Democratic Presidential Candidate Issues

I'm so stoked that we got to watch the CNN Dem debate together. I look forward to examining the issues in whatever way we can, and to sharing with you my thoughts.

Here are a couple of websites that give some greater detail to two very large and important issues the Democratic candidates were debating: Universal Healthcare and the Environment. The first one examines where the candidates stack up on environment. The second, examines types of Universal Healthcare throughout the world.

Full disclosure: I have not yet researched the websites themselves to determine what their orientation or, if applicable, bias, is.

ASSESSMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES RE ENVIIRONMENT

https://grist.org/article/how-to-really-judge-whether-2020-candidates-support-the-green-new-deal-look-at-their-climate-plans/

VIEW THIS WEBSITE WITH CAUTION: BREAKDOWN OF HOW U.S. PROPOSALS OF "MEDICARE FOR ALL" OR "SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE" COMPARES WITH OTHER COUNTRIES GLOBALLY WHO HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE*

https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2019/apr/considering-single-payer-proposals-lessons-from-abroad

*When you visit this site and compare other high-income countries that have single-payer universal healthcare plans to what people like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are proposing, keep in mind in recent years the global healthcare landscape has changed a bit. After the Recession of 2008+, the for-profit capitalists were able to make a convincing argument to socialist leaning countries that it was their social welfare programs, like universal healthcare and free tuition for universities, that was to blame for tanking the economy. While these programs may have played a part, especially if fiscally mismanaged, 1%-er greed and profit somehow never seemed to enter their rhetoric as to what had devastated the economy. And thus, private insurance started to encroach upon single-payer taxpayer funded healthcare systems across the world offering the "option" to pay for your healthcare, rather than get it free with your taxes. Of course, those privatized "options" aim to offer higher quality healthcare, which supports the notion that the wealthy have more of a right to life. Plus, the for-profit mentality is so insatiable, they will likely continually be vying for an ever increasing share of the market until one-day there will be nothing but private health insurance again and the act of caring for people's health will come in second next to profit margins.

Just to be clear, I support single-payer health insurance. Re: "Medicare for All," initially, I would have preferred something like Medicaid for All, rather than Medicare for All. This was because traditional Medicare requires Premiums, Deductibles, payment for medication, and also includes private insurers to cover some necessities, all of which can be costly - and I don't have money, yet my health conditions are considerable - whereas Medicaid does not require those expenses. Medicaid is what I currently have.) However, traditional Medicare does offer greater coverage. Well, as it turns out, my beef may have been nominal, because Bernie Sanders' plan, the "Medicare for All Act" differs from traditional Medicare in that it proposes the patient not pay any Premiums, Deductibles, payment for medication when there is legitimate medical need for the service. In other words, no elective surgery, like plastic surgery, haha! feelthebern.org

So, I do specifically support the "Medicare for All Act" - Bernie Sanders' plan, which also excludes private insurers, btw (<-----that part is important if we could get it into law, although it maybe unlikely). I need to review Bernie's "Medicare for All" plan details, which I have not yet done, but the basic components I'm familiar with may be the best I can hope for to protect my health and, literally, my life in a way that recognizes and respects my humble means. Elizabeth Warren seems to also support Bernie's "Medicare for All Act," but I want to look at the details of her version and I don't know that she's released it to the public yet.

More to come in the future on this, and other subjects covered in this 2020 Presidential race. But, Healthcare, is my personal flagship issue because of what is on the line for me. The Environment is just a hairs' breath behind in importance. I know, the Earth is so vital, without it, we're all goners. But, my reasoning is that I die first because the government denies me access to quality healthcare, I won't be able to help the Earth as much because I won't be on it. And secondly, it'll mean I'll have DIED! Wait, I should probably put that consideration first. 😏 In truth, I'm looking for the candidate that has strong, committed and comprehensively fair plans on both issues as top priorities.

In summary, what I want to see in a President (just so you can see it in writing) is a person who is serious about providing Universal Healthcare (specifically, the "Medicare for All Act" which is importantly organized around a single-payer plan structure), Climate Change and correcting bad environmental policy immediately and thoughtfully, no continued Nuclear proliferation and neoliberal war hawk foreign policy, genuine efforts to improve the REAL Economy (not what corporate media keeps reporting) with immediate and specific emphasis on resolving the Housing crisis and a compassionate, fair approach Immigration, with respect to both citizens and non-citizens. Let's hope the Dem candidates keep these five issues front and center in their approach and let's hope their policies and plans are comprehensive and truly even-handed for a wide variety of people. Truth be told, Ed, with an emphasis on those who fall in the spectrum of poor to middle-class, those who make up the majority of those living in this country.