Again, there was little actual debate this time. All twelve candidates support (among other things):
Impeaching Trump
Single-payer healthcare
Codifying the right to abortion
Making it easier to unionize
Subsidized childcare
Making college tuition-free and eliminating student debt
Stopping gun violence with background checks and eliminating assault weapons
Prosecuting purveyors of opioids.
Working with and supporting our allies around the world.
Of course there are differences about how to accomplish these things. Warren and Sanders want single-payer healthcare with no private insurance while others, especially Pete Buttigieg, want to keep private insurance and offer a public option. I recommend the article in the Oct. 21st issue of The Nation, "The Public Option is a Poison Pill" by David U. Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler, which details how private insurers have become expert at gaming the system and using their lobbying clout to undermine attempts to rein in their abuses. This year private insurers will take in $252 billion more than they pay out, thanks in part to those of us who have repeatedly received claims returned stamped "claim denied" or "not in network." Elizabeth Warren's suggestion of a wealth tax to help finance healthcare was met by Andrew Yang's claim that it was something tried by European nations and eventually repealed. The reason it was repealed in several countries was because of the numerous exceptions the wealthy were able to achieve; it still exists in Norway, Spain and Switzerland.
Each candidate made a personal appeal, not so much on the issues as on their personality and experience.
Joe Biden played an instrumental role in the Obama administration.
Elizabeth Warren created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Bernie Sanders wrote the Medicare-for-all bill.
Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg are from the Midwest, crucial to beating Trump
Tom Steyer was among the first to urge impeachment.
Cory Booker has important urban experience.
Tulsi Gabbard was in the army for 16 years,
Julian Castro is an expert on housing.
Kamala Harris was a tough prosecutor.
Beto O'Rourke is from the red state of Texas.
Andrew Yang is a knowledgeable entrepreneur.
I would support any of them. But who can defeat Donald Trump, whose re-election campaign is well under way?
