If the US is a democracy, why don’t we have universal healthcare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The US is not a democracy, nor a republic. It's a kleptocracy. The Declaration of Independence is a fascist manifesto. The Constitution is a blueprint for capitalist fascism focused on protecting private property because the elite rich owned most of the property.

If we want democracy and a humane society, we can have one, but not by voting.

whoa!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A democratic republic. We, the people, don't vote directly for issues.

Why not create a system where people can vote directly on issues?

Because we would be doing nothing but voting. There would be no time to work or watch television.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A democratic republic. We, the people, don't vote directly for issues.

Why not create a system where people can vote directly on issues?

Because we would be doing nothing but voting. There would be no time to work or watch television.

OP here. Right. But how do we get the politicians to do what WE want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Democracy means the people participate in the government. We can just simply vote for universal healthcare.

Read up on how a bill becomes law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Democracy means the people participate in the government. We can just simply vote for universal healthcare.

Read up on how a bill becomes law.

The senate, representatives, congress and the president can’t sign a bill on something WE VOTE FOR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Democracy means the people participate in the government. We can just simply vote for universal healthcare.

Read up on how a bill becomes law.

The senate, representatives, congress and the president can’t sign a bill on something WE VOTE FOR.

? I have absolutely no idea what this means. Are you talking about a referendum or something like that?

[Anonymous]

Wasn't universal healthcare discussed as an option by the Dems when they crafted the Affordable Care Act and that idea really never gained traction? Would it do any better today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't universal healthcare discussed as an option by the Dems when they crafted the Affordable Care Act and that idea really never gained traction? Would it do any better today?

Every other developed country has this except the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And, FWIW, what makes you think everyone would vote for universal healthcare?"

First, you have to determine what it is. Obamacare legislated all sorts of things that did not need to be in the requirement to be covered by insurance. That is one of the reasons that the rates went up so much.

Universal healthcare means having 1 single insurance for the whole US. People pay via taxes, what they’re able to contribute financially. If you need a certain treatment or procedure, it’s covered. Every doctor accepts this. It’s the same system that every other developed country has.

Universal healthcare means having a two tier system in which everyone is covered, but those who can afford private insurance and pay for private physicians will receive better treatment.

Not true. My vision of universal healthcare will pay physicians well, and everyone will get high levels of care.

You have a vision; I worked in the reality in England. .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I'll bite and play along with this 10 year old, even though I should be outside exercising today, and so should you, OP.

The US is not a democracy. The United States is a republic.

We'll wait while you go look up the difference. Please come back with a well-crafted paragraph demonstrating your understanding, and we'll go from there in this discussion.

OP here. In school every single teacher who spoke on this subject said the US is a democracy. I would imagine schools are forbidden from teaching lies on a mass scale.

Former teacher here.
Either you were not paying attention, or your teachers were not well versed in their subjects.

Our education system has really deteriorated. This is evidence right here.

OP here. In 9th grade the US history teacher told us that democracy means the people participate in the public. He explained what a democracy was and representative democracy was. He said the US is just a democracy, not a representative democracy. I was confused. How are we not a representative democracy if we have the electoral college. But I have to listen to the teacher because he has a degree in his subject and knows what he’s teaching. Kinda like how a patient listens to the doctor instead of teaching their doctor.

This is where you went wrong.
Believe it or not, education is not about "listening to the teacher." It is about Learning How to Learn.
Your teacher is not infallible. No teacher is. They are often wrong. Students should ask questions of their teachers - challenge them. If there is a conflict about what they are saying, students should do their own research. Present that to the teacher.
You are on the internet. Do your own research. Learn about our government and how it works. And why we have an electoral college.

OP here. School gave me a sufficient education on that. And teachers are not often wrong, or they wouldn’t be allowed to teach the subject. Especially in a 1st world country.

You really are very young and dumb, aren’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A democratic republic. We, the people, don't vote directly for issues.

Why not create a system where people can vote directly on issues?

Because, our forefathers found a system that has worked pretty darn well for almost 250 years. It was not designed as a system where people can vote directly on issues at the national level.

+1. And, as evidenced here, “the people “ really are too stupid to understand complex issues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A democratic republic. We, the people, don't vote directly for issues.

Why not create a system where people can vote directly on issues?

Because we would be doing nothing but voting. There would be no time to work or watch television.

OP here. Right. But how do we get the politicians to do what WE want?

Campaign finance reform. Getting the money out of politics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OK, I'll bite and play along with this 10 year old, even though I should be outside exercising today, and so should you, OP.

The US is not a democracy. The United States is a republic.

We'll wait while you go look up the difference. Please come back with a well-crafted paragraph demonstrating your understanding, and we'll go from there in this discussion.

Typical republican half assed crap. We are democracy and a republic. They are not mutually exclusive. Republic : Power isn't transferred by hierarchy or lineage. Democracy: Rule of the people by the people for the people.

Our democracy is structurally flawed due to slavery era EC which was created by the southern politicians to count the black votes without giving them the vote. Even then the blacks were only counted as 60% of white man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A democratic republic. We, the people, don't vote directly for issues.

Why not create a system where people can vote directly on issues?

Because, our forefathers found a system that has worked pretty darn well for almost 250 years. It was not designed as a system where people can vote directly on issues at the national level.

+1. And, as evidenced here, “the people “ really are too stupid to understand complex issues

Forefathers are a bunch of racists who created a system that benefited the white man. THIS COUNTRY IS NO LONGER WHITE MAN'S ALONE. So it is time to revisit everything the racists setup to benefit themselves on the back of black slaves and native American plunder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, I'll bite and play along with this 10 year old, even though I should be outside exercising today, and so should you, OP.

The US is not a democracy. The United States is a republic.

We'll wait while you go look up the difference. Please come back with a well-crafted paragraph demonstrating your understanding, and we'll go from there in this discussion.

Typical republican half assed crap. We are democracy and a republic. They are not mutually exclusive. Republic : Power isn't transferred by hierarchy or lineage. Democracy: Rule of the people by the people for the people.

Our democracy is structurally flawed due to slavery era EC which was created by the southern politicians to count the black votes without giving them the vote. Even then the blacks were only counted as 60% of white man.

Slavery was wrong and awful. The South wanted the slaves counted as a full person. Why? So, they would have more Representatives in Congress. The North said "no." So, the compromise was 3/5th. Of course, it's hard to defend either side on this one.

This, however, has nothing to do with the Electoral College. That was devised to keep the states with large populations from controlling everything. It is a common sense solution. Otherwise, the people in the very large coastal cities would have total control over almost all policies. That is also why we have a bicameral Congress.