A | The following is a transcript of an interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, that aired on "Face the Nation" on September 3, 2023.
ROBERT COSTA: And we now go to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is joining us from Burlington. Good morning, Senator Sanders, we appreciate you being here.SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: Morning, Bob. ROBERT COSTA: Senator, President Biden is touting the latest jobs numbers, but your recent speech in New Hampshire painted a bleak picture of the nation's economic reality. When you met with President Biden at the White House in recent days, what exactly did you tell him, Senator? And did you warn him, like you warned in New Hampshire, that, quote, 'Democrats must reject the corporate wing of the party?'SEN. SANDERS: Well, Bob, what I have said publicly, time and again, is that President Biden and his administration have made some real progress in addressing issues that have not been dealt- dealt with in decades. We finally took on the pharmaceutical industry, and we're beginning to make some progress in lowering the cost of prescription drugs, a lot more has to be done. After years of talk, we finally invested in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, roads, bridges, water systems. Manufacturing is coming back in America. So, I think we're making some progress, but everybody knows that for decades now, not just under Biden, not just under Trump, but for decades now, what we have seen in America is an economy in which the very, very wealthy are doing phenomenally well while working families are struggling. Today, Bob, we don't talk about it much, we have more income and wealth inequality than we have ever had in the history of the United States. This is way before Biden. But what we're seeing now is 60 percent of our people living paycheck to paycheck, we have a health care system which is totally broken, we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. We've got 18 million households, where people are spending 50 percent of their income trying to pay the rent or pay a mortgage. So, we have some structural problems in America. The Biden administration has made some progress, we have got a long way to go. And what the Democratic Party has got to do is have the guts to take on corporate greed, which is unprecedented, all over the economy. The people who own the large corporations have enjoyed record breaking profits, we got to create an economy that works for all, not just a few.
ROBERT COSTA: Senator, you met with the President, you discussed these issues. You just heard from Ambassador Haley, she was attacking Vice President Harris. Are Democrats doing enough to support vice president Harris and she faces these kinds of attacks?SEN. SANDERS: Well, I think the issue is, are Democrats doing enough to win back a working class, which is leaving the Democratic Party? And what in my view Democrats have got to do is say, "Really? Do you really want to vote for a Republican Party, which wants to cut Social Security, we got to expand Social Security. Wants to cut Medicare, we have got to expand Medicare to include dental, hearing and vision. We got a Republican Party out there that doesn't even recognize the reality of climate change.' So I think, Bob, what this campaign is going to- should be about is a contrast between the ideas that work for the working families of this country, and what the Republicans stand for, which is more tax breaks for billionaires and paying allegiance to the needs of corporate America, not ordinary Americans.ROBERT COSTA: But is the administration doing enough? I listened closely to your speech in New Hampshire. The administration's recently taken action on marijuana, for example. But should it do more with executive power? It's taken action on prescription drug negotiations with Medicare. But should it do more? I mean, you- you're out there saying they should be tougher--SEN. SANDERS: And the answer is yes. Bob, the answer is yes, it should. Some of it can be done through executive orders, a lot can be done through legislation. And what I think has got to happen, this is my own view, is I think, what the President has got to say, is give me 50, at least 50 Democrats in the Senate. Give me control over the House of Representatives and by 50 Democrats, I mean, real Democrats, not corporate Democrats, like Manchin and Sinema. And if you do that, within two or three months, we're going to reform health care to move it toward a system which guarantees health care to all people, not just huge profits for the insurance companies. We're going to lower the cost of prescription drugs, so we're not paying any more than the rest of the world. We're going to rebuild our economy, to work for ordinary people, and I think that's got to be the message. Contrast, a progressive agenda for working people versus a Republican agenda.
