It’s Bernie vs. Biden right now on CNN and Univision. Are you watching?
The debate began at 8 PM ET but it is available to all. You can watch it here, no log in necessary.
Share your thoughts on the debate below and I’ll share mine.
(Debate image via screen grab)
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Bemused commented
2020-03-16 12:31:31 -0400
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EOF: I reacted to a chyron. Even in context, however, Joe’s comment was a cheap shot because no system in the world has ever been designed to deal with absolutely everything that might happen.
That said, Bernie is disingenuous if he’s claiming that a universal, single-payer system would eliminate all the problems. That’s silly for the same reason mentioned above.
Italy had the bad luck to be the first country in Europe to identify and mobilise against a completely new disease. Time will tell if our universal systems are more effective than the highly fragmented, profit-based American system.
That said, Bernie is disingenuous if he’s claiming that a universal, single-payer system would eliminate all the problems. That’s silly for the same reason mentioned above.
Italy had the bad luck to be the first country in Europe to identify and mobilise against a completely new disease. Time will tell if our universal systems are more effective than the highly fragmented, profit-based American system.
truman commented
2020-03-16 10:29:15 -0400
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I would have liked to see both Biden and Sanders talk more about Presidential leadership in crisis. And how little leadership we have now with Mango Mussolini.
If and when Biden wins in Florida, Ohio and Illiinois on Tuesday, I would like to see Sanders gracefully bow out and endorse Biden.
If and when Biden wins in Florida, Ohio and Illiinois on Tuesday, I would like to see Sanders gracefully bow out and endorse Biden.
Eyes On Fox commented
2020-03-16 06:43:08 -0400
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Bemused, wasn’t Biden simply addressing Bernie’s ‘The Miracle of Medicare for All” that works perfectly in his white papers? Bernie was bragging universal healthcare would solve capacity problems which isn’t true. Many universal systems are notoriously underfunded and compensate with waiting lists.
Bemused commented
2020-03-16 03:54:56 -0400
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I also didn’t watch … call it fatigue. However, heard that Joe took a swipe at the Italian Universal Health system, saying it didn’t work. That’s not only gratuitous, it’s just plain stupid. I’m disappointed, deeply disappointed, especially as Joe was VP under Obama. Both men were aware that single-payer systems throughout the world generated better health results than the American system (the USA is 37th on the WHO list … 37th!!!, at more than twice the cost). The cumbersome ACA was a forced compromise (money, again). However, Americans started realising that health care should be dealt with as a right not a privilege.
The Italian system mobilised too late to prevent the virus from establishing itself in the population, especially among the elderly, but it seems that a belated response was typical among the liberal democracies. Once they decided to mobilise, they have not had to wait for a fragmented system to get its act together and there is some evidence that the measures put in place are working. Anybody and everybody with worrisome symptoms is immediately tested: no ifs, no buts, no questions asked. Specialised health facilities are being expanded and the entry of private hospitals is carefully geared towards the filling of gaps. The result is a strong, coordinated response to the emergency.
I shudder to think what the USA will experience as a result of it’s highly fragmented system, where most of the actors are profit-making operations accustomed to moving only after receiving assurance of payment, where the coverage of around 30 million uninsured will be the object of intense negotiations, etc. etc. etc. Bernie has rehashed the problems ad nauseam but that doesn’t mean he’s not right.
The time to reform health care in the USA cannot but come after the crisis has been licked (as it will, albeit at the cost of many lives). But the superficiality of Joe’s comment was really really really disappointing.
Rant off.
The Italian system mobilised too late to prevent the virus from establishing itself in the population, especially among the elderly, but it seems that a belated response was typical among the liberal democracies. Once they decided to mobilise, they have not had to wait for a fragmented system to get its act together and there is some evidence that the measures put in place are working. Anybody and everybody with worrisome symptoms is immediately tested: no ifs, no buts, no questions asked. Specialised health facilities are being expanded and the entry of private hospitals is carefully geared towards the filling of gaps. The result is a strong, coordinated response to the emergency.
I shudder to think what the USA will experience as a result of it’s highly fragmented system, where most of the actors are profit-making operations accustomed to moving only after receiving assurance of payment, where the coverage of around 30 million uninsured will be the object of intense negotiations, etc. etc. etc. Bernie has rehashed the problems ad nauseam but that doesn’t mean he’s not right.
The time to reform health care in the USA cannot but come after the crisis has been licked (as it will, albeit at the cost of many lives). But the superficiality of Joe’s comment was really really really disappointing.
Rant off.
John McKee commented
2020-03-15 22:33:29 -0400
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Slept through most of it, but it seemed Joe did nothing to upset his chances. Bernie missed a huge opportunity to end the evening by declaring that he was out and that he and his people would work with Joe in every possible way to end the national nightmare, from now right through to November.
He could have bowed out a heroic figure, but now he’ll suffer humiliation and be seen forever as a bitter old spoiler.
He could have bowed out a heroic figure, but now he’ll suffer humiliation and be seen forever as a bitter old spoiler.
Ellen commented
2020-03-15 22:22:01 -0400
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Supposedly the big takeaway is that Biden committed to picking a woman as VP. But did anyone not know that’s what he would do?
Eyes On Fox commented
2020-03-15 20:53:35 -0400
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I’m in Argentina right now (not kidding). Bernie brags Medicare for All will cover the undocumented. My local guide volunteered the Argentinian universal healthcare system has “collapsed” because of undocumented workers swamping it. Inflation here is over 50%. Everyone is complaining of high taxes. The ultimate insult is I’ve never seem a more dramatic contrast between the rich and poor in Buenos Aires than anywhere else.
Ellen commented
2020-03-15 20:42:15 -0400
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Now Bernie is talking about medicare for all again as well as tax breaks to billionaires and disparity in earnings.
I’m on his side but a) he seems like a broken record and b) it feels like we are in a public health crisis that is not about that.
I’m on his side but a) he seems like a broken record and b) it feels like we are in a public health crisis that is not about that.
Ellen commented
2020-03-15 20:39:51 -0400
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So far, the debate is pretty interesting. I was a little disgusted at the beginning to hear YET ANOTHER rehash of Medicare for All or not.
So far, my only complaint is not enough going after Trump.
So far, my only complaint is not enough going after Trump.