New Pagodi wrote:Although I think Sanders is right on the healthcare issue, I think it was a huge tactical blunder to emphasize it. It's a losing issue for Democrats. Look at this quote from a voter in the recent election in Kentucky:
NPR wrote:My religious beliefs outweigh whether or not I have insurance
He should have kept the focus on electoral reform and reining-in the investment class. Those are issues where the public - on both sides of the political spectrum - agree with him.
Bevin caved on that, by the way.
As far as progressive change goes, we need a candidate who will win, and more than that, a candidate who will win by enough to help down-ballot voters and help Democrats claw back more seats in Congress. Bernie is not that person. A Trump-Sanders race would be fascinating but Bernie might well lose. Hillary would thrash Trump by a bigger margin than Obama won in 2008.
New Pagodi wrote:Although I think Sanders is right on the healthcare issue, I think it was a huge tactical blunder to emphasize it. It's a losing issue for Democrats. Look at this quote from a voter in the recent election in Kentucky:
NPR wrote:My religious beliefs outweigh whether or not I have insurance
He should have kept the focus on electoral reform and reining-in the investment class. Those are issues where the public - on both sides of the political spectrum - agree with him.
Nancy Pelosi on Sander's healthcare plan:
But the top House Democrat didn't mince words when it came to Vermont Senator Sanders' health care proposal, dismissing the notion of a single-payer health care plan, curtly saying, "That's not going to happen."
But then Pelosi took another pointed swipe at Sanders' plan, saying, "It's no use having a conversation about something that's not going to happen."
Arthur Dent wrote:And why do Nancy Pelosi statements have great significance?
When Nancy Pelosi thinks your proposal is too out there and isn't going to bat for you there's an issue.
Bernie proposed a healthcare plan that raises taxes on the middle class. No one has campaigned on raising taxes after Walter Mondale. Walter Mondale's "I will raise taxes. So will Ronald Reagan. Only difference is he won't tell you about it" was a disaster. He lost to Reagan in a 49 state wipeout after those taxes comments dog him throughout the trail.
Sure there's nuance. You can think it's a good plan. Personally, I think we need a single payer. You can say most of the middle class will save money, but it's a still terrible sound bite and an uphill battle.
Sanders' health care plan calls for raising income taxes by 2.2%. In addition, to pay for at least 12 weeks of family and medical leave, he'd boost payroll taxes by $1.61 a week for the typical worker.
"Sanders is the first to say government is good and it's worth paying for," Thorndike said. He is "breaking the mold of Democratic candidates."
Increased taxes on the middle class or not, single payer is a pipe dream in this country simply because insurance companies are not going to go down without a very messy fight. Think of all the lobbying $$$ to Congress and ad campaigns about lost jobs.
Michael wrote:Bernie proposed a healthcare plan that raises taxes on the middle class. No one has campaigned on raising taxes after Walter Mondale. Walter Mondale's "I will raise taxes. So will Ronald Reagan. Only difference is he won't tell you about it" was a disaster. He lost to Reagan in a 49 state wipeout after those taxes comments dog him throughout the trail.
You know who else is calling for a middle class tax increase? Ted Cruz. The difference is that Sanders wants new taxes to fund a major benefit whereas Cruz just wants to shift the burden.
Look, I realize the challengers for Sanders in the general election, though you might want consider whether it's a fight worth having. And when the alternative is something like Ted Cruz, I don't know that anyone can say with confidence who would have the upper hand.
I've expressed my fair share of Bernie skepticism but characterizing single-payer as a tax increase is misleading at best. Taxes would go up, yes. But health insurance premiums would go away, forever. Just imagine that "total benefits" breakdown that one might get from one's employer. Imagine if that chunk of the pie that went to your health insurance went into your pocket instead.
Vidor wrote:I've expressed my fair share of Bernie skepticism but characterizing single-payer as a tax increase is misleading at best. Taxes would go up, yes. But health insurance premiums would go away, forever. Just imagine that "total benefits" breakdown that one might get from one's employer. Imagine if that chunk of the pie that went to your health insurance went into your pocket instead.
pioneer98 wrote:On the other hand there are days when I'm so sick of it all that I just feel like, screw it, I'll go for Bernie and if we end up with Trump or Cruz, then we deserve them anyway. And I'll start looking more seriously at whether Canada has companies with a need for my skillset.
Did all the Nader supporters end up moving to Canada?
I can't speak for people who vote for 3rd party candidates, which Bernie is not.
