Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., advocated for the nationalization of most major industries and 100 percent tax on the rich during the 1970s.
During his time as a member of the Liberty Union party, the self-proclaimed democratic socialist and 2020 presidential contender said he supported nationalizing energy companies advocated for public ownership of most industries across the board, according to a report by CNN.
Despite Sanders toning down his platform in the years since, the comments could be used as fodder by Republicans and some of the other 2020 hopefuls looking to distance themselves from the “socialist” label.
Liberty Union is a minor political party in Vermont that is still active. Sanders joined in 1968 after graduating college, subsequently becoming actively involved with the group. The party put him up as their nominee for governor and U.S. Senate twice each during the 1970s. He also served as the party’s chairman from 1973 to 1975, before leaving the group in 1977.
“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,” he wrote in 1973. In 1976 Sanders said he favored public ownership of utilities, banks, and major industries.
“We need public control over capital; and the capital must be put to use for public need not for the advancement of those who made the investments,” he said in a 1976 interview. He also advocated for a 100 percent tax on individuals making over $1 million a year during his 1974 Senate run.
In recent weeks, Democratic 2020 contenders have declined to call themselves socialists. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., said in February that she was “not a democratic socialist,” and former House member John Delaney said last week he thinks the genius of America is its embrace of capitalism.
