Took a break, back and ready to conquer the world! Anything happen while I was gone?
It seems the Democratic Party decided it had to do something, and found a way to apply what little leverage they had. The Republicans have refused to talk, or even listen. The issue that the Dems finally decided was the right hill to die on is health care. All they are asking for is a push back on the various cuts to MediCare and Medicaid, and the threats to the Health Insurance exchange, brought on by the so-called Big Beautiful Bill. The Dems are fighting for us, trying to keep insurance premiums from skyrocketing and keep millions from losing coverage altogether.
Mike Johnson says that Republicans are the ones concerned with health care. Of course, he, as a member of Congress, has the best health care plan available. He doesn't have to worry. His fellow Republicans are poised to punish anyone and everyone who did not vote for Trump in 2024 by ensuring they struggle to meet the burdens of health care in the future. They also shout that what Dems want is to supply health care for illegals. That is simply, patently, a lie.
It gets me thinking. Always dangerous, I know. I support the Dems' attempt, painful as shutting down the government has been. I think that the petty and vindictive nature of the Trump administration will show more and more as the closure continues. But I think it is time for the Dems to stop reacting to Trump. It is time to present themselves as the Party with concrete ideas, and solutions, for the real problems facing average Americans today. While lofty ideals are grand, pragmatic solutions to nuts and bolts issues are where the Dems need to go. Reacting to Trump does nothing. Becoming a viable, in touch alternative to the chaos he presents may just win the House back in 2026 and the presidency in 2028. Don't just say, “I have a plan.” Tell us the plan. Tell us how you will get it done. And tell us, and tell us, and tell us.
Platform Idea Number One: make health care a real issue again. By this, I mean Medicare for All, or Universal Health Care. It is not a new idea, or really all that radical. Franklin Roosevelt called for it in 1945. Most modern countries have a form of it. You can call it socialist, but it is a social program paid for by capitalism. In fact, it would be paid for by taxes. I am not an expert, but I did some math to get started. I am on Medicare, which covers 80% of my medical. I also have a supplimental plan, which used to be my primary before I was forced into Medicare at age 65. It covers the other 20%, so I am out of pocket only for medications. Together, my wife and I pay about 15% of our monthly income to health insurance premiums. The federal Medicare tax rate is 1.45% on top of that. I would be willing, if it were properly explained to me, to pay 8 or 9% Medicare tax if it meant no more insurance premiums at all. I would save 6 or 7%, and have universal health care at any age.
Some Democratic Party member with a good head for figures ought to check it out, and tell Gavin to run with it.
