If this was 2016 then I'd be all for Biden getting the nomination, but it's clear at this point he's too far gone. His mental faculties just aren't there anymore. And while the same could be said about Trump, Republican voters have proven they don't care about that, they only care about the R beside his name. Enough democrat voters will care about Biden being senile to gift the election to Trump IMO
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There is a largely held belief that Sanders as the nominee will guarantee 4 more years of Trump.
Too bad for them, but I don't know if I can disagree. It is hard to see the U.S. electing a true socialist. Biden is probably as good as it gets if they want a chance at beating Trump.
Also, Bernie losing decisively early, vs dragging on to the convention improves Biden's chances at the general election significantly.
Also, I'm not a believer that nominating Bernie is the best chance to better, more accessibly health care. I am skeptical he can win, I don't think there is a chance he could get it passed, and he may make things worse if tries to do so without compromising.
Some evolution of fixing Obamacare, perhaps with the expansion of Medicare as a public option is the best route to get there. Maybe some day America will be ready for a single payer system, or can find an efficient hybrid system, but there needs to be some intermediate steps to show how Medicare can scale and also to build up public support for it. The best way to sell Medicare for all, is to get some people on Medicare for some and be happy with it.
If this was 2016 then I'd be all for Biden getting the nomination, but it's clear at this point he's too far gone. His mental faculties just aren't there anymore. And while the same could be said about Trump, Republican voters have proven they don't care about that, they only care about the R beside his name. Enough democrat voters will care about Biden being senile to gift the election to Trump IMO
If this were the 2016 election I might agree. But in 2020 I suspect most Dems (and a lot of moderate Repubs) will vote for someone who eats their own feces if it means getting rid of Trump. Now will those hardcore Berners/progressives hold their noses, or go full spite? That might be the deciding factor.
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There's literally no evidence out there Bernie does better. His youth revolution is the same old #### we hear time and again from left wing candidates, nominate one and the youth will come out in record numbers. But he got his ass kicked on Tuesday and will likely continue to get demolished in a lot of upcoming primaries because he isn't turning out the youth vote like he needs to, not even remotely close in fact. So far there's no evidence at all he can get the youth turnout he needs. He's got hardcore youth supporters, just not all that many of them.
Also as we see from the most recent Florida poll and the likely annihilation that awaits Bernie in the primary there, he can't win that state and likely has to abandon it altogether in the general. But Bernie supporters will say "Rust Belt", but you look at the only rust belt state that has voted so far and Bernie lost pretty badly, and is on track to lose the next one too. I get people are sick of centrists and want a true progressive, but that seems to be Canadians in here who want it. Actual American voters seem to be making it clear what they want, and it ain't Bernie.
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There's literally no evidence out there Bernie does better. His youth revolution is the same old #### we hear time and again, but he got his ass kicked on Tuesday and will likely continue to get demolished in a lot of upcoming primaries because he isn't turning out the youth vote like he needs to. It's worth pointing out Bernie will almost certainly need a record youth turnout, but there's no evidence at all he can. He's not even getting that in the Dem primary.
Also as we see from the most recent Florida poll and the likely annihilation that awaits Bernie in the primary there, he can't win that state and likely has to abandon it altogether. But Bernie supporters will say "Rust Belt", but you look at the only rust belt state that has voted so far and Bernie lost pretty badly, and is on track to lose the next one too. I get people are sick of centrists and want a true progressive, but that seems to be Canadians in here who want it. Actual American voters seem to be making it clear what they want, and it ain't Bernie.
I think Bernie has some support in the rust belt, but Biden seems to be even more popular in that area and can still deliver in other areas like some of the more Southern states.
It was masked by the moderate vote splitting, but Bernie's base has shrunk significantly since 2016. He seems stuck at 30-40% in most states whether he's running against one moderate or several. He is not getting the votes he did in 2016. Did he lose some of his base to Trump? Did they decide the system is rigged and stay home? Or was that 30% always his base, and he just picked up lots of anti-Hillary votes last time?
The best way to sell Medicare for all, is to get some people on Medicare for some and be happy with it.
Sure—but that already exists.
To wit, how many elderly people do you know that are unhappy with their Medicare?
I certainly haven’t heard people who are on it complaining about it or seen people rioting in the streets about how their Medicare is awful and that they wish they could go back to what they had when they were 55 or 40. Have you?
I get people are sick of centrists and want a true progressive, but that seems to be Canadians in here who want it. Actual American voters seem to be making it clear what they want, and it ain't Bernie.
To the average American voter, a Bernie presidency would mean radical change. It's becoming increasingly obvious that the majority of voters simply want a return to normalcy at this point, especially after the insanity of the last 4 years. A Biden presidency would give them that. If he can find a way to repair some of the damage, mend relationships with America's allies, and bring back some respectability to the office, I think most Americans would probably be satisfied with that.
Personally I'd prefer Bernie, but I'm fine with Biden.
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To wit, how many elderly people do you know that are unhappy with their Medicare?
I certainly haven’t heard people who are on it complaining about it or seen people rioting in the streets about how their Medicare is awful and that they wish they could go back to what they had when they were 55 or 40. Have you?
