Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sparked a fresh round of debate on X after posting on Tuesday, “If you paid $1 in federal income taxes, you paid more than: Tesla in 2024 & 2022, AT&T in 2021, Nike in 2020, FedEx in 2020, Dish Network in 2020, Amazon in 2017-2018, Elon Musk in 2018, Jeff Bezos in 2007 & 2011, Carl Icahn in 2016-2017.”
“Yes. It’s time to tax the rich,” Sanders added.
‘No One Should Live Paycheck to Paycheck’
The post also ties into Sanders’ broader message about economic inequality.
Speaking to a crowd of 3,200 in Las Vegas in March, Sanders said, “What does it mean to live paycheck to paycheck?”
One attendee responded, “Robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
Sanders recounted stories of people skipping meals, delaying college, and juggling credit card debt with 20% interest rates.
“Going hungry in America,” he repeated from the crowd. “Stress every day to pay the rent. That’s what it’s about.”
He argued the financial pressure isn’t just an economic issue, but a public health one.
“Doctors will tell you… when you live under stress every day, trying to figure out how you’re going to feed your kids, how you’re going to pay the rent… All of that stress has an impact on your body and your mind,” Sanders said.
He added, “In the richest country in the world, working-class people should not have to die unnaturally young. They should be able to live long and productive lives.”
Trump’s IRS Cuts Could Worsen Wealthy Tax Evasion
The concerns raised by Sanders about wealthy Americans and corporations avoiding taxes are echoed by broader warnings about the future of tax enforcement in the U.S.
According to reporting from MSNBC, President Donald Trump has pushed to dismantle key parts of the IRS, including attempts to fire thousands of workers, slash billions from its budget, and cut enforcement focused on billionaires.
“Tax cheating is highly contagious,” former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers warned.
Studies cited in the report show that the wealthiest Americans are significantly more likely to underreport income—often because they can.
The IRS estimates Americans underpaid $606 billion in taxes in 2022, much of it tied to high earners.
The article warns that with fewer audits and enforcement, more wealthy taxpayers may take the risk of underreporting.
Meanwhile, the revenue shortfall is often used to justify cuts to services relied on by working and middle-class Americans.
In contrast to other countries that prepare taxes for citizens automatically, the U.S. tax system relies heavily on “voluntary compliance,” giving wealthier Americans more opportunities to manipulate their reported income.
While Sanders’ positions continue to generate strong reactions, both support and criticism, they underline his consistent focus on working-class struggles, income inequality, and U.S. accountability, both at home and abroad.
IMAGE CREDIT: “Bernie Sanders” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.