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Comment by kevmo | Hacker News Reader

America would benefit tremendously from adopting any of the universal healthcare models successfully implemented by many other countries.

Our existing insurance model is basically a giant racketeering scam. The lack of access to affordable healthcare increases crime, stifles innovation, decreases longevity and quality of life, and has created a breeding ground for lot of the crazier shit we are seeing in America.

I think we see Medicare For All sometime in the next 10-15 years. The first major party nominee for President who embraces it is going to get elected.

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> The first major party nominee for President who embraces it is going to get elected.

And Republicans will use every ability in their power to prevent it from happening, through the filibuster and Supreme Court most likely. Fighting that sort of socialism is their entire reason for existence. That and upper-income tax cuts obviously.

That "tax cuts for the rich" line buds me so much. Republicans do not simply cut taxes for the rich. I've looked at income tax tables going back to the mid 70's. It's clear that Republicans cut taxes for all, not just the rich. Regan , G.W. Bush, and Trump cut taxes for the poorest, Middle class and the wealthy. I don't know of any case in the past 50 years when Democrats have cut taxes for the poor, though Obama did continue the Bush tax cuts.

Now if that's a good policy to cut taxes and spend as much as they do (Trump especially), that is another question.

They do throw a couple bucks to the poor and middle class so they can say that, you've got me there, but you should be able to see in your explorations of the historical tax tables who is getting the biggest benefit.

This has been the dynamic long enough that I can remember an SNL skit from 20 years ago about how bad the Democrat's messaging was on the subject. Something like the Democratic leadership of the time cutting ads about how the rich could use their tax cut for a full-service holiday at a brothel, while all the middle class could get from their cut was a lousy handjob. Obviously it was amusing enough to stick with me.

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