I think people are generally happy with Medicare, but I have heard some say that it is harder to find a Dr, or see their previous Dr. with Medicare than when they had private insurance. It's generally much better than Medicaid because reimbursements are higher. A lot of people are pretty happy with their employer health plans. I think I remember you saying you aren't, but my experience has been great. I would say I have better access to better dr's and facilities than when I lived in Canada. Just personally speaking, I'd be ok giving that up so that everyone had coverage, but I know a lot of people wouldn't vote like that.
The big question outside of the political one is can Medicare scale? Maybe the bigger question is do people have faith that Medicare can scale? There are so many challenges in implementing it well, and it needs very widespread support to even have a chance of succeeding.
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60% of Americans are on either Medicare or private health insurance, another 20% on Medicaid, its not a particularly efficient system but most of the voting public have access to healthcare, and for about half of them it is as good if not better than ours, they are just not going to view universal healthcare as something they have to vote for, Bern's signature policy just isn't a huge vote winner
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I think people are generally happy with Medicare, but I have heard some say that it is harder to find a Dr, or see their previous Dr. with Medicare than when they had private insurance. It's generally much better than Medicaid because reimbursements are higher. A lot of people are pretty happy with their employer health plans. I think I remember you saying you aren't, but my experience has been great. I would say I have better access to better dr's and facilities than when I lived in Canada. Just personally speaking, I'd be ok giving that up so that everyone had coverage, but I know a lot of people wouldn't vote like that.
The big question outside of the political one is can Medicare scale? Maybe the bigger question is do people have faith that Medicare can scale? There are so many challenges in implementing it well, and it needs very widespread support to even have a chance of succeeding.
No, my employer provided health insurance is fantastic.
I just wish that I wasn’t chained to my employer in order to get it.
Medicare for all, or some variation of that, would allow me (and others) to leave their employers and start their own job, or retire early, or work in some other role that they may be more passionate about.
Essentially, do other things with their life that they can’t do now because they can’t afford to give up their health insurance.
In my view, the sooner we can disassociate health insurance from one’s employer the more freer and better off all of the US will be.
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60% of Americans are on either Medicare or private health insurance, another 20% on Medicaid, its not a particularly efficient system but most of the voting public have access to healthcare, and for about half of them it is as good if not better than ours, they are just not going to view universal healthcare as something they have to vote for, Bern's signature policy just isn't a huge vote winner
Obamacare also filled in some gaps, and is very good for the people in the narrow income range that get subsidized plans.
You're right, the current system isn't bad enough for enough people for M4all to be a political winner.
No, my employer provided health insurance is fantastic.
I just wish that I wasn’t chained to my employer in order to get it.
Medicare for all, or some variation of that, would allow me (and others) to leave their employers and start their own job, or retire early, or work in some other role that they may be more passionate about.
Essentially, do other things with their life that they can’t do now because they can’t afford to give up their health insurance.
In my view, the sooner we can disassociate health insurance from one’s employer the more freer and better off all of the US will be.
Ideologically, I'm with you on all that. I just don't think that medicare 4 all is a winning platform right now, and don't want to make that bet when losing gets more Trump. I also don't think that Bernie winning president gets us Universal health care.
If this was 2016 then I'd be all for Biden getting the nomination, but it's clear at this point he's too far gone. His mental faculties just aren't there anymore. And while the same could be said about Trump, Republican voters have proven they don't care about that, they only care about the R beside his name. Enough democrat voters will care about Biden being senile to gift the election to Trump IMO
Did you ever see Biden speak in the 90s or 2000s? Its the same stuff back then. People are too quick to weigh in on people's mental faculties. Trump is likely fine mentally as well, he just a narcissist who doesn't follow normal social protocols.
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Did you ever see Biden speak in the 90s or 2000s? Its the same stuff back then. People are too quick to weigh in on people's mental faculties. Trump is likely fine mentally as well, he just a narcissist who doesn't follow normal social protocols.
Old people are also old. At 45 I’m not as mentally sharp as I was at 30. It’s likely not dementia but electing 70 year olds instead of 50 year olds can’t be good policy in general.
Uninsured/poor Americans: "I can't afford health care and I'm dying. Can you please make it accessible?"
Centrists: "Whoah! A little radical, don't you think? What about all those people who like their current insurance? Did you ever think of that? Selfish."
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Uninsured/poor Americans: "I can't afford health care and I'm dying. Can you please make it accessible?"
Centrists: "Whoah! A little radical, don't you think? What about all those people who like their current insurance? Did you ever think of that? Selfish."
I think you mean pay for it, not make it accessible.
Uninsured/poor Americans: "I can't afford health care and I'm dying. Can you please make it accessible?"
Centrists: "Whoah! A little radical, don't you think? What about all those people who like their current insurance? Did you ever think of that? Selfish."
No one is arguing the US system is good or makes sense, particularly from a Canadian perspective, just that Americans aren't desperate to change it, in fact it would appear the opposite, so your choice is no change to healthcare under Biden or at best no change under Trump (well likely a defunding of Obamacare so that things get even worse).
There is no choice where Bernie gets elected, sweeps the House and also gets over 60% in the senate in order to enact his plans, it just doesn't exist, you might as well vote for free magic healing pills that get rid of all illness instantly
We didn't get healthcare in Canada instantly, it took decades to get to where we are now
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