ROBERT COSTA: Senator, I know you don't like to talk politics, but you're the one who went to New Hampshire, an early primary state you've done very well in over the years. You support President Biden 100 percent, you've made that clear, but for any reason, if President Biden decides not to seek the Democratic nomination, is a run by Senator Sanders for the nomination on the table next year?SEN. SANDERS: Bob, I think we spend too much time speculating. I think President Biden is going to be the nominee of the Democratic Party and I think if he runs on a strong, progressive agenda, he's not only going to win, he's going to win by a strong vote and I'll tell you why. Because when you look at a Republican Party, it's not only that you have a president, a former president, who has been impeached twice, indicted four times. These are people who deny women in this country have the right to control their own bodies, really? Is that where we are in 2023? Not recognizing the reality of climate change, wanting more tax breaks for billionaires, that's what their agenda is. So I think that in any kind of serious campaign, President Biden and the Democrats will do quite well against that reactionary agenda.ROBERT COSTA: What do you- what do you say, Senator, though, to some of your longtime supporters, who are frustrated because they don't believe the Biden administration's done enough? They may not share your view of how things have gone. And they're thinking about Cornel West, or they're thinking about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. What's your message to them as they drift toward those others?SEN. SANDERS: Well, my message to them is that we are living in an unprecedented moment in American history. Donald Trump is not only a pathological liar, has not only helped wage an insurrection, if you like, to prevent President Biden from taking office. Not only is denying American democracy, moving against the American democracy. So I think at this moment, Bob, we have got to bring the progressive community together to say, you know what, we're gonna fight for a progressive agenda. But we cannot have four more years of Donald Trump in the White House.ROBERT COSTA: Do you worry about the progressive vote, staying home?SEN. SANDERS: I think if the Democrats come up with a strong agenda that speaks to the needs of senior citizens in this country, and that means raising