isn’t shocking or newsworthy.
@Rock — I’m not sure it’s about whether one is ‘entitled’ or not; it’s about relative ‘efficiency’ (air travel) and ‘privacy’ (they will inevitably get ‘approached’ by anyone without a sense of decency). Also, 2-2 seating, as opposed to 3-3, on most regional single-aisle jets, just makes better sense if flying commercial and trying to have any sense of privacy. Sure, ‘man of the people’ Bernie should be slumming it on a Greyhound… not. That’s just impractical. He’s a ‘Democratic Socialist’ not Jesus.
There are few things I find funnier than people defending socialism. Mention the grave failures of Russia, China, Cuba, NK, or Venezuela, they point out these weren’t true socialst government. But, they love to call some European countries socialistic when they aren’t (and are moving to more economically conservative principles in some ways. It’s just so funny, just like Trumpsters arguing he was a successful in business. Why not just argue there are no morebtalented people than the Kardashians.
It IS wrong on so many levels.
@Richard Bonsall — If you don’t like what I’ve said, call me out, specifically. But if what you meant was a tacit support of @Mike P’s false accusation, then I think you’re just pretending to care. We’re relatively respectful here–compared to many message boards. Playful banter is welcome here, so long as Gary allows it. In fact, I think user engagement, more comments, helps VFTW out, so there-there!
Oh, gather ‘round, ye weary souls,
Who read View From The Wing in scrolls.
A menace lurks in every thread
A woke crusader, overfed.
His handle? 1990, beware! beware!
He knows it all, and loves to overshare.
From airline points to climate change,
His drivel spans the widest range.
“Not hypocrisy!” he types with rage,
Then pastes a Marx quote, page by page.
He cites The Nation, quotes Chomsky too—
Then replies to himself. (Yes. That’s true.)
From dawn ‘til dusk, he rants, he types,
Spewing clichés and lefty gripes.
No flight delay, no baggage fee,
Is safe from his woke decree!
“Corporate greed! The system’s flawed!”
He cries, soy latte clutched and awed.
Private jets? The devil’s work!
Yet he’ll take an upgrade—what a perk!
Airline lounges? So elite!
Yet he sips champagne in business seats.
Oh, the irony… its lost on none,
Except, of course, this brilliant one.
I wonder just how many names,
To spam the thread and stake his claim?
A troll? A bot? A bitter bore?
Nah, just 1990 back for more!
Dear 1990, your passion’s grand,
But must your posts fill half the land?
The comment count is 66—
I’ll bet 48 are just from you.
So raise a glass (or roll your eyes),
At every post where reason dies.
For in this land of travel lore,
1990 reigns forevermore.
In defence of airlines,they are practicing their own form of capitalist socialism in their fare structures regardless of the political affiliations of their passengers. Politics aside if you pay to fly first class, you have a perfect right to fly first class. Look at a $110 million Airbus A321neo on a typical airline like JetBlue, seats 160 with 16 in first class (mint), basic economy airfare BOS to LAX of $139. Plane leases for $460,000/month, doing 2 round trips a day that’s $8,000 per flight or $50 per passenger. Allow 35 gals jet fuel per passenger, that’s $70. Don’t forget those 2 guys up front, the captain and first officer, making $400/hr betwen them or $15 per passenger on a 6hr flight. Well that’s $135 already and we haven’t included flight attendants, gate agents, food service, baggage handlers, airport fees, maintenance, reservation systems and other infrastructure. So who is paying for all this? It’s not those basic economy folks in the back of the plane, a lot comes from those seats up front. So don’t begrudge Bernie Sanders his fare choice, after all he’s doing his bit to help out those at the back of the plane. Nothing is quite what it seems at first glance!
Gary — this is just embarrassing. How many hours did you spend in TDS mode trying desperately to somehow concoct a weak-sauce excuse for the hypocrite of hypocrites, Bernie Sanders?
Bernie “I Hate Capitalism” Sanders owns 3 houses, travels in first class, has been sponging off taxpayers for 40 YEARS since he has never held a private sector job in his life, and his wife single-handedly drove a New England college into bankruptcy through her wackjob socialist DEI grifter activities.
Facts matter. Carrying water (why??) for a mean old man who hates America and has done everything in his power to make us a third world socialist hellhole is not your finest hour. As the Millenials say: Do better, Gary.
@ Mike Hunt
You, sir, are a renaissance man. 1990 has met his match, and is left cowering in the fetal position after your brilliant poetic take down. Outstanding.
Mike Hunt’s “AI”-generated poetry? Or a more traditional example of plagiarism with a small search and replace to customize it for a specific target?
Still very entertaining and perhaps comment of the year for style and glibness (over substance).
@Mike Hunt — I think that you do write these yourself, because last time you did not include a few things that you did add this time, some of which do actually ‘cross a line’ for me.
You falsely accused me, explicitly and implicitly of a crime.
