Kamala Harris Presidential Kick-Off Event in Oakland on Sunday (cost, dictators, states)

[neutrino78x]

Originally Posted by RMESMH

On 1/28/19 at her CNN event, Harris proposed eliminating private health insurance ("Lets get rid of all of that. Let's Transfer on") in favor of 'Medicare for all'.

As the furor grew, the next day (Tuesday 1/29/19) one of her advisors signaled that she would also be open to more moderate health reform plans that would preserve the industry.

I would favor the latter. I think the government is better as a regulator than as a service provider. If your only choice is the government, and they decide they aren't going to cover X or Y...where do you turn? I think choice needs to be preserved.

I do, however, support the idea of subsidizing anyone who can't afford private medical insurance. It has to be means tested though.

This issue wouldn't make me vote against someone, though. I favor Major Gabbard because she is in the Army, but both her and Harris are good choices.

[alliance]

Originally Posted by neutrino78x

If your only choice is the government, and they decide they aren't going to cover X or Y...where do you turn?

Then everyone will be going to Canada for treatment.

[veritased]

Medicare for all is Medicare for none. Basic Econ 101.

[bmw335xi]

Imagine if private health insurance was eliminated... where would all those people work... talk about destroying a huge chunk of the middle class. Not to mention, we would be treading new ground because even in countries like Australia... half the population has private health insurance because public hospitals are only good for prevention care and minor care... anything serious they are bad. I used to live there and still talk to my friends there pretty much daily. An ideal system would be a national sales tax that pays for free public hospitals, but still allows private hospitals and insurance companies to operate... similar to our public and private schools. It still gives people options and quality choices, but doesn't leave the less fortunate with no options or tax payers on the hook for when an uninsured person has an emergency.

[Dave Coe]

I voted for Trump but he turned out to be a clone of George Bush. I am interested in Andrew Yang and Tulsi Gabbard.

[zitsky]

Is there a thread to talk about her debate performance? What did people think of her as Attorney General. Was Gabbard right that she blocked evidence and put 1500 people in jail for marijuana crimes?

[dcisive]

There is little doubt it's absurd to jail those that have had marijuana infractions. Trump is hardly any clone of Bush. Bush was a absolute disaster economy wise and "for the people" wise. Gabbard is no dummy to be sure, but sadly the 20 Demo choices are virtually ALL too radical to make the grade. I felt that in the last round Harris had her head handed to her when she attacked others. That will continue if she doesn't mellow out just a bit. Elimination of primate insurance is a deal breaker for the Demo's and few of them seem to get that. It will surely be interesting to see when the dust settles who survives. I'm not a Democrat but I have to admit I was quite amused by Booker this time around. He's actually pretty sharp. Castro......forget about it. Anyone that thinks opening the borders wide open is one that favors a loaded gun at their head. He's done. It's better than reality TV to watch these debates ;-)

[davdaven]

Didn't watch the debates themselves but did read recaps and see plenty of social media posts. It's been clear to me since Kamala Harris first ran for office that she had designs for higher office. Surprised she didn't wait another cycle to throw her hat in the presidential ring, but with a crackpot like Trump in office, she probably figured anyone with a pulse could do the job.

That being said, the Democratic candidates are currently bending over backwards to get the Progressive vote. Same exact thing has happened in years past with Republicans satisfying the Tea Party and then trying to figure out how to cater to a wider audience come November. Living where I do, it's been fascinating to see how my Progressive friends are really excited about what they're hearing. They don't think Harris is left enough. They'll be in for a rude awakening if they end up getting what they want in a presidential candidate because that will all but guarantee a Trump victory.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by davdaven

Didn't watch the debates themselves but did read recaps and see plenty of social media posts. It's been clear to me since Kamala Harris first ran for office that she had designs for higher office. Surprised she didn't wait another cycle to throw her hat in the presidential ring, but with a crackpot like Trump in office, she probably figured anyone with a pulse could do the job.

That being said, the Democratic candidates are currently bending over backwards to get the Progressive vote. Same exact thing has happened in years past with Republicans satisfying the Tea Party and then trying to figure out how to cater to a wider audience come November. Living where I do, it's been fascinating to see how my Progressive friends are really excited about what they're hearing. They don't think Harris is left enough. They'll be in for a rude awakening if they end up getting what they want in a presidential candidate because that will all but guarantee a Trump victory.

Ya think huh? Because the electorate really doesn’t want extreme candidates, eh? That’s why we ended up with the orange sociopath as POTUS, right? He was voted in because he’s mainstream, moderate? ... hmm.

Whichever ideology, a helluva lot of the electorate are pi**ed and have been for decades. Getting worse. Moderate is a dirty word to enough people both sides of scale that balance isn’t likely.

[RMESMH]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

Ya think huh? Because the electorate really doesn’t want extreme candidates, eh? That’s why we ended up with the orange sociopath as POTUS, right? He was voted in because he’s mainstream, moderate? ... hmm.

Whichever ideology, a helluva lot of the electorate are pi**ed and have been for decades. Getting worse. Moderate is a dirty word to enough people both sides of scale that balance isn’t likely.

^^^^^ I agree.

( I’ve certainly heard DJT referred to as a sociopath, and hundreds, if not thousands of other ‘orange affiliated’ monikers, but orange sociopath (not necessarily a moniker, but it could be)....that’s a good one )