Sen. Bernie Sanders has emerged as a legitimate threat to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Recent polling has shown him either leading or in second place in Iowa and New Hampshire, and, nationally, he trails only Joe Biden. As one of the three likeliest people to be the next president, Sanders should no longer be laughed off as a silly old socialist. His dangerous policies should be taken seriously.

A closer examination of Sanders’s statements during Tuesday night’s debate reveals the deep dishonesty with which he argues for his signature piece of legislation: Medicare for All. Under his proposal, the government would kick everyone off their existing insurance and transition them to a government-run plan within four years. The new plan, he promises, would provide extensive benefits — these include medical, dental, and vision coverage — without any premiums, deductibles, or copayments.