Bernie Sanders' Illusion Of Socialism

Last week presidential candidate and all-in advocate for socialism, Bernie Sanders' campaign team went public with their anger over the fact that Bernie isn't paying them a fair wage---not even the $15 per hour that Bernie is demanding for workers at every one of his campaign stops.

Bernie's solution is more informative than all his words.

Grandma used to say, "Actions speak louder than words."

Thanks, Bernie, for clarifying how socialism actually works.

Be informed.

The Washington Post first reported last Thursday that Sanders' field staffers were upset that Sanders championed a $15 minimum wage on the campaign trail, and made headlines for railing against major corporations who pay "starvation wages" ---even though his own employees made "starvation wages."

Sanders responded in words to the Des Moines Register claiming he was "very proud" to lead the first major presidential campaign with unionized workers, but also "bothered" that news of the internal strife had spilled into the media.

That's why true socialists---Marxist socialists, also must control the media. Workers always complain when taken advantage of---but Bernie promised to fix the problem and continue the Marxist march toward utopia.

Bernie's solution.

First, he explained that salaries can often dip below $15 per hour if staffers work much more than 40 hours per week, which is common in presidential campaigns.

It's interesting how deceivers always state the obvious as though it's being heard for the first time.

Bernie has determined that the solution is to "limit the number of hours staffers work to 42 or 43 each week" to ensure they're making the equivalent of $15 an hour he told the Des Moines Register's Brianne Pfannenstiel.

And he told her he is "bothered that people are going outside of the process and going to the media." He said, "That's really not acceptable. It is really not what labor negotiations are about, and it's improper."

Again, classic socialism--isolate the working class so they don't know how bad it is---nor does anyone else.

What people are saying about this.

Who knows how his staff will ultimately respond. I've heard that they are organizing a walkout. We'll see.

The responses from many others have been quick and direct.

Columnist and humorist Stephen Miller wrote:

"For the first time in his life, socialist Bernie Sanders practices economics and, buddy, the results are hilarious...Why won't millionaire Bernie Sanders, who owns three homes, instead of cutting hours, pay his staff a living wage? People are starving."

Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw tweeted, "So does this fall under the category of hypocrisy, irony or poetic justice?" He added, "All three? You can't make this stuff up."

One journalist tweeted this,

"I can't stop thinking of how stupid this is. Limiting hours so you can raise wages has literally no effect on how much your employees make. Only benefit is you being able to say you pay them $15 an hour. Beyond cynical."

Republicans have been making the case that an across the board pay raise to $15 will be devastating to middle-class families.

Bernie has shown us why.

Let's get real. While Bernie advocates for socialism on the world stage, he gives little to charity in relation to what he and his wife make---more than $1 million in both 2016 and 2017: He donated $10,600 in 2016, $36,000 in 2017 and a little less than $19,000 in 2018.

On the one hand, most of us would agree Bernie has the right to make as much money as he can, and give as little as he pleases. But his brand of socialism seems to be "for thee, but not for me."

He is the classic advocate for socialism.

What the Bible says about socialism.

The following is drawn from my own teaching on the subject of socialism, and from articles written by Julie Roys and Chuck Bentley, who now heads up "Crown," the largest Christian financial ministry in the world, which was founded by Larry Burkett.

I do not endorse all either of these two individuals publish, but I think their thoughts on this subject are on the mark.

Gallup published a new poll yesterday that shows American's confidence continues to improve in July, with Gallup's Economic Confidence index rising 7 points to +29. This is a result of capitalistic policies being consistently implemented by this administration. As opposed to the former administration.

While surveys show that 18-34 year old's are becoming more interested in socialism, older groups strongly reject it.

Biblical Takeaway regarding socialism.

1. Throughout Scripture, beginning in Genesis, God gives men and women resources for their use---and for the good of others. I Timothy 5:8 says: "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
   
   That responsibility is given to the individual, not the government.
   
2. Under so-called democratic socialism, people have limited ownership of property and businesses, which operate under the strict control of government. This form of government is always presented as kind, gentler and fair. It never is. It is always embroiled in "who" gets to decide the definition of fairness---who gets the free stuff, and how much.
   
3. The Bible, however, is clear that God gives resources to people and then holds them accountable for what they do with the resources. It's called stewardship.

The story in Matthew 25 of the master going on a trip leaving his servants to take stewardship over his resources is a crystal clear picture of what Jesus taught on the subject of socialism vs capitalism.

5 reasons why socialism is not biblical.

1. Socialism is based on a materialistic world view.

To socialists, all that really exists is the material world. In fact, Karl Marx, the father of socialism/communism came up with the notion of "dialectical materialism"---the belief that matter contains a creative power within itself ---thus eliminating the need for a Creator.

This worldview obviously contradicts Christianity, which affirms the existence of both a material and a non-material, spiritual, world. Mankind's problems are primarily spiritual not material.

2. Socialism punishes virtue.

Karl Marx wrote, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." Ironically Marx never supported his wife and family, living off various forms of welfare.

Aristotle noted that "Men start revolutionary changes for reasons connected with their private lives."

The Bible teaches that aid should be tied to responsibility--As Thessalonians 3:10 states, the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat. Paul also wrote that a man who fails to provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:10).

3. Socialism endorses stealing.

Candidate Barack Obama once famously defended socialism when a little girl asked him why he believed in socialism. He said: "We've got to make sure that people who have more money help the people who have less money. If you had a whole pizza and your friend had no pizza, would you give him a piece?"

Obama's deception of the little girl is that his---and Bernie's form of socialism is government forcing one person to give to the other, while biblical charity is one giving to another out of a spirit of generosity.

4. Socialism encourages envy and class warfare.

Socialists demonize the rich, blaming society's problems on them. Bernie Sanders posted on his Facebook page: "Let us wage a moral and political war against the billionaires and corporate leaders on Wall Street and elsewhere, whose policies and greed are destroying the middle class of America."

Proverbs 14:31 says: "Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for his maker..."

Sanders and others basically condemn an entire class of people simply for possessing wealth.

In a capitalistic country, most of the wealthy did not steal it from the poor. The founders of Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing and others created products which produce wealth and provide thousands of jobs.

5. Socialism seeks to destroy marriage and family.

Grove City Professor Paul Kengor has written a book titled, "Takedown: From Communists to Progressives, How the Left Has Sabotaged Marriage and Family."

Essentially socialism seeks to allow the state to replace the traditional family matter for the state.

In fact, Friedrich Engels, co-author with Marx of "The Communist Manifesto," said:

"The single family ceases to be the the economic unit of society. Private housekeeping is transformed into a social industry. The care and education of the children becomes a matter for the state."

Bernie echos these very ideals.

Bernie Sander's socialism is the path to what Kengor calls communism's "Trojan Horse" to secure the final takedown of traditional marriage.

To Bernie, it's utopia, with him at the top. To Christians, it's a dystopia.

Neither the Bible or Jesus Himself teaches this.

Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Vigilant. Be Prayerful.