I caught about 60% of the debate. Castro did very well. He'd probably be a good candidate for VP. No one really had a good answer for how they would deal with Mitch. Biggest news for me was Warren calling for abolishing private health insurance. Realistically, like how Obama campaigned on a public option we didn't get,
Yup, if the Democrats want to lose the 2020 election, they really should pick up the 'ban private health insurance' policy.
First of all, its a really exceptionally stupid policy. Canada, the only major western country that has followed that plan, generally ranks near the bottom of health care rankings, and has well-known problems with wait lists. Of course, I've brought that issue up before, but the typical response is either "nobody is talking about banning private insurance" (even though they are) or "Look at how the poor people suffer" (which is a problem that has to be addressed, just not through banning private options).
Secondly, its a very unpopular policy.
From:
https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-ame...want-the-government-to-provide-healthcare-for
In a Hill-HarrisX survey released Thursday, 13 percent of respondents said they would prefer a health care system that covers all citizens and doesn't allow for private plans, an approach that is sometimes referred to as "single-payer." The most popular option, at 32 percent, consisted of a universal, government-operated system that also would allow people to buy private, supplemental insurance. Twenty-six percent of respondents said they wanted a government insurance plan offered to all citizens, but one that doesn't compel people with private plans to use it, a system sometimes called a "public option."
In fact, just as many people either wanted the system to stay the same (14%), or wanted an end to all government health care (15%) as wanted a "single payer" system.
Say that you want "universal health care" and pretty much everyone (including many republicans) will cheer and say "yes". Say that you want to give public options to everyone and most people will still say "yes". Tell people "We will take away any private options and force you into a public system" and not only will you lose any chance of making inroads with republican voters, you will lose the independents and even a good chunk of the Democratic base.
So Harris (and Sanders) want a health care policy that 1) is politically unpopular, and 2) if implemented, would replicate a system that, while better than the U.S. in certain ways, still ranks near the bottom of health care systems.
If the democrats adopt that policy, you will immediately see an influx of Fox News reporters into Canada, interviewing any and every person who has been stuck on a waiting list in order to get their "free" health care, as a reminder to voters that "single payer" isn't the utopia that certain people make it out to be.
if she won we would probably end up with a public option, if anything was passed at all.
That's the problem now, isn't it... She would actually have to WIN, with a policy that is wildly unpopular.
