Trumps: White Angry Middleclass

[gimmethesimplelife]

[QUOTE=gimmethesimplelife;242593]So so so so True!!! One major reason I am completely disengaged from America is the after effects of all the years of constant fear of what happens if I get sick? I do have insurance now ( who knows for how long if Trump gets in?) and I'm finding that having insurance is not enough to wipe the slate clean and start over with America. There's just too much damage from the long term fear this citizenship causes in the lower social classes. I'm not ungrateful for the insurance, please don't get me wrong. I'm just worn to a crisp by the fear this citizenship causes it's less well off and I've found that just having insurance does not magically make the damage of long term fear go away. Better to have it than not, though. Rob

Came back to add that this is why accessing the Mexican border is so important to me. When I cross that border for medical/dental/optical I am empowering myself against a political and economic system that overall has not worked well for me and that has caused me a great deal of fear.....namely so those at the top could become yet more wealthy. I can't see living in the United States without the safety valve of Mexico.....Rob

[catherine]

You would think that Republicans would love to break out of the employer-based insurance model for two reasons: If we had a single-payer government-run system, a) businesses wouldn't have to provide it, saving them tons of money and to UA's point, it would empower potential entrepreneurs to break free of the golden handcuffs of employment. Tying insurance to employment must definitely stifle innovation.

[Ultralight]

You would think that Republicans would love to break out of the employer-based insurance model for two reasons: If we had a single-payer government-run system, a) businesses wouldn't have to provide it, saving them tons of money and to UA's point, it would empower potential entrepreneurs to break free of the golden handcuffs of employment. Tying insurance to employment must definitely stifle innovation.

Here is the thing:

1. Repubs DO NOT want the American public to realize how great something like universal healthcare is. Then Americans might want to do other things collectively via the gubmint. Repubs want people to have to pay them and their corporations jacked up amounts for all kinds of stuff.

2. Repubs don't want people to actually start new successful businesses. They prefer to suppress competition. This is what a corporate oligarchy does. It is contrary to the GOP rhetoric but look into the actual policies and they always favor huge, established businesses.

[LDAHL]

You would think that Republicans would love to break out of the employer-based insurance model for two reasons: If we had a single-payer government-run system, a) businesses wouldn't have to provide it, saving them tons of money and to UA's point, it would empower potential entrepreneurs to break free of the golden handcuffs of employment. Tying insurance to employment must definitely stifle innovation.

Would some employers like to be free of the ACA employer mandate? Sure. Others might wish to continue providing health coverage to offer a competitive compensation package, although the ACA "cadillac tax" penalizes an "overly generous" offering.

I'm skeptical that a single payer system would occasion a small business renaissance. All the taxes to pay for it would need to come from somewhere.

[Ultralight]

I'm skeptical that a single payer system would occasion a small business renaissance. All the taxes to pay for it would need to come from somewhere.

Uh... huge corporations and the mega-wealthy. It could level the playing field for the small businesses.

[Teacher Terry]

UL: I 100% agree with the list of things we need as a country. I have traveled outside the country and many countries are much worse then ours and some as good. In Poland the jobs are not plentiful at all and the cost of living in comparison to income is high. While they do have great social benefits they do have a lower level of living. IN Italy the people appeared to be more prosperous. I really value being a US citizen but think that we can make things even better with some positive changes.

[LDAHL]

Uh... huge corporations and the mega-wealthy. It could level the playing field for the small businesses.

But are there enough of them available to cover everyone else's health care?

[Ultralight]

The GOPers act like universal healthcare and light-rail and affordable education will bring about doomsday. But it is so obvious that many other developed nations have this stuff and have had it for generations yet...no doomsday!

[Ultralight]

But are there enough of them available to cover everyone else's health care?

Yes!

[Alan]

Came back to add that this is why accessing the Mexican border is so important to me. When I cross that border for medical/dental/optical I am empowering myself against a political and economic system that overall has not worked well for me and that has caused me a great deal of fear.....namely so those at the top could become yet more wealthy. I can't see living in the United States without the safety valve of Mexico.....Rob

Sorry Rob, I may have lost track what with all the changes in your life this past year or so, but as I recall your neighbors pay for your health care now don't they? It that's still the case, isn't that the opposite of 'empowering yourself'?