Why Bernie Sanders’ strategy is important
l3wis Do I think for a moment that if Sanders becomes president that he will get Medicare for all? Free higher education? Universal childcare?
Not for a second.
A couple of hurdles first. I don’t think Sanders gets the nomination until he can secure Super Tuesday, which I think he will.
He also has to beat Trump, which I think is possible.
But the Senate and Congress both have to have big wins with the Democrats in November to secure Sanders’ agenda.
Okay, so let’s pretend Sanders is sworn is as president #46 and the Dems control both houses. What than?
What has been frustrating me the most is that we ‘need a moderate’ for the Democratic Presidential Nominee. If there is one thing we don’t need, is a moderate. We tried that strategy last time, progressives were not energized and they didn’t vote in key states. Many polls showed after the election in 2016 if Sanders would have been the nominee he would have beat Trump. Sanders is just as progressive today as he was back then. Little has changed with Bernie, and that is why so many people support him.
Moderate candidates want to continue to sell you the ‘status quo’ like expanding the ACA and making college education ‘more affordable’. Whatever that looks like.
What Sanders is proposing is we ask for the most and negotiate down from there. Isn’t that what you do when buying or selling a house? A car? You don’t ask for the least and expect to get what you really want. When I see the moderate candidates argue their agenda in this way, I just shake my head.
Sanders knows he won’t get all he is asking for, but if you don’t ask, you will never know.
What I think will happen is a deal where people can sign up for Medicare if they don’t want their private insurance. Personally, I think it will be so wildly popular that within 5 years you will see very few people keeping private insurance unless they are super wealthy. The best and most efficient way to solve our healthcare crisis in this country is by covering everyone, 100%. This would achieve this goal. This is what is mandated in Germany.
As for free college education, keep dreaming Bernie. But what I do see is free technical education, and maybe half of college tuition covered with maybe government loans at 0 or 1% interest. I could see a scenario that if you are at a certain income level, college would be more affordable or partially free.
As for universal childcare, this could be achievable, but there are a lot of moving parts. Personally I am opposed. Having children is essentially a choice, and when you make that decision, you should be prepared to make sacrifices financially. What I could see happening is longer paid leave for mothers and fathers and universal pre-k education. This would narrow the gap of time you would need a child care provider.
Like I said, Bernie may not get everything he is asking for, but it is a great strategy, because you never get anything unless you ask first.