Sanders: Government has a 'moral responsibility' to its people

Name: Sanders: Government has a 'moral responsibility' to its people
Uploaded: 2016-02-12T02:16:01.000Z
Duration: 4 min 9 s
Description: At the PBS NewsHour Democratic Debate Thursday in Milwaukee, Sen. Bernie Sanders said that while there must be a limit to the size and role of government, the government has a "moral responsibility to play a vital role in making sure all of our people have a decent standard of living."

Senator Sanders on Government Role and Economic Inequality

The Role of Federal Government

Senator Sanders discusses the significant role of the federal government in the U.S. economy, noting it currently accounts for 21% of economic activity.

He highlights a "massive transfer of wealth" over the past 30 years, where wealth has shifted from working families to the top one-tenth of 1%, whose wealth share has doubled.

Economic Disparities

Sanders emphasizes that while the wealthy are becoming richer, most Americans are experiencing declining financial conditions.

He advocates for a healthcare system that guarantees coverage for all citizens, proposing his Medicare for All plan which he claims could save middle-class families an average of $5,000 annually.

Education and Infrastructure

In discussing public education, Sanders argues for making public colleges and universities tuition-free as part of broader educational reforms.

He points out pressing issues such as high unemployment rates (close to 10%) and deteriorating infrastructure including roads, bridges, water systems (citing Flint, Michigan), wastewater plants, railways, and airports.

Video description

At the PBS NewsHour Democratic Debate Thursday in Milwaukee, Sen. Bernie Sanders said that while there must be a limit to the size and role of government, the government has a "moral responsibility to play a vital role in making sure all of our people have a decent standard of living."