Democratic presidential candidate O'Rourke calls for reparations, doubling Alzheimer's spending

[TexasTowelie]

MANCHESTER, N.H. — In September, former Congressman Beto O'Rourke discussed his presidential platform before voters in New Hampshire, a key primary state.

People inquired for details about the Democratic primary contender's views on drug prices, federal minimum wage law, Alzheimer's and other issues. He spoke with them during WMUR-TV's "Conversation with the Candidate" series.

O'Rourke said that doubling the amount the U.S. spends on Alzheimer's disease, from $300 billion to $600 billion a year, is "morally the right thing to do" and is a "fraction of the cost that we would pay for long-term continued care for those who have no cure to look forward to right now."

Regarding immigration, O'Rourke said that the childhood trauma of separating children from parents requires long-term care to fully recover. He said that, as president, he'd reunite families and would make sure that they are "made whole again."

Read more: https://www.kcci.com/article/democratic-presidential-candidate-orourke-calls-for-reparations-doubling-alzheimers-spending/29291585#

[empedocles]

1. Wish Beto would run for Senate, instead of . . .

[liskddksil]

2. Posts like this are undermining

Our fantastic Senate candidates in Texas, including MJ Heger and Amanda Edwards. Beto is need on the ticket to then Texas blue and help the Senate nominee win as well.

[empedocles]

4. I like Beto. Not meant to be undermining. We desperately need each Senate

seat we can get. Compare the odds of Beto winning the Senate seat versus winning the Prez nomination, or Beto winning the Senate seat versus the odds of Heger/Edwards actually winning the seat.

[RLG]

3. Please stop this meme.

This isn't happening. It's not going to happen.

Move on and support a candidate since you don't like him.

[loyalsister]

5. I'm glad to see he's talking about reparations

But he's got Alzheimer's spending wrong.

A fraction of the cost that we would pay for long-term continued care for those who have no cure to look forward to right now."

Spending on a cure in order to save on care and other supports is a terrible idea that ignores a much larger situation that is only going to get worse.

Any investment in cures should be accompanied by spending for supports for people who are currently living with Alzheimer's and the friends ans families who are doing their best to adapt and or care for their loved ones. Baby boomers have been retiring so that they can take care of their parents for a long time. Gen Xers are going to be joining and/or replacing them in larger numbers.
The expense of providing care for people at the end of their lives is creating tremendous economic pressure and the government services are ridiculously lacking. With a very large aging population, we should make it as much of a priority to provide supports for what will never get better as providing universal healthcare for people who have long lives ahead of them.
And, it should be prioritized over research for cures. For many people it is too late for that to matter, but it is possible to contribute to improving the rest of their quality of life. It is also essential for improving the quality of life for those who will be there through the process.
Death and disease are not going anywhere and we should be realistic about the costs and making it easier for families while we search for better cures and treatments for those of us who do not need either- yet....