Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is a self-described socialist and he even once said breadlines are “a good thing,” but a woman who grew up in Communist China gave Sanders a much-needed history lesson. You have probably seen the video by now; in 1985, Sanders defended the socialist regime ruling Nicaragua at the time by saying breadlines are “a good thing.” Sanders expressed confusion at American journalists for pointing out the socialist government’s breadlines. “You know, it’s funny, sometimes American journalists talk about how bad a country is because people are lining up for food,” Sanders said. “That’s a good thing. In other countries people don’t line up for food. The rich get the food, and the poor starve to death.” I could go into detail about how ridiculous Sanders’ pro-breadlines comment is, but you don’t have to take my word for it. Instead, read what Helen Raleigh, a senior contributor to The Federalist, had to say about breadlines.
Raleigh grew up in Communist China — she saw firsthand the devastating effects of socialism and the oppressive nature of breadlines. “The government controlled the distribution of essentials such as rice and cooking oil to every citizen through a rigid ration system, maintained through coupons,” Raleigh wrote in a column for Fox News. “Those coupons were not for getting a discount — they were used to restrict the amount of essentials we were allowed to have on a monthly basis. Hunger was a constant feeling.” Sanders might argue that breadlines ensure citizens are fed, but that’s not true at all, according to Raleigh.
“We were also constantly reminded that just because we had a coupon, it didn’t mean there were goods to buy in the store. It was a constant and exhausting endeavor to get our hands on the basics so that our family could survive.”