General Discussion

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

45. Better question: What if Bill Clinton had been in favor of it?

Thu Dec 4, 2014, 01:53 AM

Dec 2014

If President Clinton had pushed it, he would have lost, but he would have laid the groundwork. There would now be millions of voters who had come of age hearing single payer given serious consideration as a policy option. Instead, it's not even on the radar for most people or for the Beltway Commentariat.

Medicare wasn't enacted overnight. It took decades of people pushing for it. Who was sitting right next to LBJ when he signed the bill into law? It was Harry Truman. Now you know why.

I agree with the Obama defenders who say that, if he had pushed for single payer, he would have lost. But maybe, in 2034, a septuagenarian Barack Obama could have been sitting next to President Castro when he signed the bill into law.

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Bernie Sanders: Single Payer never had a chance (March 2010) [View all] geek tragedy Dec 2014 OP

i wonder why there is no effort to get it statewide by people who claim to want it JI7 Dec 2014 #1

The people who sent Bernie to Congress geek tragedy Dec 2014 #2

What state are you talking about? antiquie Dec 2014 #3

i'm talking about those who want to do away with ACA JI7 Dec 2014 #4

Is that what this topic is about? antiquie Dec 2014 #8

california has tried multiple times only to have governors veto it nt msongs Dec 2014 #9

Vermont is trying, since shortly after the ACA provided the mechanism; but, ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #27

He's not a blowhard mvd Dec 2014 #5

Bernie knows whether it could have passed geek tragedy Dec 2014 #6

It could have passed if the Party supported it of course mvd Dec 2014 #7

The part where you raise taxes on everyone and take away geek tragedy Dec 2014 #10

It would take a bit of time to adjust to and implement.. mvd Dec 2014 #12

That doesn't mean it would be popular. nt geek tragedy Dec 2014 #13

It would be mvd Dec 2014 #15

How popular are taking away insurance plans and raising taxes geek tragedy Dec 2014 #17

Taking them away? It's a much better system mvd Dec 2014 #19

"it's a much better system" geek tragedy Dec 2014 #23

As a system it is better mvd Dec 2014 #28

It does not exist. geek tragedy Dec 2014 #30

Well worldwide it has worked better than our system mvd Dec 2014 #32

There's an experimental single-payer program in progress MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #34

Medicare is administered by private insurance companies. And its public coverage still geek tragedy Dec 2014 #36

Are you sitting down? I have bad news. MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #38

To me a single payer system is one where people don't need private insurance geek tragedy Dec 2014 #39

To you. MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #40

That's the thing with many Democrats.. SomethingFishy Dec 2014 #11

Thanks. Glad you agree mvd Dec 2014 #14

No, you aren't supposed to be happy. geek tragedy Dec 2014 #16

Guess we just have different expectations mvd Dec 2014 #18

this is absolutley not true.... Sheepshank Dec 2014 #21

A public option was polling *very* well among Americans at the time. woo me with science Dec 2014 #22

You really think it would be so easy treestar Dec 2014 #31

In a nutshell....this is exactly what anti ACA DU'ers have been told over and over Sheepshank Dec 2014 #20

Bernie Sanders is a hero - except when he is not. LawDeeDah Dec 2014 #24

maybe Harkin can work towards getting it within his own state JI7 Dec 2014 #25

and that goes for some here at DU who could not understand why Obama didn't go for Single Payer. still_one Dec 2014 #26

It is insufficient that we eat the cold leftover peas, we must also smile and praise their taste Fumesucker Dec 2014 #29

No, just don't pretend steak was an option geek tragedy Dec 2014 #33

Thread win. MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #41

But what if the President were in favor of single payer? MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #35

Maybe 10-12 out of 100 would have voted for it. Anyone who thinks that Obama geek tragedy Dec 2014 #37

I tried to tell folks that. In fact, Obama actually favors single payer. He campaigned on it. nt kelliekat44 Dec 2014 #43

he campaigned on it for a local Chicago race. geek tragedy Dec 2014 #44

Better question: What if Bill Clinton had been in favor of it? Jim Lane Dec 2014 #45

Thanks for your post fadedrose Dec 2014 #42