There was another diary about Medicare for All, but I wanted to start a new conversion since that comments section had descended into the usual bullshit you see when Bernie is mentioned. Here are the two responses that were posted a hundred different ways:
1) “Bernie is so right, everyone will love this and no one will ever push back for any reason, thank God for Bernie leading us to the promised land!”
2) “Bernie is tone deaf and he lost when he tried to do this in Vermont and he should NEVER, EVER bring up this topic for reasons!!”
BOTH ARE SO VERY WRONG IT MAKE MY HEAD HURT!!! IF WE GO INTO THIS BATTLE WITH THESE ASSUMPTIONS STUCK IN OUR HEAD, A VERY GOOD IDEA IS DOOMED TO FAIL FOR ANOTHER GENERATION!
I love the idea of Medicare for All, but there WILL be an inevitable plunge in support when people find out the COSTS!
That’s what has killed similar plans in CO and VT that polled very highly in the beginning. People freaked out about paying so much more in TAXES because people, as a whole, are BAD AT MATH. They don’t understand that the higher taxes actually works out to MUCH LOWER COSTS FOR YOU over your lifetime especially if you have a catastrophic illness or injury, get old, etc.
And then, of course, there will be a HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars that the corporate interests will use to the muddy the waters — they'll blast noise about “waiting months to a see a doctor” and “do you want some bureaucrat in Washington DC telling you when and how your kids and grandma can see a doctor” and “OMG, DEATH PANELS ARE COMING!”
The Republican Party and the media will happily amplify and repeat those messages, which will APPEAL STRONGLY to Trump Supporters and those who are terrified of change, which is unfortunately still a large and vocal group. They will sink this idea before it ever gets serious consideration by the majority of Americans.
The REALITY of the situation is:
Bernie is pushing a GREAT IDEA for this country that is going to get one hell of a lot of blowback and if you think people will just happily ignore all of that blowback, you are NOT HELPING.
And if you think Bernie is wrong to push this idea, you are NOT HELPING. We NEED this idea, the Democratic Party would be SMART (something it often isn’t lately) to push this idea.
I would love to hear some thoughts about how the party can GET AHEAD of the inevitable noise machine and bullshit attacks on what is really a great plan for America.
Anyone have any rational thoughts on this topic?