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Originally Posted by nfotiu
I don't see how Sanders has any possible chance in a general election. The promises he was highlighting in his speech were just not sound policies. $15 minimum wage, free college for everyone, paying for it all by taxing wall street speculators and Medicare for everyone won't hold up as being good ideas under any scrutiny. Medicare for everyone is really the only one that he could make a compelling argument for, but it would almost be impossible for a president to implement it.
I guess if it is between Rubio, Cruz, Trump, Sanders and Clinton, then I have to go with Clinton. The other 4 all seem like awful and dangerous choices.
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The US already spends more per capita on healthcare than countries that have universal healthcare, because pharma companies can charge whatever they please for meds here, because hospitals can charge whatever they want here. Insurance and healthcare is a huge for-profit business in the US, and those profits aren't going to the hard working medical professionals, those profits are going to insurance companies, pharma CEOs, etc. If the US passes Medicaid for all, they can use that to bring down the cost of medications, they can bring down the cost of procedures. They can get people to the doctor for inexpensive preventative care instead of waiting until someone is in a dire situation and needs major care to recover. The Affordable Care Act helped--but it didn't go nearly far enough. Sanders just wants to push it farther.
A $7.25 minimum wage is unsustainable. Period. That wage keeps millions in poverty, keeps millions depending on the federal government to keep food in their mouths and roofs over their heads. Corporations are making record profits and CEOs are making record bonuses, companies are spending millions lobbying to keep a low min wage--these companies have the money to pay a living wage, but they refuse to do so. And 15 dollars may not happen--but if Sanders can bring it to 12, that's a huge boon for the economy, people who have been in poverty for too long would suddenly have a bit of disposable income--and when low income people get extra money, they spend it.
Similarly with education--free education for all probably wouldn't happen, but if Sanders can manage to bring costs back to the realm of reality for most families, it's a huge benefit to Americans.
Campaigning is like the beginning of a negotiation. You say all the things you really want to happen--but in reality the goal is probably something lower but still in your favor.
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Originally Posted by Frequitude
Wow, I just read Sanders' platform for the first time. I didn't realize he was that far left. My god the thought of a Sanders-Cruz general is frightening.
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He's left for American politics, certainly. But in America Obama (pretty moderate by global political standards) is a left wing commie, so we're not really the best guide.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frequitude
Please Bloomberg, come up the middle. Please come up the middle. Please.
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If it comes down to Cruz and Clinton and Bloomberg comes up the middle, Cruz wins. Democrats will split--GOP voters will vote Cruz.
Cruz is terrifying.