Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is selling tickets priced as high as $95 for an event that will promote his new book, “It’s Okay to Be Angry About Capitalism.”
Admirers of the democratic socialist can purchase seats on Ticketmaster, a company which has recently faced accusations of anticompetitive practices, for prices ranging between $35 and $95. The event will be hosted on March 1 at The Anthem, a music venue and auditorium in Washington, D.C. Holders of the more expensive tickets will receive a free copy of Sanders’ new book, which is available for $28 from Penguin Random House.
The publishing company said that the lawmaker’s work is “a progressive takedown of the uber-capitalist status quo that has enriched millionaires and billionaires at the expense of the working class, and a blueprint for what transformational change would actually look like.”
“Reflecting on our turbulent times, Senator Bernie Sanders takes on the billionaire class and speaks blunt truths about our country’s failure to address the destructive nature of a system that is fueled by uncontrolled greed and rigidly committed to prioritizing corporate profits over the needs of ordinary Americans,” the description of the book asserts. “Sanders believes that, in the face of these overwhelming challenges, the American people must ask tough questions about the systems that have failed us and demand fundamental economic and political change. This is where the path forward begins.”
The lawmaker is also hosting a book tour event at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House in New York City, where tickets are selling for $40. Penguin Random House also lists upcoming book tour events in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Tucson, Arizona.
Sanders is by no means a stranger to accusations of hypocrisy with respect to his views on wealth accumulation. Though he is known for railing against large corporations and billionaire entrepreneurs, Sanders is a “millionaire with three houses,” as noted by former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg during the party’s most recent presidential primary cycle.
“What a wonderful country we have. The best known socialist happens to be a millionaire with three houses. What’d I miss here?” Bloomberg asked. Sanders responded that he has a house in Washington, a home in Burlington, Vermont, and a “summer camp.”
Sanders claimed that Bloomberg’s workers earned his fortune; the former New York City mayor rebutted that the comments from Sanders would drive voters toward President Donald Trump because of their radical nature. “We are not going to throw out capitalism, we tried that, other countries tried that, it was called communism and it just didn’t work,” he contended.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the first female member of the Democratic Socialists of America to serve in Congress, has also received criticism for selling “Tax The Rich” merchandise, which she promoted during the Met Gala two years ago. Customers can buy $58 sweatshirts, $27 t-shirts, $27 mugs, and $27 tote bags, among other items.
Sanders recently made headlines for voting against a measure that exercised authority granted to Congress by the Railway Labor Act to prevent a nationwide rail strike. He remarked on social media that workers should receive at least seven paid sick days as rail companies earn “record profits” and shared his desire to “block consideration of the rail legislation” until a roll call vote guaranteed workers the benefit.