General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "But we couldn't *possibly* have gotten single payer!" [View all]Babel_17
(5,400 posts)People seem to be missing or ignoring that part of the OP in their attacks or criticisms.
If two thirds of the voters wanted Social Security dismantled into something much less, then that could happen.
If two thirds of the voters wanted abortion illegal, then that could happen.
If two thirds of the voters wanted draconian laws regarding personal ID's, then that could happen.
If two thirds of the voters wanted our constitution ignored so that they could feel safer about terrorism then that could ... oh wait, it did happen.
I don't think single player was on the table during the start of the formulation of the ACA but imo it could have been brandished by our pundits as something that would work great but which we were willing to abandon in order to accommodate the Republicans.
It needed to be framed that way. The public needed to see why single payer would work and that it was being bargained away in order to get Republicans (and others) to deal.
P.S. We won't need to rehash the past if our strategy as a party reflects that lessons have been learned.