Social Security benefits, expanding Medicare, if we speak to the needs of young people that is having a lot to do with student debt, if we demand that the wealthiest people in this country stop paying their fair share of taxes, if we come up with a progressive agenda, I think we're going to win and win big. And when we win big, we have to make it clear that we stand with the working class of this country against the kind of corporate greed that we now see.ROBERT COSTA: Senator quickly, you are also the chairman of the Senate Health and Labor Committee. Progressives voters are looking to you as well for action. You're investigating Amazon warehouses right now. Are you committed to issuing a subpoena for Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon to come testify or not?
SEN. SANDERS: Well, we're gonna pick one step at a time. Right now, what we're working on Bob, is major reforms in primary health care. We don't have enough doctors, nurses, dentists, mental health providers in this country. We're working hard on legislation to do that. We brought Mr. Schultz from Starbucks before the committee, we are looking at Amazon and we'll take it one step at a time, but certainly have no fears. You know, at the appropriate time they may well do that.ROBERT COSTA: Thank you very much. Senator Sanders. We appreciate you taking the time on a Sunday morning, Face the Nation. We'll be back in one minute. Stay with us. 。
B | 天刚蒙蒙亮,一辆私家车从邯郸驶出,向南,越过平原,穿过群山,奔赴千里之外的浙江省遂昌县。车内,年逾古稀的高英端坐着,神情庄重。四十多年来,她走军营、访老兵、送新兵、帮烈属,常常自驾奔波。旁人劝她慢一点、歇一歇,她总是摆摆手:“怕慢了,耽误战士们的事。
C | ”这一次,她不是去慰问,也不是去帮扶,而是去迎接一位英雄回家——接邯郸永年籍抗日英烈单本贵遗骸归葬故里。忠骨漂泊异乡数十载,终于踏上归途。在她看来,迎英烈回家,是迟到数十年的团圆,也是一次跨越时空的精神接力:山河无恙,英雄不朽;岁月远去,人民从未忘却。一个普通人,为什么能用四十二年做同一件事?为什么从青丝走到白发,仍把拥军当作生命中最要紧的事?答案,要从半个多世纪前的太行山下说起。星火照初心:从成为民兵到半生拥军十六岁那年,乡村少女高英凭着一股不服输的劲头,层层选拔进入女民兵迫击炮班。沉重的炮身、冰冷的炮架、繁复的操作,对她来说都不是最难的。真正让她发愁的,是弹道弧线、炮口初速、高低射界等一串串专业术语和计算公式。文化程度不高的她,白天跟着练,晚上挑灯学;动作不标准,就一遍遍纠正;理论弄不懂,就一个字一个字地啃。手掌磨出血泡,肩头硌出淤青,她从不肯退一步。她认准一个朴素的道理:既然扛起了钢枪火炮,就不能拖集体后腿;既然站进了民兵队伍,就要练出保家卫国的真本领。后来,在省民兵大比武中,她带领班组取得优异成绩,个人获得全省第二名。可多年以后回望青春,高英记得最深的不是名次,而是遗憾:“要是文化再高一点、理论再扎实一点,我还能做得更好。”一次拉练途中,队伍星夜行军,走访老区地下党员、游击队员、交通员,聆听烽火岁月里的家国故事。冀中根据地知识分子熊大缜弃笔从戎,在极端艰苦的环境中研制地雷、炸药和无线电设备,以知识报国、以科技御敌的事迹,深深震撼了高英。
D | 那一夜,她第一次如此真切地懂得:卫国,不只有冲锋的勇气,还要有知识的底气;强军,不只靠钢铁意志,也离不开文化素养、专业技能和科技力量。
E | 她在心里许下一个愿望:将来有能力了,一定要帮助子弟兵多学知识、多长本领,让他们在军营能建功,走出军营也能站稳。彼时,这只是一个民兵少女的朴素心愿。谁也没有想到,它会穿越半个多世纪,照亮许多人的人生转弯处。军嫂懂兵心:把“小家后方”守成“军营亲情”后来,高英进入农业大学邯郸分校牧医系工作,与海军战士刘德举结为夫妻。从民兵到军嫂,她与军营的联系更深了。丈夫常年驻守海疆,战备执勤任务重,顾不上家。
