Sanders’ Tax Returns Highlight His Hypocrisy

Bernie Sanders continually bemoans the supposed greediness of America’s upper class, who consistently give the most to charity overall and as a percentage of their income. 

However, newly released tax returns show Sanders – now officially a member of the one percent – has a fascinating history. As the senator’s income has risen over the past decade, he has barely given to charity, between one to four percent of his income in a given year.  
 

.@BernieSanders donated only $10,600 to charity in 2016 after earning $1,062,626. pic.twitter.com/YTmAynK74B

— Andrew Kerr (@AndrewKerrNC) April 15, 2019

Per the Daily Wire:
 

In fact, in 2016, he made over $1,062, 626 and gave slightly more than $10,600, which just so happens to amount to 1%. He got called out:

Is that what they mean by the 1%? https://t.co/bmELZgfLIZ

— Luke Rosiak (@lukerosiak) April 16, 2019

That’s not even ONE PERCENT of his income!

He wants to jack up your taxes for welfare, but didn’t kick in anything to help the folks he allegedly cares SO much for. https://t.co/cWBzsawiNq

— Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) April 15, 2019

Couple points:
1. He is under no obligation to give away his money.
2. That said, why didn’t he give it away…if he thinks its not really his money…but community property?
3. It does show he is more charitable with other people’s money than he is with his own. https://t.co/h54SMxzFn5

— Pradheep J. Shanker (@Neoavatara) April 16, 2019

Considering how stingy Sanders is when it comes to charity, let’s review what he has said about people who make a lot of money and greedily hold on to it: Writing in the Burlington Free Press in May, 2011, Sanders stated, “As Vermont’s senator and a member of the Budget Committee, I will not support a plan to reduce the deficit that does not call for shared sacrifice … At a time when the top one percent earns more income than the bottom 50 percent, we must ask the wealthiest people in this country to start paying their fair share of taxes … Every segment of our society, including those who have money and power, must contribute and must sacrifice.”

The New York Times reported in 1981 that Sanders was hostile to charities:

For the kickoff of the 40th annual Chittenden County United Way fund-raising drive in Burlington, Vt., the sponsors considered themselves fortunate to have as guests Mayor Bernard Sanders of Burlington and Gov. Richard Snelling of Vermont. But the charity workers heard the sort of things they wanted to hear from only one of their guests. ”I don’t believe in charities,” said Mayor Sanders, bringing a shocked silence to a packed hotel banquet room. The Mayor, who is a Socialist, went on to question the ”fundamental concepts on which charities are based” and contended that government, rather than charity organizations, should take over responsibility for social programs.