“People are looking for results, not a revolution.”
That line from former Vice President Joe Biden during Sunday night’s debate defined his strategy to distinguish his COVID-19 plan from Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT).
Biden: Here’s exactly what I will do . . .
Bernie: I’ve been saying for 50 years that we must burn the whole system to the ground! The system is rigged, man!
Hmmm . . . I wonder which approach is more appealing and effective in a crisis?
That offramp is coming up fast, Bernie.
You better not miss it.
All debates should be held like this. No audience of cheering supporters, just reporters asking questions (and not going out of their way to elicit a gotcha moment.)
I don’t think Trump will do very well in this format. He feeds off an audience, as witness his wooden Oval Office address.
Bernie:…revolution…burn it down
VOTERS:…want to put out the fire before redecorating.
“Let’s be honest and understand that this coronavirus pandemic exposes the incredible weakness and dysfunctionality of our current health-care system,”
No it doesn’t. It exposes the incredible weakness and dysfunctionality of our current administration and its imbecilic decision to dismantle the White House pandemic response unit. Medicare for all would not stop the introduction or spread of COVID-19 or any other medical pandemic, and a responsible government would test and treat its citizens regardless of their insurance situation.
Bernie"s criticism of our system is valid and real, but his outside game won’t attract votes in a crisis.
“People are looking for results, not a revolution.”
Actually both, yes results right now, and then a revolution to prevent or at least better fight the next one.
It does both. The fact that we don’t have a national health care system in any meaningful sense is what makes our entire response to a health crisis like this dependent on the ability and willingness of a particular Presidential administration to proactively address it.
The goal should be to have systems in place that have the authority and expertise to prepare and respond to a situation like this, regardless of who is President.
Even Obamacare wasn’t enough for Sanders, who kept insisting we do more, MORE, MORE! And we do need more, but you don’t cross the goal line by stomping your feet and insisting on it. You get there incrementally, in political scrimmages and planning.
Sanders is fundamentally incapable of working with others.
The perception that Sanders won’t take yes for an answer is working against him right now. Nothing seems to satisfy him apart from his own next brilliant idea for how to get rid of the billionaires and oligarchs. Why be a viable candidate when being a chronic malcontent makes you just as happy?
We did have a system in place: a pandemic response team under the NSC. Trump, of course, buffoonishly dismantled it.
In my mind, Bernie and Trump will always be inextricably linked. Me, me, me is all that matters to them.
I know several people who could not afford healthcare over the state exchange without living 5 to a house in a 'free fire zone’, who just got told their restaurants are also closing and they should just buy healthcare over the exchange they couldn’t afford in the first place. They’re gonna get sick and not see a doctor.
But I get it, the last thing any of you moderate Dems care about is the health or financial stability of the ‘lower people’ who ‘serve you’ unless it directly effects you. But I’m sure when none of the people I know turn out to vote in November because ‘what’a the point nothing will change’ ya’ll will red-faced scream that it’s their fault.
There is no guarantee Biden would get his disaster plan through the Senate and that wouldn’t be until next year anyway - same for Bernie.
However, This virus is about to expose the failure of Obama Care and the private insurance industry’s inability to cover everyone. There are millions of uninsured who will probably not be tested and will be left to deal with disease on their own all the while infecting more people. Then there are the under insured who cannot afford the test and certainly not if they do indeed come down with the virus, have the ability to pay co-pays and deductibles, and will only seek help if the illness gets real bad.
If we did have a single payer system system at least more people would get tested and be taken care of before its too late. Not to mention that it would be easier to identify the carriers and get them quarantined.
Single payer cannot solve a pandemic (see Italy) but it sure could mitigate the damage a lot better than Mr. Market could.
The only question to ask them (and you) is - “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be effective”.
Don’t vote, let the Republicans continue to control the White House and the Senate, replace RBG next term, finish off Obamacare, the economy and a woman’s right to an abortion. Wow, won’t you have shown those Democrats!
Or you can stay involved and work towards the continued incremental achievements that have given us a whole range of improved social advances since the 1950s. Your call…
Count on it.
I thought Biden answered the question (get the experts together and act on their counsel) and Sanders demonstrated his lack of understanding of how to get things done. (Revolution!!!)
Not even close to a meaningful question in the population @thecaptain was talking about.
I suspect.