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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

FredZim

(31 posts)
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 09:44 AM Dec 2019

Learn from Bernie AND Trump about policy positions

I want to make a point about general "liberal policies". Take Medicare-for-all (while allowing private insurance) is now Democratic standard policy and quit popular at 70% in the general public. Leaving off the discussion about allowing private insurance, what was recently a far left policy is now mainstream and frankly a strong issue for Dems next year. And we frankly need to give Bernie his due in getting this policy the traction it has. What has Bernie taught us? Well two things; First, name your policy so it is easy to understand and to conceptualize. Medicare-for-all accomplishes that. The second is that people, given time and social exposure, are persuadable on individual policy positions. For another example pot legalization has also gained a lot of support without any real political party support. America has really changed on a lot over several issues over the last 5 years. Even Trump has championed issues that are totally contrary to conservative dogma. His "Build the wall" moniker is branding-wise similar to Bernie's Medicare-for-all.

I love AOC but I believe she totally miss-named the Green New Deal. Let's give it the Bernie treatment. I believe the Green Tech Economy is much better. It can be shortened to Green Tech or #GreenTech for informal references. FDR's New Deal was his response to Hoover do-nothing economic policies, it was very effective for that time. But it doesn't translate well. Talking about building technology and the economy will play much better. It changes the talking points from a government program to a broader economic movement

In summary Dems, don't be afraid to push good policies but just be prepared to articulate and brand them well.



If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,110 posts)
1. Excellent post! Bernie has taught us a lot & as President, there'll be MUCH more to learn from him!
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 10:02 AM
Dec 2019

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

karynnj

(59,475 posts)
2. I agree that making the argument MFA rather than single payer was a great idea
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 10:19 AM
Dec 2019

In fact, Bernie himself could have internalized that idea by relating all or most of his ideas to FDR. I can remember a then Burlington rabbi, who was a friend of Bernie's, practically tearing his hair out complaining that Bernie should not be talking about Scandinavia, but FDR.

As to "Green Tech", that is absolutely not new -- it was a major John Kerry 2004 position which he spoke of in most if not all of his rallies. The positive optimistic idea that working to fight climate change would also lead to cleaner air and water, leading to better health, while tech companies would be spurred to create new technologies that would create new better jobs and an economic boom as the US led the world in creating the new technologies that would go global. Note that is 2004 -- the US is not positioned as well as they would have been had the government pushed and supported efforts like this in 2005. By the way, Secretary Moniz was a Kerry adviser in 2004 and for years when he was a Senator.

Note, John Kerry has had nothing but praise for the energy, commitment and effort of AOC - he strongly defended her at a House hearing that he and former Secretary Hagel testified at where Republicans repeatedly brought her up and mocked or condemned her.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

beastie boy

(9,062 posts)
3. There is a reason why M4A hasn't historically been getting the traction.
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 11:08 AM
Dec 2019

There is no evidence at all that it is sustainable, workable or passable. What you refer to as traction can be more accurately described as buzz. M4A dominates the news cycle because it is polarizing and therefore makes news that sells: drama and conflict masquerading as news. Not because it has a snowflake's chance in hell of affecting people's lives.

Also, we have Obamacare, which HAS already affected tens of millions of people in a positive way. It is a hard choice: do we choose an unproven, and by all evidence unattainable, promise of bright future or a functioning health care insurance program today? A bird in the hand vs two in the bush.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

skh500

(21 posts)
4. One thing (or maybe two things) I would like to add
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 11:08 AM
Dec 2019

Very good post!!

I would say that Bernie also has somewhat of an advantage over other candidates. He has actually passed (pushed through) bills and amendments which REALLY benefit people!! (Bernie was considered the "Amendment King" while serving in the House) Whether legislation to help the Vets when he was Chairman of Veterans Affairs (eliminating waiting lists) or adding 9 million more people to Obama Care via "Health Centers" before the Act finally passed. He doesn't vote for Iraqi wars or crime bills which put teenagers on death row (no homicide), etc etc.

Just signing on to a bill is not the accomplishment....working to get it passed is. That's why I would really like to see Warren as Vice Pres and Bernie can teach her how to get all her good ideas into law!! Plus, hopefully she'll be able to step up to the Presidential spot a little easier.

Those interested....you can google "Bernie's 5 accomplishments" on line. Very well done.

As far as the teenagers on death row per "Crime Bill"........attorney Bryan Stephenson went before the US Supreme Court and got that overturned. His book "Just Mercy" is great......and I understand Netflix will be making the book into a movie shortly.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

OldRed2450

(710 posts)
7. Amendment King is not what you think it is...
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 01:38 PM
Dec 2019

He was a disaster at the VA


Bernie Sanders’s tenure as chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee was characterized by glaring neglect of his oversight responsibilities, allowing the 2014 VA scandal to unfold under his watch.



https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/07/us/politics/faith-in-agency-clouded-bernie-sanderss-va-response.html

https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/04/politics/bernie-sanders-veterans-affairs-delays/index.html
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

skh500

(21 posts)
5. M4A is solid
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 11:43 AM
Dec 2019

Reuters poll shows republicans 52% in favor, dems 84.5% in favor and the country 70% in favor of M4A.
That is a solid majority (middle America) in favor.

Obama Care we have 35,000 people dying a year because they can't afford Obama Care or they try to ration their medications and die.

Do I want my health insurance in the hands of an employer who continually would like to cut costs or who can take it away at a moments notice? Just look at the recent GM situation!!

The U.S. is the "only industrialized nation in the world" without health care for its people. Go to Europe and see for yourself. Italy life expectancy is four years longer than the U.S.. In fact, our life expectancy is moving downward ...probably those 3 jobs people now have to work.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

dansolo

(5,376 posts)
6. Getting something for nothing will always be popular
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 12:28 PM
Dec 2019

M4A is being sold as getting free healthcare for life that will be paid for by only taxing the wealthy. Of course that will be popular. I will also never happen. I believe that M4A would require higher taxes across the board. Most of the countries that Bernie likes to talk about have much higher taxes, usually in the form of a VAT. Add that in to the discussion, and suddenly it's not so popular.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Humanist_Activist

(7,670 posts)
8. Any public option is going to involve increasing taxes across the board...
Sun Dec 8, 2019, 01:45 PM
Dec 2019

the key is to make sure those increases make having the coverage be worth it, and overall a savings over what we have now with private insurance.

We need hard price controls, and the government needs to crack down on patent abuse for pharmaceuticals.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
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