“The Communist Control Act of 1954 (68 Stat. 775, 50 U.S.C. §§ 841–844) is an American law signed by President Dwight Eisenhower on August 24, 1954, that outlaws the Communist Party of the United States and criminalizes membership in or support for the party or “Communist-action” organizations and defines evidence to be considered by a jury in determining participation in the activities, planning, actions, objectives, or purposes of such organizations.”
I am not a communist, nor have I ever been a member or even affiliated with those ideologies. Besides, it is not for you to decide that either–such a determination is for a judge, a court, and the law. To falsely accuse some of a crime is defamation, and there is the possibility of liability. I will not pursue that against you, because I will take what you’ve said in jest.
Believe it or not, this absolutely is relevant to the topic at hand. Gary posted about Bernie Sanders, the progressive politician, who has frequently, as on here, from our fellow commenters, been called all sorts of names, including ‘communist,’ which he is not. To coin someone a term like that is designed to silence them or diminish their ideas.
Please note I have never quoted either of the two authors that you included. You can paint me as some radical lunatic, but that does not make it true. Under any reasonable standard, objectively, my comments and ideas are ‘center-left’ by global standards, though, given our country’s (USA, I presume) recent decent into right-wing autocracy, sure, any of us can be deemed ‘criminals’ or ‘enemies’ on a whim, without due process, and could be ‘disappeared’ and ‘sent to El Salvador’ today. Yeah, that’s pretty ‘real’ to me and to those that have actually been paying attention.
So, since you’ve gotten more personal this time, I recall that you publicly identified as ‘gay’ on here (I’m not ‘outing’ you–it was your explicit comment on Gary’s post about the TSA changing policies to remove trans people from searches, published earlier this year). Also in that comment, you ‘punched down’ on trans people (basically, suggesting that you ‘don’t care’ if they are harmed because they aren’t ‘the same’ as the other ‘alphabet’ people). I found that quite upsetting, but again, if that is your opinion, I respect and defend your sharing it. In response, also in that post, I warned, that I fear this regime will not spare ‘the gays’ just because some of them decided to let them ‘have’ the trans people first. Lest we forget, ‘first they came for…’
Consistently, I’ve been a staunch advocate for human and civil rights, the rule of law, and the United States Constitution. So, please do mock and joke, healthy banter is good. I accept whatever criticism you wish to lodge at me. But, also, understand the reasonably limits of our speech (and there are indeed some), and kindly, do not falsely accuse me of crimes on here. I will defend myself. For the rest us, please do take good care of yourself and those that you care for.
@GUWonder — I recall from the other times that Mike Hunt has posted this similar ‘poetry’ that he claimed it was without ‘assistance’ (of artificial intelligence), which, if true, I find quite endearing and thoughtful, personally. Like, if Mike wants to take the time to do that, even if it is mocking me, I’m all for it, so long as it does not cross a line, like false accusations of a crime. When we cannot engage in mockery, humor, satire, etc. then the ‘rule of law’ is truly gone. Mike is actually practicing free speech, and Gary is also allowing it, which is similarly honorable, so I support him or anyone, even if they tries to insult me. In fact, please, do another verse, Mike! Feed me more. I’m still hungry.
@Common Sense Revolution — Have you considered that ‘common’ sense is not ‘better’ sense? Also, where were you for Mike Hunt’s earlier poetry? He does this on occasion. I enjoy it, too.
On substance, Bernie has never said that ‘hates’ capitalism. He has advocated for progressive policies to improve the lives of everyday people in our country, like other such Western countries in Scandinavia (think Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, etc.)
Whether those policies would work well or not is up for debate. I’m with Bernie–I think a more robust social safety net would be in the best interest for the greatest number of people. Clearly, you disagree. That’s fine. Have your opinion. Share it if you want. But, please, resist the urge to shout ‘communist!’ or ‘idiot!’ at anyone here. I know, it’s hard sometimes. I feel the urge, too.
To all who actually still care about facts, we know that capitalism is the global economic system, and has been for a while, and likely will be moving forward. The only countries with ‘official’ socialist economic systems are China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam, yet in reality, they still worship money and forms of private ownership, just like anywhere else. In fact, some of the cities in China, if you ever visit, are more late-stage capitalist dystopian than anything you’d see in the West.
Gary, if you’re even listening, your commenters are bound to have strongly-held differences of opinion, and I admire that you’ve encouraged us to share our thoughts freely, to respectfully argue our ideas, maybe gain some support from others, maybe be criticized, mocked even, all of which, I hope we can agree, is indeed healthy in a society that’s trying to live freely and do better. If anything I’ve ever said is ‘too far,’ I respect your judgment, and expect you’d remove it. I know some denounce the frequency of my comments–if you have ‘new rules’ on that, too, just let me know–like, if 48/66 comments is too much (as Mike Hunt jokingly suggested), then so be it, I won’t go over 47 *wink*. Anyway, thank you, as always, for hosting us.
I sat next to Bernie on a USAirways flight (remember them?) from PHL to BTV. We were in coach. Everyone was in coach on an ER-170. He was writing on a legal pad the whole time.