On 50th Anniversary Of Medicare, Sen. Bernie Sanders Calls For Medicare-For-All

[JDPriestly]

22. The states would tax employers and employees for the cost of the insurance.

That's how it works in Europe.

The overall cost of insurance in Europe is less than it is here. We could expect a similar result. The costs of administering so many different insurance companies is quite high, I'm sure., Europe streamlines it, and it is cheaper.

Don't you want to know that the 30 million people who aren't insured have insurance? I do. Insurance is basic to our modern existence.

Besides, the fact that people don't have insurance doesn't mean they don't get hospital care. And when they do, you and I and everyone else pays the costs. That's one of the reasons that our individual insurance costs are high.

Everyone should have access to primary care and other care when needed. As it is, the uninsured still try to access primary care either through hospitals or free clinics in which doctors work at the cost of a non-profit or as volunteers.

All health care costs money. If you have a job, you should earn enough money to pay for health insurance because no one should be working and not be able to afford that necessity in life which is health insurance.

And those who have money should pitch in and help pay for those who cannot afford to pitch in. When we are doing well and earning money, we tend to feel rather good about ourselves and rather superior to those who are not doing well and don't have money.

But, the fact is, that at any time, a person who considers himself rich can lose everything and turn into a very poor person.

There are certain things like health care, safe drinking water, sanitary conditions, heat and other necessities that we who can afford them should work to provide for others. That is what a society that is harmonious and safe does.

Many do not see it, but there is a link between the excessive violence, disregard for the law and anger in our society and the unwillingness of those who have to provide the basic necessities for those who do not.

There is also a link between the extreme stress and anger in our society and the conditions we tolerate in our workplaces.

Democrats generally will agree with me on this fundamental social philosophy -- that we help each other and that one of the resources we use to do that is our government.

That is the basic philosophy of the Democratic Party.

Of course, there are people on DU who are not Democrats. Usually they don't last long.