I'm personally biased toward the Warren and Sanders side with Warren ahead, but I definitely understand why more center-right leaning democrats aren't thrilled with Biden's performance (and am perplexed how many still are). He's holding support despite repeated gaffes on a (I believe, false) perception of electability while the other likely better alternatives are passed over, I would say Booker is probably the best candidate from that side. I will vote for any of them in the November election.
If I were advising a Democratic candidate, I would suggest a major speech based on the theme of accountability. As in, elites are almost never held accountable anymore. I would tie together Trump, the Sackler family, Wall Street during and after the Crash, Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, gerrymandering and general GOP shenanigans in Wisconsin and NC, CEO pay, etc. Then I would contrast that with how the 99% never escape accountability, and often even have to pay for the sins of the 1%.
The right wing response would be, but the Clintons got away with murder. And never forget her Emails. Still a good idea. Send a message to the base. What would they say about the house not yet impeaching Trump? I know that it is working it's way past committees, but should candidates push the house leadership to "do more"?
Accountability of elites must be addressed, no doubt. Something is broken when you have such a blatantly corrupt and comically criminal president and still a former attorney general of the opposing party says it might not be in the best interest of the nation to prosecute him even after he leaves office. I get that it would be a painful and bitter fight, but is the alternative any better? Proving beyond a doubt that laws apply only to the common man can't be in the interest of the nation...
There have been plenty of hearings and the WH withholding /requested subpoenaed documents. And the Senate doing very little.
If you hate Joe Biden, read this thread and especially the replies. Thread: I'm always astounded by the imaginings of white people as it relates to race. Many of them have this fictionalized jigaboo version that is almost alien-like. And one of the greatest examples of this ever is Joe Biden's story about Corn Pop the gangsta.— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) September 14, 2019
Corn Pop's telling is that he was the distraction so his friends could get in for free instead of $.10. Yes, that really was a guy's nickname and he died 3 years ago. The thread is a fun retelling with a modern context versus Biden's POV from back then. For instance, no, it was not crazy that a black person even in a city went through many of their young years never talking to a white person. Segregation and other 'norms' were a very real thing. Population statistics mean nothing. My family members have nicknames to the point that I and most of their friends from growing up don't know their birth names. A neighborhood crew from back then would not be comparable to a violent street gang now.
It seems like corruption and accountability is an issue that mostly energizes those who already hate the guy and is swept under the rug or rationalized by those who like him, so it isn't likely to have a huge impact. But even if it motivates only a small number of independents or people who were unlikely to vote, it might just make the difference. So, yeah, by all means keep bringing it up, the message should get out. And if the message gets out, and people still vote for the guy, then I suppose we get the government we deserve.
No, that's not it. It's not a negative, anti-Trump theme. It's a positive theme...we're going to create a fairer tax system. We're going to look at why college costs are skyrocketing far ahead of inflation. We're going to do more audits on the rich. We're going to stop surprise medical billing. We're going properly regulate the financial industry. We're are going to let voters choose their representatives, rather than the other way around. We're going to stop hassling the 99% and allying with the 1%. Instead we're going to ally with the 99%.
Well, yes, that would be a great message. It's a much better message than telling people that they will not be able to keep their current health insurance even if they like it, or that they will not be allowed to remain working as independent contractors even if that is what they want - as they are doing in California.
I still don't particularly understand where all these people that like their private health insurance are.
Well that is what they tell the pollsters. Part of it may be fear of change, part of it may be Republican successfully marketing on how government health care is evil. I personally like my health insurance, I probably would end up paying more than I do now if we went for gov insurance (my company may save money). But I would personally be ok with it, it is not my preference, but is not something that will make my vote non-democratic.
