Friday, January 15, 2016

Universal Nothing!

Just a few thoughts for a Friday.  I keep seeing that Bernie Sanders is getting a lot of support.  I don't get it.  I have always liked him, but does anyone want to scratch the surface on his ideas?  Healthcare, Universal Healthcare.  Who wouldn't want that, but how can it happen?  Seriously?  Isn't that the problem with the system?  We are a capitalistic economy and country.  If we create Universal Healthcare, what happens to all the insurance companies?  All those jobs are lost forever, so what happens then?  Why isn't anyone asking that question?  I have thought about it forever.  We are too late.  If you can tell me how Sanders can pull it off, without catastrophic unemployment, by all means let me know.  

I can see why Bernie Sanders is appealing, but what is the reality that he could do any of the things he wants and supports?  Have you not realized that it doesn't matter what is promised during campaigns?  Newly elected Presidents can't get things done.  There are too many moving parts that cause delays, hiccups, and postponements.  It's BS if you think any candidate gets into the Oval office and can do what they said they were going to do, and Sanders' radical proposals will never get through Congress ever.  Don't you see that?  Haven't we been living through seven tempestuous and mostly unproductive years with Congress?  How will he get anything done?  Seriously, stand back, people, take a breath, and re-assess.  I am not an anti-Sanders person, but he can't do what he promises.  He can't.  It would mean dismantling much of our economy.  I've thought a lot about how we could all be covered, and so far haven't been able to come to a resolution.  The insurance companies are huge.  They are a large part of our economy and, whether we like it or not, provides hundreds of thousands of jobs for people all over the country.

Please, I am open to hear how he can actually proceed on any of his policy plans.  I don't see it.  His heart is in the right place.  He's been saying the same ideas for decades, but we, the United States of America, are made up of a vast array of mechanisms that are all intricately intertwined.  Nothing is easy. Yes, I know, the saying nothing worth it, is ever easy, but we can't just sit back and cheer and support someone with beautiful dreams and ideas.  It's not realistic.

If you haven't been watching a television show on CBS called Madam Secretary, I think that it illustrates fully how complicated running this country is.  It's worth taking the time.  I actually have been thinking that all the GOP candidates should binge watch it.  They always make things sound so easy.  They're going to bomb here or invade there without any forethought of any knowledge or consequence.  It's all sound bites.  It's all to feed a 24/7 news cycle and twitter sphere.  I highly recommend taking the time.  Not all episodes are equal, but you will definitely see how incredibly difficult it is to keep putting out fires all over the world.  Some will succeed, others won't.  Even that's a simplification.  

Sidebars:  What a terrible week for deaths.  David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Rene Angelil, Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), Elizabeth Swados (hardly mentioned, but one of the very few female composer/directors in theatre),  Brian Bedford, Monte Irvin, and many more.  Tough week. -- Anyway, trying to catch up on the nominated movies, next up The Revenant, if I can stand it.  --  Martin Luther King's Birthday weekend. Another 3 day weekend where most people don't even know why we have a day off.  Sad.  Better to stay in school and learn about him and his importance than another ski weekend....

Okay, that's it for now.  It's a new year.  My brain is still shifting all over the place, so my blogs may too.  Enjoy your family and friends wherever you may be.  Happy Weekend!  Happy 2016!!

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@DianaPodolsky