Looking for SLN Pundits on the Democratic Debate

[JaneV2.0]

There's a theory that all the people who think this is such a great system, and that their insurance is wonderful, have never really been sick. Junk insurance is rampant in the market.

Michael Moore's Sicko was an eye-opener. An oldie but goodie.

[dmc]

My wife had breast cancer a few years ago. We both felt she had excellent care. She had surgery, chemo, and radiation. Still is on medication and has regular checkups.

There was no waiting, she had surgery promptly, along with care afterwards.

Im not sure what everything cost, but insurance paid for the bulk of it. I’m not sure what she pays for medicine now, but I don’t notice the cost so it must not be to bad. This is private insurance that I pay out of pocket for. We are both retired and under 65.

Im happy with the insurance. But I did save and have it in my retirement budget. Before that with both of us working we would have been covered at work.

[LDAHL]

I think that like most large and complex situations, the best approach is probably a lot of smaller tweaks on a local or regional basis rather than some sweeping grand strategy that implements a central new authority to impose a final solution. I don’t think socialism, however you wish to qualify it, is particularly good at that for a large, heterogeneous society like ours. If that makes me a heartless monster, I’m fine with that.

[bae]

I don’t think socialism, however you wish to qualify it, is particularly good at that for a large, heterogeneous society like ours.

Norway - population 5.35 million
Finland - population 5.51 million
Washington State - population 7.54 million
Sweden - population 10.12 million
California State - population 39.56 million
USA - population 327.2 million

[Yppej]

In Canada provinces administer the single payer system. I would be fine with states doing the same though it would not be as fair a system (pity the person in Mississippi) as a Federal one but it would be a start.

[ApatheticNoMore]

In Canada provinces administer the single payer system. I would be fine with states doing the same though it would not be as fair a system (pity the person in Mississippi) as a Federal one but it would be a start.

well the states could do it maybe if they were ALL required to (only then why not have a Federal system, but then I guess it is just administering). If left up to a states discretion how do you prevent every sick person in the country from moving to the state that decided to go single payer? I think it would only work with long prior residency requirements in that state maybe.

[Yppej]

Canada had a 9 month waiting period for those coming from another province when I lived there.

[frugal-one]

So Alan, do you feel that there is a problem here that Americans need to come together to work on for the benefit for all, or do you feel that the current system is working and should not be tampered with?

Not trying to put you into an either or here, just not quite understanding what you are saying.

I believe we should be able to choose... not medicare for all ... whether you want it or not. Surprisingly, I agree with Alan on this point.

[Yppej]

The South Carolina audience was a little different, applauding more for moderates and booing some negative attacks. Klobuchar, Warren and Buttigieg, polling poorly in the state, did not take much incoming fire. Sanders and Biden both got angry and yelled. Bloomberg did better than last time but not well. This was Steyer's best debate IMO. Warren went after Bloomberg directly, and drew a distinction with Sanders and others but not by name on the filibuster. Buttigieg then jumped on her issue getting all smirky and critical of Sanders. I was so wishing someone would call him out on his recently publicized plagiarism of Obama's speeches.

There was minimal coverage of foreign affairs and only one question from a regular person via Twitter.

I would still like an unmoderated debate with a referee only where all questions are by candidates to other candidates.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I believe we should be able to choose... not medicare for all ... whether you want it or not. Surprisingly, I agree with Alan on this point.

Well the best way to do this is just provide everyone with Medicare at no charge to themselves funded entirely via taxes, and if they wish to go outside Medicare let them. But first Medicare should be free to all like public schools, private schools still exist but public schools exist for everyone who wishes to use them (well for kids ha), at no charge.