Well, it's there in the polls. For example, the latest 538 poll indicates that a majority of independents (70 %) support a public option for those who need it, while a minority (39 %) support Medicare for all, so that would tell me that lots of people who are not partisan would rather keep their own plans. The fact that you don't know where we are is really not relevant. Personally, considering I’m planning to have hip replacement surgery next year, the last thing I need right now is any government mandated changes to my healthcare plan. We can hope that this misguided idea from some Democrats is not enough to keep independents from rejecting Trump, since there are reasons for rejecting him that are much more important than keeping our health insurance, such as preserving the nation's democratic institutions. But why ask for trouble by proposing unpopular ideas at a time when all reasonable people need to unite against the common enemy?
But looking at it fundamentally, the American health system is broken in large part because insurers are incentivized to minimize coverage and maximize profit. I don't see a benefit to perpetuating private health insurance when it doesn't work towards better outcomes or universalized coverage. Granted, there are systems like Germany's which have a role for private insurance, but these are very strictly regulated and over 75+% of healthcare is nonetheless state funded and directed.
Well the incentive in theory should be to minimize cost, legally they can not maximize profit as by regulation insurance companies are capped at what percentage they can profit. (ok, I had that wrong) it is not a profit cap, but a ratio cap https://www.healthcare.gov/health-care-law-protections/rate-review/ As someone explained to me before, since companies can only recognize 20% of X, the only way insurance can increase their profits is to increase X. So we have incentivized insurance companies to grow their cost because that is the only way they can grow their profits. The minimizing coverage comes from companies that want to pay less money to cover their employees. That is why some people have pointed out, that making the case for government insurance may help America inc. reduce their insurance cost. As someone put it, other developed countries subsidize the cost of health care for their corporations, why should America be at a disadvantage?
It's not just Germany. Most European nations have a public option and also allow private insurance - Japan also comes to mind - and that's the system that seems to work best. The private sector is then forced to become more efficient in order to remain a reasonable option, while people's ability to opt out of it also are likely to keep the public option more honest and efficient. And, the more efficient the public option becomes, the more likely it will be that more and more people will opt into it, without the need for overreaching government mandates that will turn off consumers to the idea. The fact that our health care system may not be operating optimally should not be an excuse to install plans that are more radical than what most developed nations have, for reasons that appear to be more ideological than practical. To be successful, any changes to our current system should be judiciously and carefully planned, and should be supported by the majority of the public. Especially at a time like the present, when as I said we have more important issues that compel us to unite, in order to defeat Trumpism.
It is usually non for profit insurance, at least for basic health needs. A few have for profit insurances, but their profits are made up usually on selling up insurance (better beds, new drugs, ect) over basic coverage.
That could be achieved by regulating the industry, but the same public who is happy with what they now have might also object to changes by regulation. It's also likely that over time the US will organically evolve into something like that, if it manages to construct an efficient and desirable public option. In Argentina, by contrast, for profit private insurance companies thrived precisely because the public option offered was so inefficient - even though it was free to the public - that anybody who could afford an alternative to it would willingly pay for it.
Here is Vox on different type of private insurance in other countries that have universal health care. https://www.vox.com/health-care/201...payer-private-health-insurance-harris-sanders
Great post. That is my main concern with Warren. She put herself in a corner with M4all when she could have gone with a more efficient option. Americans, and people in general, are risk adverse. This is not the time to come with a complete overhaul of the system.
Well....Biden still leading after the debate. Castro at the other end may be gone.... Morning Consult Post-debate poll (dated 9/13 - 9/15): Biden 32 Sanders 20 Warren 18 Harris 6 Buttigieg 5 O’Rourke 4 Booker 3 Yang 3 Klobuchar 2 Early states: Biden 34 Sanders 21 Warren 13 Buttigieg 5 Harris 5 Steyer 4 Booker 3 Gabbard 3 O’Rourke 3 https://morningconsult.com/...
I said in this thread or another, Biden is the equivalent of calling our dad and asking for help, admitting that we ********ed up.
There comes a point in life though where you realize that you are the dad. If anything, it's now up to you to take care of your dad. Also, in this case, dad actually had a seat at the table when things went haywire and he wasn't able to prevent it then. You can make a case that dad had more to do with f***ing shit up than you did. Dad should be calling you for help.