F | 照料老人、养育孩子、操持家务、完成工作,生活的担子几乎都落在高英肩上。写信、通电话时,她总是报喜不报忧。她知道,前方军人守的是国家,后方军嫂守的是军心。
G | 把家守稳了,丈夫才能安心站岗;把牵挂压在心底,海疆才多一分安宁。正因为做过军嫂,她懂军人的不易,也懂年轻战士的乡愁。她知道紧急集合的号声有多急,知道一封家书在营房里有多珍贵,更知道万家团圆的除夕夜,远离故乡的战士会怎样想念父母、惦记家人。因为亲历,所以懂得;因为懂得,所以心疼;因为心疼,便再也放不下。上世纪80年代,学校把一片荒芜破败的实验牧场交给高英管理。没资金、没设备、缺人手,她白天工作,晚上盘算,几乎被困难逼到墙角。
H | 驻地官兵得知后,利用休息时间来帮忙:平整场地、搬运物料、搭建棚舍,一身泥、一身汗,不拿一分钱,也不提任何要求。这份雪中送炭的情谊,高英记了一辈子。
I | 她常说:“部队的恩情,一辈子也还不完。”为了表达感激,她带着全家老小炒出600多包爆米花,送到军营。从那以后,除夕进军营,成了高英家雷打不动的“团圆方式”。她带着面粉、肉馅和汤圆赶到部队,北方战士想家,就包饺子;南方战士念乡,就煮汤圆。
K | 军民鱼水情,正是在这样细小而长久的陪伴中,成为一茬茬官兵心中温暖的记忆。在她的带动下,拥军也成为一个家庭共同的选择。丈夫退役后,常年义务为官兵和随军家属问诊,遇到困难还主动垫付医药费;两个儿子从小耳濡目染,读书时省下奖学金支持母亲,工作后只要时间允许,就陪她走军营、访老兵。这个家没有写在墙上的家训,却有用四十多年的行动写在心里的:子弟兵守护山河,我们来守护子弟兵。拥军不止到营门:既暖当下,更护远方最初,高英的拥军,是一袋袋物资、一顿顿热饭、一次次陪伴。部队清淤、抗旱打井、野外驻训,她带着慰问品赶到一线;酷暑执勤、汛期值守、重大安保,她惦记官兵吃得好不好、休息够不够。走得越近,听得越多,她越能触摸到战士心底不愿轻易说出的忧虑。有年轻战士告诉她:“在部队不怕苦、不怕累,就怕退役后学历不高、专业受限,找不到工作,也不知道能干什么。”这句话像一根针,扎进高英心里。
L | 她忽然意识到,拥军不能只送到营门口,更不能止于服役期。
M | 物资慰问能解一时之需,本领赋能才能托举长远人生;真正深沉的拥军,既要温暖军人的今天,也要托举他们离开军营后的明天。她发挥自己的专业特长,免费讲授养殖技术,赠送种苗和药品,提供市场信息,手把手教、一次次跑。先后有120多名退役军人和军烈属,在她帮助下依靠特色养殖摆脱困境。在高英眼里,“120多”从来不是一串冷冰冰的数字。每一个数字背后,都是一个重新燃起希望的家庭:是退役军人挺直的腰杆,是老人安稳的晚年,是孩子不再因贫困中断的学业,也是一个家重新燃起的希望。退役军人肖和成的经历,是其中一个缩影。
N | 退役后,他贷款办起养鸡场,满怀信心想闯出一条路,却因不懂疫病防控,鸡苗接连死亡,损失越来越大。眼看养鸡场要垮,他的信心也几乎被拖垮。高英得知后,当即联系农业专家,带着防疫药品驱车百余公里赶去。闷热的鸡舍里,她逐只查看鸡群状况,从饲料配比、温湿度、通风消毒到疫病防治,一项项查找问题;一次指导不够,她就反复往返,既帮助解决眼前危机,也把养殖技术、成本控制和市场经营经验教给他。后来,濒临倒闭的养鸡场活了过来,规模发展到3万多只,年收入超过20万元。肖和成依然保持着当年那股敢打硬仗的精气神。高英一直相信,军装可以脱下,军人的本色不会褪去;军营可以离开,奋斗的战场依然辽阔。她所做的,就是在老兵受挫时扶一把、迷茫时点一盏灯,让他们知道:离开军营,不是精彩人生的落幕,而是奔赴新的战场。
o | 从“送温暖”到“送能力”:让拥军走向长效赋能帮助的人越多,高英越感到个人力量的有限。她开始思考:能不能把零散帮扶变成制度化服务,把一时救急变成长久赋能,把一个人的热心变成一群人的事业?由此,她的拥军方式完成了一次重要跃升——从送物资、送温暖,转向送知识、送技能、送平台;从解决眼前困难,转向增强发展能力。依托高校教育资源,她推动开展“书香进军营、科技进军营”活动,把课堂搬进营区,把实用技能送到训练一线。得知野外驻训部队文化资源不足,她一次采购5000册图书,涵盖文学、历史、科普和实用技术,送到演训场。有人问,驻训那么苦,为什么不多送些生活物资?高英说,物资当然需要,但战士们更需要能够陪伴一生的知识和本领。多年来,她联动高校搭建官兵成才平台,设立12个函授站点,开放43个军地通用专业,累计帮助500多名基层官兵提升学历,近300名官兵取得中级职业技能证书。一张文凭、一本证书,看似很轻,却可能改变一名战士的人生轨迹。为了破解退役军人就业创业难题,高英又把目光投向更大的平台建设。2014年,她创办退役军人免费军地职业技术学院;2016年,建成省退役军人创业孵化基地。
p | 近年来,她的脚步没有停在传统产业上,而是紧跟时代变化,推动园区向科技企业、跨境电商等新业态拓展,为老兵开辟新的就业创业赛道。截至目前,园区累计免费培训退役军人6000余人次,孵化创业实体210余家,带动5000余名退役军人稳定就业、增收致富。
r | 山河壮阔,村庄安宁,灯火绵延。眼前的和平,正是无数英烈和一代代军人用牺牲与坚守换来的。她所做的一切,不过是想让守护山河的人被温柔以待,让为国奉献的人不被遗忘,让从军报国成为全社会尊崇的选择。有人问她,还要走多久?她的回答依旧朴素:“只要我还能走、还能干,拥军这条路,我就会一直走下去。”(作者:刘松峰、王栋、马战士、周同义)。
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