Why do Dems not take advantage of healthcare issue?

[cryofan]

This is an issue custom made for the Democrats!

Working people all over America are scared of losing their health insurance. And they are losing more and more money because of the 10% yearly increases in health care costs.

All they have to show how the canadian and europeans and australians are able to completely cover EVERY CITIZEN and for not much more taxation. In fact, there are several good studies showing that some of these models, e.g,. the Canadian, cost LESS than our health care model.

That is aside the fact that many Americans are simply fearful of losing their jobs because of losing healthcare. This is a HUGE PART of the corporate slavery that is part of modern America. And it is a big part of why the quality of life in America is less than that of most of the other western democracies.

Plus, why on earth do Democrat activists seize upon these bogus, minor issues like Vieques bombing (just to pick one of hundreds of such issues), when we could transform this country by reforming health care?!

And when it comes down to it, how about really important electoral reforms that are clearly clearly needed, such as institution of proportional representation? We so sorely need creative destruction applied to our governmental institutions, and yet the Democratic party seems to ignore these--with the exception of Kucinich....

[leftyandproud]

1. because..

it was tried in 93' with devastating political results...

Like it or not, Americans still have an irrational fear of "socialism" and think government ownership of an entire industry is somehow anti-American. They vote against their own interests because they have been programmed that way by their corporate masters.

[salmonhorse]

3. True enough ~

Contemporaneous Dems are scared shitless to take a stand on what used to be their liberal template for fear of having to run from Shawnn Hannity. Besides...liberalism is a failed module. It only exists in the minds of a few.

[liberalhistorian]

6. At the same time, they don't have any problem

accepting Medicare and Medicaid and VA health care, do they? I think Dems are scared to death of the issue after getting burned so badly in '93.

I do believe, however, that that's going to start changing. Enough of the "right people" (i.e., the middle class and even members of the higher classes) are starting to be affected and I think the money-addicted politicians are FINALLY going to start listening once those "more important" constituents (i.e., the ones that REALLY matter) start screaming and squealing. That's how they finally managed to pass Medicare, enough of the middle class and more affluent older Americans were screaming at Congress that they finally listened.

I'm a member of several universal health care groups, including SPAN (Single Payer Action Network), which advocates a single payer system covering EVERYTHING for EVERYONE, www.SPANOhio.org. We know it will take a very long time for our goal to finally be achieved, but we're sticking with it. If it takes the next fifty, sixty, seventy years and if our grandchildren have to take up the mantle and finish the work, then so be it. But we WILL get it done.

[leftyandproud]

7. you are in a great organization....YOUR MISSION...

should you choose to accept it, is to lobby the hell out of washington, make your ideas mainstream among democratic politicians, and convince them to go STRAIGHT to the people with these ideas...Get the message out...be honest about what it will cost and what the public will gain for it...Inform as many people as possible, and there is no way you can lose.

[maha]

14. It wasn't just '93

Dems have been getting burned in this issue for YEARS, going back to Truman, believe it or not.

I remember Dukakis really worked at making health care a major part of his platform. It bombed, big time. People would not listen. It's one of the reasons he lost, I believe (not the only one).

I think a majority eventually will see the light and go with a single payer system, but my instincts tell me they aren't quite there yet.

[Silverhair]

9. I disagree. We can, and could have had universal health care.

But Hillary blew it in 93. The political will was there, but her arrogance and incompetence blew it big time.

This can indeed be a winning issue for us, but we have to handle it right.

Hillary's mistakes.

1.) Her ego. She wanted to be seen as a savior rescueing America by slaying the dragons that stood in the way. But first she needed dragons, so she made villians out of the drug companies, the AMA, the doctors, and of course, of the Reps. WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET REVOLUTIONARY PROGRAMS THROUGH, THE FEWER ENEMIES YOU MAKE, THE BETTER. You will have enough natural enemies. She wanted all the credit.

2.) The plan was drawn up in secret meetings. Yes, I know that the constitution itself was written in secret, and I understand the reason why she did it in secret. But modern Americans don't trust secret gov't meetings, especially when you are discussing huge changes.

3.) She had a bad plan. Even though I first wrote to my congressperson asking for universal health care over 15 years ago, even I would have voted against her plan. I don't remember the details now, but I know I didn't like it.

Here is the right way to do it.

Make it bipartisan. There are Reps that want health care too. Invite some leading Reps to genuinely participate. While you are at it, invite leading AMA, drug company, and insurance industry people to help. Folks, they aren't evil, and many of them have special knowledge that can help the plan avoid some problems. Don't just bring them in for window dressing, really listen to them.

Make the meetings open. What is wrong with the American people seeing what is happening? Don't we trust the people?

We are a minority party now, so we would have to form an extra-gov't committee. It would have no official standing. But my publicizing it, we could bring enough pressure on the Reps that the produce of the committe would have to be looked at. And YES, be willing to share the credit and the glory. Try to think in terms of win-win instead of win-lose. Win-lose often becomes lose-lose.

Oh yes, And we do need to dump those trivial, but highly symbolic issues. How many here have ever been to Vieques? I have. While in the Navy I was at the spotter station on the range, twice. Let's just say that it ain't prime real estate. Once again the left looked, to Joe Average, like they just wanted to get in the military's way for no other real reason than just to be a pain in the butt to the military.

[salmonhorse]

12. Right As Rain ~ Fire For Effect!

Hillary Clinton? S.N.A.F.U. It is said by many: Meet the new boss; same as the old boss just @ the other end that's all.

[maha]

19. It's hard to say.

Even a sensible plan might well have been defeated in 1993. The Pubs would have fought it tooth and nail, and most people in 1993 didn't think there was a problem with the health care system.

[maha]

13. Dukakis ran on health care, too.

Nobody listened.

[SahaleArm]

17. He got Willie Hortoned...

by King George I. Now we have to deal with King Moron Junior.

[lcordero]

2. Healthcare has been part of the Democratic platform since 1948

It's been 55 years and it maybe more unless we capture the House.

[leftyandproud]

5. maybe if our guys could DELIVER on something..

people would change their minds...
All they have to go on is propagdanda...no solid results to convince them that national healthcare is a great idea.

[Don_G]

4. We Need To Clean Up The Rethuglican Mess First

Kind of hard to get interested in anything beyond survival if one dosen't have much to begin with.

[leftyandproud]

8. the only way to clean up the mess...

is to get elected...
by taking these issues directly to the public..

offer them a CLEAR alternative...NO compromising.
When they see the vast differences between the parties on these issues, they will have no choice but to join us.

[Don_G]

10. I Know

I was talking about after we get elected and after we leave a legacy to the next Dem and after 8 years.

[mrgorth]

11. There more uninsure now than in a long time

It is time to bring it back out. Single payer. Do it.

[camero]

15. True

44 million Americans are a big voting block. Another way is to make the government the insurer of last resort much like car insurance.

[NewJeffCT]

18. 44 million

But, I'm guessing the Reps are thinking a lot of those 44 million are children and enough are not knowledgeable enough to know better...

[newyawker99]

16. Hi cryofan!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mmonk]

20. timidness

they remember the last time and the TV ads put out by insurance companies under innocuous names.

I, however, do think it could be made an issue (successfully) this time. Especially since more people lost their coverage and others, who always had their premiums paid by a company, got an eye opening look at what premiums really cost when they had to pay for it to keep it when they lost their jobs.