Because uninformed Americans are being mislead, used, lied to, intentionally frighted for one persons political gain.
There is not one socialist country in the world. Socialism is not authoritarianism or totalitarianism, but there are plenty of those countries.
Many Americans ranting about their warped notion of socialism are the same ones claiming they can’t afford childcare, health insurance, college tuition or to take time off from work on their own.
The same people welcoming tax credits, tax-free employer contributions toward insurance premiums and very likely to accept dividend checks and political bribes from “government” should they ever come.
Stop criticizing people who believe what they are told by our government officials – including those who Congress has repeatedly lied to, along with presidents, that health care is a right, that you earned your Social Security (as if it is a contractual relationship), that America is a rich country so we can afford to give stuff to some selected group for vote buying.
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Those pushing socialist concepts such as Medicare For All, funded by taxes on others, may not wear Socialist on their sleeve, but they definitely believe in authoritarian rule – much more than taking a stake in private enterprises as part of incentivizing certain actions. Not much different than solyndra where even if Obama admin took a minority investment, we would still have lost our investment.
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Why would M4A be taxes on others? It would be funded by taxes on all, on employers, by premiums and out of pocket costs in the form of deductibles and co-pays. All in lieu of what is now being paid by individuals and employers plus what govt already pays for things like Medicaid and CHIP.
And it’s not socialism unless that is how you define SS and Medicare.
Still waiting for a better idea that provides coverage for all Americans at all economic and capability levels.
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M4A pitched by Comrade Bernie has no copays, no premiums, no deductibles, includes long term care, which is to be funded by taxes on the millionaires and billionaires. Just like the Medicare Modernization Act of 1988, it won’t fly if it becomes clear that those who are to benefit must fund the cost.
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No reason it has to be that version and of course that truly would be unaffordable.
A realistic version could be phased in. Perhaps first new borns, then age groups balancing young and old spread out geographically.
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Our Congress? You are joking, right? If they can’t buy votes with it, sending the bill to others, it ain’t gonna happen.
And, besides, those newborns have to shoulder the cost of the Social Security, Medicare and national debt burdens we are leaving them – you think Congress will target them to appropriately fund their own health care coverage too?
Not a chance! No votes that way.
As the former CMS head Berwick once said: “Any health care funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized and humane must—must—redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and less fortunate. Excellent health care is, by definition, redistributional.”
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Okay, people pay according to their means, what is the problem? That’s what I do now via Medicare.
The current system operates in reverse as premiums and out of pocket costs rarely reflect the income of the patient.
I don’t understand what you are complaining about?
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“Okay, people pay according to their means, what is the problem? That’s what I do now via Medicare.”
from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs?” Sounds like communism and Marc to me.
The current system operates in reverse as premiums and out of pocket costs rarely reflect the income of the patient.
Absolutely false when it comes to Medicare. Since 1993, we paid a percentage of income uncapped for Part a, and part b and d were funded by general revenue taxes – where ~40% of Americans don’t pay a penny in income taxes.
Vote buying, nothing more, nothing less. Not a solution for cost or access issues
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I’m starting to worry about you Jack. Communism? Seriously? So you see Medicare as Communism too?
Not in any extreme interpretation is it communism or even socialism. I’m sure you know that.
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No your quote was straight out of Marx (sorry about my typo).
The famous slogan is “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” (Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen) – Karl Marx popularized that in his 1875 work,
Medicare’s funding and benefit structure aren’t Socialist because they don’t fund it based on wealth, but income, and the benefits are not based on need.
However, Comrade Bernie’s proposal is much closer to Socialism and Communism in that the taking has little or nothing to do with the coverage to be provided.
No need to worry about me. I’m confident you’ll never hear me quote or paraphrase Marx.
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Excellent commentary ! I believe there are five countries most commonly classified as socialist states today — China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea. The list depends on whether you mean a country’s political system, its constitutional wording, or simply a government pursuing socialist policies. A welfare state/society is not a Socialist Country.
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They are not really socialist. They are totalitarian or authoritarian or communist. Not even Denmark is socialist.
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