“What being a socialist means is... that you hold out... a vision of society where poverty is absolutely unnecessary, where international relations are not based on greed... but on cooperation... where human beings can own the means of production and work together rather than having to work as semi-slaves to other people who can hire and fire.”

American politician and independent senator from Vermont, first elected in 2006. A progressive voice in U.S. politics, he advocates for economic equality, healthcare reform, and social justice, framing policy through a democratic socialist lens. His candid, uncompromising style has made him a defining figure in modern American political discourse.