Capitol Hill Blue Forums Political Issues Campaign 2016

Bernie is an advocate of "Medicare For All". While I agree that it's probably the best plan overall I just don't think it's going to happen during the next administration. It will involve some pretty massive tax increases and the destruction of a lot of for profit private insurance companies while growing government to take the place of the private companies.
As long as there are Republicans, as we know them, it aint gonna happen.

Did anyone listen to that podcast I linked?

Actually, Medicare contracts with these same insurance companies to handle all the claims. They just do it for much less profit than they rake in from regular insurance plans.

So all it would take is shifting the employer contributions that now pay for health insurance directly into Medicare. The insurance companies would still be handling the same number of claims, they would all be Medicare claims instead of both kinds. And they would not be too happy with their lower profits. They make 20% of every health care dollar on regular policies. I think on Medicare they only get 5%.

it still does not solve the problem

premiums of any kind are a result of the cost of payouts .... thus if the cost drivers are not held in check it would not matter if it is medicare or private insurance i.e. the premiums still go up

the government addresses the problem by lowering payouts which may, in itself, be a cause of rising doctors costs

the challenge is to find an economic solution which manages rising costs at an acceptable level .... ACA attempts to do that, but like an octopus trying to walk on land, it gets in its own way

while medicare increases the pool size, which should have a reduction in premiums as a short term effect, it still will not inherently reduce cost drivers, which in the long term continue to cause premiums to rise at the same rates

I listened to most of it, Big I. Intriguing that some see Trump for the lying, unethical salesman that he is while others see value and competence. Blows me away.

Bernie and Hillary are both beating Trump handily in a new poll.

What is it that Clinton will be able to accomplish with R majorities in the House and Senate?

In a nutshell, the same sort of things that President Obama has accomplished.
A lot can be done with executive orders as long as the President is working within existing law. The Supreme Court decides if the executive order is overreaching. With a more liberal supreme court Hillary's executive orders would more easily pass muster.

Most of Bernie's plans require new legislation and tax increases.

I bet Bernie could learn to do executive orders.

He could, but I imagine it would break his spirit. He wants to lead a revolution, which means having a Liberal Democratic majority in both Houses of Congress so he can pass all his bills to reform America into a Social-Democratic utopia.

I think Clinton's goals are a bit more modest. Of course, she would like a Democratic majority Congress but has the temperament to work with Republicans too. Heck, she was a Young Republican for Eisenhower!

Good article about why Trump now:
Obama Didn't Create Trump