I have looked at it in the very same way. The addiction will continue, like other kinds, despite the negative ramifications and potentially bad outcomes. The wealth enables the behavior.

If you think of how families and friends, (and the sphere of community) are impacted by a bad addiction, (drugs, sex, gambling) then there is a similarity and concern here about that and an entire society is in its scope.

I've always felt that there is something definitely freakish about someone who feverishly amasses huge amounts of money.

It is abnormal in some fundamental way, and like Bernie, we might well compare this behavior to other addictions.

Problem is, the billionaire parasite addictive disease is SO MUCH WORSE for society than alcoholism or drugs or eating or gambling or sex addiction.

In these more traditional addictions, the addict's behavior destroys his/her life - the job is lost, possessions are lost, family is estranged and with alcohol or narcotics, health is also destroyed.

Billionaire addictive behavior, by its very nature, hurts many more people, and the earth itself. Because it isn't lust for sex or drugs or drink or food destroying the individual and undermining that individual's relationships with close friends, employer and family.

NOPE.

Lust for power and wealth hurts all people, all other species upon this planet and affects the earth's habitability itself.

and I think he know what he's talking about

And I saw something on social media the other day about how one billionaire (millionaire?) trashed the billionaires who suggest they'd be "hurt" by the fiscal policies of Sanders or Warren. They have no idea of "hurt."

It's a sickness.

Sen. Sanders is 100% right on and correct.

Wealth addicts willing to destroy our nation for a few dollars more.

It's wrong for him to have said that. It serves no good purpose to stigmatize or publicly shame people who struggle with alcoholism or substance abuse, by comparing them with corruption, and greedy liars and cheaters and thieves.

I guess he knows what his audience wants to hear... apparently they responded as he expected... but that doesn't change the fact that his comparison was insulting and cruel. It lacked understanding and compassion. He owes many people an apology for that.

... it's not helping your or Bernie's case at all. It makes it worse actually.

What was that all about if not for money?

....to them is insensitive and way out of line. Demonizing drug addicts like this is disgraceful.

And what's up with the reference to golden showers?

And I can't figure out why. It's not winning over anyone judging by poll results.

and I don't think billionaires should be given the same empathy addicts should have.

Bernie is pointing out how corporate greed is leading to people dying and some here are parsing words.
Clearly, addiction referred to the insatiable need to increase your wealth, that it's never enough and that you constantly need more to feel satisfied. It wasn't intended to be an excuse for greed or to insult alcoholics or other forms of addiction. It was an attempt to explain and compare their behavior. I think it's a fitting comparison. When profits are valued above human life and also your personal well-being in some cases, then this behavior isn't rational anymore. When you neglect your family to see that next digit on your account balance, I'd say that shows the same symptoms you would see in other instances of addiction.

In other areas, we are also talking about internet addiction or addiction to games. Is that a cruel insult to these other forms as well? I don't even like Bernie but this is just stupid.