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yurbud

(39,405 posts)
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 06:40 PM Jul 2017

Gore calls for single-payer healthcare

Source: The Hill

Former Vice President Al Gore called for a single-payer healthcare system this week amid the collapse of the Senate GOP's plan to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

“The private sector has not shown any ability to provide good, affordable healthcare for all,” Gore said Tuesday at an event at Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York, The Huffington Post reported.

“I believe we ought to have single-payer healthcare.”

*****

“I think we’ve reached a point where the entire healthcare system is in impending crisis,” Gore said at the time. “I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we should begin drafting a single-payer national health insurance plan.”



Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/342733-al-gore-endorses-single-payer-healthcare



Al Gore is a DLC OG, so if he's saying this, it's time for the party leadership to change.

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sandensea

(21,530 posts)
1. My first vote, proud to say, was cast for Al Gore.
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 06:43 PM
Jul 2017

I left home that evening seconds after Florida had been called for Gore by CNN; by the time I returned, everything had changed.

emulatorloo

(43,982 posts)
2. Al Gore began advocating for single payer in 2002
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 06:45 PM
Jul 2017
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2002/november/al_gore_on_singlepa.php

Al Gore on Single-Payer: New Republic

by Jonathan Cohn
Only at TNR Online | Post date 11.22.02

It looks like Al Gore wasn't kidding two weeks ago when he let slip his intentions to propose a single-payer health care system for the United States. In a piece about Gore published earlier this week, Ron Brownstein of the Los Angeles Times reports that Gore told him the very same thing--and in considerably more detail.

Specifically, Gore told Brownstein that he would unveil his plan early next year, and that the plan would observe three principles: The actual practice of medicine would still be done through the private sector; Americans would have "choices"; and the plan would reduce spending by streamlining bureaucracy. "The system as a whole has reached a point of no return," Gore said. "It is collapsing. It is beyond saving in its current design."

R B Garr

(16,920 posts)
6. +1000, we've squandered 17 years on GOP wars when we could have
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 07:46 PM
Jul 2017

had this man. Climate change pioneer, progressive Democrat. The 3rd party lies have done nothing but hold us back, and now they want to blame it on Democrats. uh, no.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)
8. we could have had this issue. Since we ended up getting ACA via reconciliation...
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 08:07 PM
Jul 2017

Democrats could have done this on their own and they wouldn't have lost both chambers.

It just would have taken some dirt on the most corrupt blue dogs to get it done.

BigmanPigman

(51,432 posts)
7. When he "lost" I was in such a depression I eventually had to leave the country
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 08:04 PM
Jul 2017

temporarily. At that time a lot of people still thought Bush was the second coming. I went to France and ate French Fries instead of Freedom Fries while I looked for a teaching job there.

yurbud

(39,405 posts)
9. Democrats and unfortunately Gore himself played that wrong
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 08:08 PM
Jul 2017

Republicans go after nearly every election like it's their last chance.

Democrats act like they're warming up for next time, which hardly ever comes.

 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
12. In what way are they just "warming up for next time?"
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 09:20 PM
Jul 2017

And as memory serves, the Obama administration was Democrat.

Two terms.

Gore1FL

(21,034 posts)
13. When Dems play it "safe" we lose more often than not.
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 09:36 PM
Jul 2017

I don't think Obama/Biden could have been considered "safe" by any conventional wisdom standard in 2008.

We played in safe in 2016. We played it safe in 2004. We played it safe in 2000. We played it safe in 1988. We did win by playing safe in 1992, so sometimes it works.

Strelnikov_

(7,772 posts)
14. "DLC OG"
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 09:38 PM
Jul 2017

Good one.

And, he his right. The Democratic Party should be shouting it from the rooftops. Not that it has a chance right now, but as 'market differentiation'. A message of 'what could be'.



Gore1FL

(21,034 posts)
15. Exactly
Wed Jul 19, 2017, 09:55 PM
Jul 2017

Bill Maher (I think it was Bill Maher) made a comment that Democrats follow polls and Republicans move polls.

Until we, as you say, "shout from the rooftops" about this and other issues we are going to have problems.


"What could be," indeed!

LiberalLovinLug

(14,154 posts)
16. Yes
Thu Jul 20, 2017, 01:21 AM
Jul 2017

Democrats need to push bold ideas that could be seen ahead of their time. They seem to always think they have to wait until it is inevitable in order to back it, like gay marriage. Be leaders instead of followers. The Rethugs will bitch and moan no matter what Democrats do, so why not give them some actual meat. Because they will just invent something otherwise anyways coughBenghazicough. Stop being afraid of them and Fox fucking news! Stop being on the defensive all the time. Push for single payer but do it boldly and craftily. First call it Medicare for All, every damn time you are asked. Then forget about reacting to being called names like socialist commie etc.. and just stay on message explaining the benefits. And why the richest nation on earth is almost literally the last nation on earth to guarantee health care as a right and not a privilege.

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