Summary

From the outset of his book, Sanders has mentioned his passion in advocating for the nation’s most vulnerable populations. In this chapter, he addresses the problems in some of today’s vulnerable populations, which he identifies as those living in poverty, children, senior citizens, veterans, Native Americans, and the disabled. He observes that the U.S. government’s “priorities have become horribly distorted,” with wealth and profit overriding the well-being of the nation’s children (407). He quotes one of his inspirations, Franklin Delano Roosevelt in saying “the test of our progress is…whether we provide enough for those who have little” (404). In Sanders’ eyes, America is not progressing in providing for its poor.

Sanders has always been a staunch defender of Social Security, which he expands upon in this chapter. Millions of senior citizens as well as disabled citizens depend...