This story originally was published by Real Clear Wire
Let’s give credit where it’s due: Senator Bernie Sanders is nothing if not consistent in sounding the alarm about the perceived threats to our planet. In a 2023 op-ed for MSNBC, he lamented: “The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue. It is a matter of justice, of health, of economics, and of national security.” For Sanders, climate change represents not merely an environmental challenge but a profound moral and societal dilemma that necessitates extensive government action and a radical shift in individual lifestyles.
However, this crusade appears to have certain exceptions—namely, when it comes to his own mode of living.
Sanders’ latest endeavor, the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, presents a stark contradiction. While he traverses the nation denouncing capitalism’s ills, he’s been doing so aboard—you guessed it—a private jet. A recent analysis by Power The Future estimates that his 16-stop tour released around 62.15 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
For perspective, that’s more carbon emissions than the average American produces over a span of five years. In fact, the emissions from just this one tour are equivalent to the annual output of 15 gasoline-powered vehicles. It’s akin to driving a gas-powered SUV around the Earth’s equator more than six times. And yet, this is from a senator advocating for regulations on how you cook your dinner.
When confronted with this glaring inconsistency, Sanders showed no signs of remorse. He defended his choices with a retort: “You think I’m gonna be sitting on a waiting line at United… while 30,000 people are waiting?” This response echoes a familiar refrain: it’s permissible for Bernie to travel in luxury because his intentions are noble.
This isn’t the first instance of Sanders’ climate advocacy colliding with his penchant for private aircraft. During the 2020 Democratic primary, his campaign reportedly spent over $1.2 million on private jet travel. The logic remains unchanged: the ends justify the means when the cause is deemed virtuous.
Let’s be clear about what this represents: it’s an example of “Mile High Marxism.” Sanders operates in an elite stratosphere, emitting carbon while demanding that working families bear the brunt of higher energy costs and transition to electric vehicles. He insists we face a climate emergency while acting as if that emergency doesn’t apply to him.
The green movement is rife with figures like Sanders—individuals who wield the rhetoric of crisis to gain power while remaining insulated from the fallout of their policies. They advocate for bans on gas-powered vehicles, restrictions on domestic energy production, and rationed electricity, yet they maintain their jets, SUVs, and opulent retreats. Their agenda isn’t about planetary preservation; it’s about exerting control.
Consider this: if the planet were genuinely on the brink of a climate disaster, wouldn’t those who shout the loudest be the first to alter their lifestyles? If climate change were the existential threat they profess, wouldn’t they at least attempt to lead by example? Instead, we witness moral sermons delivered from the tarmac.
In Sanders’ ideal world, Americans brace for soaring utility bills, comply with electric vehicle mandates, and prepare for lifestyle sacrifices all in the name of “climate justice.” Yet the hypocrisy is glaring. While Sanders enjoys jet-setting, everyday citizens are urged to rely on unreliable solar panels. They face restrictions while he revels in luxury.
Perhaps the clearest indicator of the climate emergency’s waning credibility is how those who proclaim it loudest behave when the cameras are off. Sanders and his allies want us to panic, comply, and pay up, yet their actions—indulgent travel, excessive carbon footprints, and luxurious lifestyles—betray their own doomsday claims.
When Bernie Sanders emits more carbon in one tour than an average family does in five years, he’s not merely undermining his own credibility; he’s unmasking the entire ruse. It’s almost as ironic as a multimillionaire espousing socialism.
So, the next time you hear Sanders railing about climate justice, keep this in mind: the Mile High Marxist proclaims that the world is ending, yet he continues to fly first class into what he claims is an impending apocalypse. And that says it all.
Larry Behrens is an energy expert and the Communications Director for Power The Future. He has appeared on Fox News, ZeroHedge, and NewsMax speaking in defense of American energy workers. You can follow him on X/Twitter @larrybehrens
This article was originally published by RealClearEnergy and made available via RealClearWire.
