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2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: One of the Dangers of Bernie Sanders [View all]Gothmog
(145,567 posts)68. Krugman- Sanders health plan looks a little bit like a standard Republican tax-cut plan
The cost savings are speculative at best and are on the same level as the GOP's claims of increased income due to tax cuts. I trust Prof. Krugman on this http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/weakened-at-bernies/?_r=0
On health care: leave on one side the virtual impossibility of achieving single-payer. Beyond the politics, the Sanders plan isnt just lacking in detail; as Ezra Klein notes, it both promises more comprehensive coverage than Medicare or for that matter single-payer systems in other countries, and assumes huge cost savings that are at best unlikely given that kind of generosity. This lets Sanders claim that he could make it work with much lower middle-class taxes than would probably be needed in practice.
To be harsh but accurate: the Sanders health plan looks a little bit like a standard Republican tax-cut plan, which relies on fantasies about huge supply-side effects to make the numbers supposedly add up. Only a little bit: after all, this is a plan seeking to provide health care, not lavish windfalls on the rich and single-payer really does save money, whereas theres no evidence that tax cuts deliver growth. Still, its not the kind of brave truth-telling the Sanders campaign pitch might have led you to expect.
Again, as noted by Prof. Krugman this plan does not add up.
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Eighty five percent to pay for Sanders agenda, my health care premiums are lower.
Thinkingabout
Feb 2016
#26
What is this 85% you're talking about? I don't know what that figure refers to. (n/t)
thesquanderer
Feb 2016
#43
I don't follow you. When did Sanders use a figure inconsistent with that document? (n/t)
thesquanderer
Feb 2016
#55
You're either buying McCaskill's laughable insinuations or thinking of Eisenhower, or both.
merrily
Feb 2016
#58
You ought to be embarrassed about that claim. To the extent that you had any credibility,
Ed Suspicious
Feb 2016
#76
Do you think Sanders is embarrased about his figures? Credibility about his figures?
Thinkingabout
Feb 2016
#78
Sanders' figures are fine, and credible. Your figure is apparently fictional. (n/t)
thesquanderer
Feb 2016
#80
Wow. Fearing taxes and welfare queens? I've only ever heard such comments from republicons.
Kip Humphrey
Feb 2016
#28
I will gladly pay an increase in taxes that is less than my health care costs
Goblinmonger
Feb 2016
#29
There was dissent against Reagan as evidenced by the 1986 Senate elections
Art_from_Ark
Feb 2016
#11
LOL! Spin! Carter and Mondale, two centrists from a failed administration, lost to Reagan.
merrily
Feb 2016
#54
NO no no !!!! Sanders has revolution that is what makes him different than Mondale !!!
uponit7771
Feb 2016
#9
Did you completely fucking ignore the part where he said he'd eliminate health ins. premiums???
yodermon
Feb 2016
#12
right and the GOP ads will just treat Hillary with the respect she deserves, got it n/t
yodermon
Feb 2016
#15
Please don't play stupid. All politicians talk about their respective plans that way.
yodermon
Feb 2016
#35
Anybody got a copy of the famous No New Taxes promise from George the First?
mikehiggins
Feb 2016
#13
Except for the actual states, that map looks like the Clinton/Sanders map - Sanders will win...
George II
Feb 2016
#18
It's not a "Republican attack" when you can't tell us how Bernie will give you health care, all by
MADem
Feb 2016
#24
False equivalency. Mondale never promised to lower costs. And raising taxes did work for Obama.
merrily
Feb 2016
#60
Nope. Glad you got that. It isn't only facile, false centrist memes about past elections, either.
merrily
Feb 2016
#64
Again, a different point entirely than the one you tried to make in Reply 36. You're flailing.
merrily
Feb 2016
#70
Read the article-the Vermont plan failed due to the needed massive tax increases
Gothmog
Feb 2016
#74
Krugman- Sanders health plan looks a little bit like a standard Republican tax-cut plan
Gothmog
Feb 2016
#68
Exactly!! you can add a bunch of other free ad material given to the GOP media machine by Sanders
Persondem
Feb 2016
#38
Oh no, if we're honest we might hand the oligarchy back to the republicans!
whatchamacallit
Feb 2016
#41
Raise your taxes a little, lower your costs a lot. Obama did it. It's not rocket science.
merrily
Feb 2016
#51
I did a lot of research on this because I was so tired of the center right memes.
merrily
Feb 2016
#61