Bernie Sanders
(Photo : Reuters)

Bernie Sanders, Presidential hopeful and socialist, has a long-held beef against charities since his time as a Mayor in Burlington, Vermont, Breitbart reports.

Peter Schweizer, the Senior Contributor and Government Accountability Insitute President (GAI) revealed in his book "Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America's Progressive Elite," how Sanders has a long history of contradictive behaviors.

Schweizer said: "Sanders' general distaste for charities shone through while he served as mayor of Burlington in the 1980s. He displayed a keen interest in growing his tax base and put local charities on notice that he was in charge."

There was also an instance where Sanders opposed one of the rules of a homeless shelter that did not allow entry from individuals who are under the influence of illegal drugs and alcohol. This led him to set up a competing shelter.

Bernie Sanders also set his sights on the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont where he sent the hospital an amount of $2.8 million property tax bill. In the book, it was written: "Never mind that as a nonprofit charity, it was exempt from paying property taxes. Sanders was challenging the hospital's tax-exempt status. Mayor Sanders wanted some of the charity's money for tax revenue. The charity had to take the mayor to court. The court sided with the charity."

Bernie Sanders, who is a known socialist, removed all doubts about his views on charities after he delivered a speech in 1981 during the 40th annual Chittenden County United Way fundraising drive where he said "I don't believe in charities," this left the audience and listeners in stunned silence.

According to a report in The New York Times from 1981, Bernie Sanders questioned the fundamental concepts of charities on which they are based and Sanders also argued that the government should be the one to handle social programs.

Schweizer writes in his book, "Perhaps that explains why Sanders has given sparingly to charities over the years, even when he has enjoyed a high income." 

Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders has reportedly given only one percent of his income since 2016 to charity. During his first year, he reported an income of more than $1 million. The amount he gave to charities rose slowly in the next few years. At the same time, Sanders reported that he gave three percent between 2017 and 2018.

Bernie Sanders is one of the front running Democtat Presidential candidates and opponent of President Donald Trump in the upcoming U.S. elections in 2020. However, it still cannot be determined if Sanders can even compete with Trump because of the president's achievements. Most especially in reducing the number of illegal immigrants and his successful restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico borders. Not to mention, record lows for unemployment and families living in poverty.

The campaign Trump ran against illegal immigration is just a highlight of his achievements. With the most famous line of the president "We will make America Great again" he was able to create programs and improve services of the government.