Just saying that if I thought it could work, I might be inclined to use ASI as a bogeyman to induce people to actually do something to reign in this mess, even if I didn't believe it. Not saying that Bernie consciously employs this strategy, but it's a possibility.

Fair point about such a strategy potentially backfiring if it doesn't work fully, then the risk of 'the other guy' becomes a risk of making everything even worse.