Bernie Sanders: Single Payer Never Had A Chance (2010)

[crazytown]

Why did Obama pursue the ACA rather than Single Payer in 2009?

Sanders: Single Payer Never Had A Chance
TPM March 10, 2010

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reminded the progressive media gathered on Capitol Hill today that single-payer health care reform was dead before it started in the Senate.

“It would have had 8 or 10 votes and that’s it,” he said, addressing a topic central in the minds of many who the bloggers and left wing talk show hosts gathered for the 4th annual Senate Democratic Progressive Media Summit in Washington reach everyday.

Sanders is among the few in the Senate not afraid to say he supports government-run, universal health care. But his calls for such a program have gone unanswered, much to the chagrin of progressives who still feel it is the best way to solve the nation’s health care crisis.

Sanders said it was still possible for single-payer to come to the U.S. eventually — but he said the road will not begin in Washington. If a state like California or Vermont ever instituted a single-payer system on its own, Sanders said, it would eventually lead to national adoption of universal coverage.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/sanders-single-payer-never-had-a-chance

At that time Bernie was advocating incrementalism. Obviously the numbers have shifted since then. Nevertheless it may be ‘a long and difficult struggle’.


17 Senators Introduce Medicare for All Act
Wednesday, September 13, 2017

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 16 of his Democratic colleagues introduced legislation Wednesday to guarantee health care to every American by expanding and improving Medicare.

“Today, we begin the long and difficult struggle to end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all its people,” Sanders said. “At a time when millions of Americans do not have access to affordable health care, the Republicans, funded by the Koch brothers, are trying to take away health care from up to 32 million more. We have a better idea: guarantee health care to all people as a right, not a privilege, through a Medicare for All, single-payer health care program.

https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/17-senators-introduce-medicare-for-all-act

Polls show up to 70% public support for ‘Medicare for All’
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/28/most-americans-now-support-medicare-for-all-and-free-college-tuition.html

[WeekiWater]

1. New leaders are emerging and will accomplish what Sanders and others couldn't.

Many of our establishment democrats over the years have made society feel more comfortable with stronger government regulation and involvement in healthcare. Obama and Pelosi played a big role in that by pushing the ACA through. The world didn't come to a crashing halt. Now the next generation of leaders will take it on and move us further toward healthcare as a right.

[crazytown]

2. Universal health care was almost part of 1935 Social Security

Universal health care was almost part of the original Social Security Act of 1935

https://timeline.com/social-security-universal-health-care-efe875bbda93

[WeekiWater]

3. How did the next 84 years go?

Pretty sure Sanders was an elected officeholder for almost half of that time.

[crazytown]

4. LOL