In my mind he's like that political jerk in Forrest Gump who beat up Jenny and then by way of apology said "It's this damn war! and Johnson!". Not that Bernie beat anyone, but that he is and always has been a self absorbed jerk who spouts leftwing agitprop in lieu of reasoned arguments or critical thinking.
So yeah, I could see even hippies thinking he was too lazy.
To call them economically illiterate would be an understatement.