Is the thing that killed the Democratic majority the key to bringing it back?
Is some form of the Affordable Care Act the key to Democratic redemption?

Ridiculous!
Well, bear with me a moment.

Yes I believe that the ACA caused the Democrats to lose the House in 2010. 
Yes, the inept roll out a few years later caused even more erosion of democratic support.
And yes, promising to repeal "Obamacare" was a key applause line and fundraising line for seven years that even elected our first grifter President.

But, this week I came to believe that a key to democratic resurgence in the rust belt, Appalachia and with the working class in general is,,,,,,,,,, healthcare.

Let it sink in.

When the pack of Republican hounds finally caught the ACA car, it became clear that they had no idea what to do with it. When ideologues like Paul Ryan wrote a bill curtailing medical insurance, that bill was popular with a dismal 17% of voters. While the intransigence of the Freedom Caucus gets a lot of attention, I watched town meetings and learned something else.
I learned that a large number of working class Americans view Healthcare as a fundamental good that the government should guarantee.

Democrats would do well to seize upon this and to rebuild their fortunes by offering real solutions to working class Americans. In order to achieve this, the party must avoid the mistakes of Obama and the far left.
Mistakes? Well, one was to allow the bill to get caught up in culture wars, and to play into the caricature of thuggish Big Government. Do NOT force religious employers to pay for contraception or elective abortions. (I am familiar with the arguments for compelling that, but it's a political loser). Try to stay away from contraception in general. Hey, I'd be happy to contribute to any number of private foundations which could provide contraception to women who cannot afford it.

Focus instead on primary care, addiction services, mom's chemo. 
Make it something that gets people care without losing their houses. Make it Obamacare without the Obama.

And, for God's sake demand competence over ideology.

Last edited by Goose (3/26/2017 8:06 am)