Why Do We Spend So Much Money on Defense? Bernie Sanders on Reinvesting in America (1991)

Sanders is a self-described socialist, democratic socialist, and progressive who admires the Nordic model of social democracy and is a proponent of workplace democracy. In November 2015, Sanders gave a speech at Georgetown University about his view of democratic socialism, including its place in the policies of presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. In defining what democratic socialism means to him, Sanders said: "I don’t believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a decent standard of living and that their incomes should go up, not down. I do believe in private companies that thrive and invest and grow in America, companies that create jobs here, rather than companies that are shutting down in America and increasing their profits by exploiting low-wage labor abroad.” Many commentators have noted the consistency of his views throughout his political career. Calling them a "disaster for the American worker", Sanders voted against and has spoken for years against NAFTA, CAFTA, and PNTR with China, saying that they have resulted in American corporations moving abroad. He is also against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which he says was "written by corporate America and the pharmaceutical industry and Wall Street."[170][171] Sanders focuses on economic issues such as income and wealth inequality,[15][172] raising the minimum wage,[173] universal healthcare,[174] reducing the burden of student debt,[175] making public colleges and universities tuition-free by taxing financial transactions,[176] and expanding Social Security benefits by eliminating the cap on the payroll tax on all income above $250,000.[177][178] He has become a prominent supporter of laws requiring companies to give their workers parental leave, sick leave, and vacation time, noting that such laws have been adopted by almost every other developed country.[179] He also supports legislation that would make it easier for workers to join or form a union.[180][181] Sanders has advocated for greater democratic participation by citizens, campaign finance reform, and the overturn of Citizens United v. FEC.[182][183] He also advocates comprehensive financial reforms,[184] such as breaking up "too big to fail" financial institutions, restoring Glass–Steagall legislation, reforming the Federal Reserve Bank and allowing the Post Office to offer basic financial services in economically marginalized communities.[185][186][187][188] Sanders strongly opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq and has criticized a number of policies instituted during the War on Terror, particularly mass surveillance and the USA PATRIOT Act.[189][190] Sanders has liberal stances on social issues, having advocated for LGBT rights and against the Defense of Marriage Act and being pro-choice on abortion, as well as opposing the defunding of Planned