I expect to see the same kind of "evolvement" with Ms. Harris on this issue, though depending on how Congress settles out this year, the timeline may be moved up a bit, I think.
During the 2019 run-up to the 2020 election, Harris said that she was "all-in" on Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All proposal. This plan would provide a means-tested Medicare program for all US citizens, which would be the easiest and most efficient way to initiate a national health care system in the US. As you may already know, Medicare is effective, quality-driven and affordable for its members aged 65 and over.
I'm not sure why Harris has changed her position. As you can imagine, there has been a huge pushback from private insurers who currently reap unbelievable profits from employers and members, and it's possible that Harris knows that it's a bridge too far for 2024. I would've liked to hear more details on why she's changed her mind on Medicare for All as well as fracking, but the fast pace of her campaign has left little time to do so. The idea is still alive and well among progressive democrats, but it will take a change in public perspective and reduction in culture wars to make this happen.
It might be pragmatism, first she needs to get elected, then she needs a majority in parliament or at least bi partisan politics to be able to pass reforms. She has a few hurdles to clear so maybe doesnt want to frighten the horses especially as MAGA don’t appear to be the brightest kids on the block and don’t seem to understand having universal health care is a good thing.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
Let's get her elected first.
The 2024 election is not even close to a normal election because of t and project 2025. Since policy is, sadly, less important than saving Democracy, please consider concentrating on seeing the Harris-Walz LANDSLIDE WIN instead of your legislative concerns. At the same time, you can empower policy-to-be through positive thought and imagery, while we get through this vital election. Fretting and fussing will. not. help and indeed, can be destructive. The "evolution" you want in the policies can best be addressed by mentally/emotionally projecting those topics ahead--as if fulfilled, rather than angry they are not in the current talking points.This will energize WHAT WILL BE in a Harris-Walz government. With thousands of others also sending those intentions, the fulfillment of policy will ultimately occur. Please, try not to give power to your frustrations. Discuss with ferver your special issues ONCE SHE IS ELECTED. The ELECTING is simply more important than anything else. Period. The dark is sneaky. It feeds on both complacency and angers. The more you worry about these things that, as my musician hubby used to say, "will be fixed in the mix," the more you give the very things you talk about the power of negative encouragement. To get these things you want brought to fruition, America, as a democracy, must survive. The election is SURVIVAL. Therefore, these are the most important weeks in the history of America. The Harris-Walz win is the ONLY way the issues you have posted about here are even going to be discussed by politicians, let alone voted by Congress into reality. Frustration with Kamala's "evolution" is a deadend. Turn instead to the wide, Lighted freeway headed to Democracy, where policy can be revised in the Blue glow of our election landslide.
@matildagirl @tesseract Thank you both. This is exactly what I meant in my response to @kathleen. If we are still following @jeanne-mayell's timeline, we are only just now returning to the same level of the graph we were when Mr. Biden stepped aside. It's not over, of course; we have work to do still to see her election through, but if all goes well, I suspect that many of the peripheral concerns that have had to take a back seat for this little while will be well-addressed over the next six to eight years.
And please, let us take this discussion to the appropriate forum and not usurp the venue of our friends from down under. :-)
@kathleen Wait!?!?!?!?! She stopped supporting Medicare for all??????? I guess my news blackout can work both ways! Well, that's disappointing to hear. This keeps getting worse every time I check in with you guys! LMAO! Jesus is SHE going backwards!?!?!?!? I thought we weren't going back? LOL! November feels years away.
It was late and I didn't even realize the post I was responding to was not in the election thread. 😳 Moderators please feel to move my post. Thanks.
Fretting and fussing will. not. help and indeed, can be destructive. The "evolution" you want in the policies can best be addressed by mentally/emotionally projecting those topics ahead--as if fulfilled, rather than angry they are not in the current talking points
Just to clarify, I was initially responding to Matilda's post about changes in Australian law regarding new benefits for their aging population. I explained how our system currently works as well as the Medicare for All proposal in brief and my hopes for the future. Harris has said she no longer supports Medicare for All, but hasn't yet clarified what she will support in terms of a better health care system for all Americans. I see Harris as the great hope for our improved health care system future, and I am not in any way being destructive or angry. Please read through my earlier posts.
@tesseract We're all hoping for the best. I don't want to be lectured, so please understand that I'm on your side.
Right-wing American commentator Candace Owens has been refused entry to Australia for her upcoming speaking tour.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed the conservative online influencer would not be granted a visa, saying "Australia's national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else".
hehheh!
Some news from Australia today.
A blood test to detect Alzheimers early. This sounds promising.
Safer Exchange Sites have been permanently created at 35 round-the-clock police stations in metropolitan and regional areas, following a 2022 trial at stations across Melbourne's north-east.
The safe zones aim to provide a safe space with clear signage, good lighting and CCTV for buyers and sellers to carry out sales.
Russia and China have been accused of blocking every proposal at an international conference tasked with conserving Antarctic marine life.
The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) wrapped up its annual meeting in Hobart on Friday.
Key proposals presented at the meeting included establishing new marine protected areas in the waters surrounding Antarctica and revisions to the krill fishery management plan.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
Right-wing American commentator Candace Owens has been refused entry to Australia for her upcoming speaking tour.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed the conservative online influencer would not be granted a visa, saying "Australia's national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else".
hehheh!
I wish I could like this post a hundred times. We could say the same about her in the US, but we're stuck with her, unfortunately.
Good morning Forum
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-14/labor-unveils-electoral-reform-plans/104602248
Labor is pushing for the biggest shake-up of funding and disclosure laws in more than a decade to curtail an "arms race" it says is being fuelled by billionaires, while also offering parties and candidates more taxpayer dollars for every vote.
The overhaul, set to be introduced to parliament on Monday, would limit political donors to $20,000 per candidate in a calendar year.
An "anti-avoidance provision" would also cap donors at $600,000 in total to apply to companies, individuals, business groups, unions and any other givers.
Separately, candidates would for the first time face spending limits, set at $800,000 per candidate and $90 million for a political party across the nation.
Near real-time disclosure of donations would also be introduced under the changes, as well as a dramatic slashing in the threshold for disclosure to $1,000 from the current level of $16,900.
Labor (like Democrats) is hopeful the bill can pass in the next fortnight after an in-principle, though not yet iron-clad, agreement with the Coalition (like republicans).
It still has to be put to Parliament then to the Senate to pass so could get changes but it does look like both main parties are sort of in agreement, will see what happens.
we do have an advantage with compulsory voting, the candidates don’t need to get people to come to vote they need to have the policies that people want to get their vote.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
“Australia has broken ranks with the United States and Israel to vote in favour of a draft United Nations resolution recognising "permanent sovereignty" of Palestinians to natural resources in the occupied territories for the first time in more than two decades.
A total of 155 countries voted in favour of the draft resolution in a UN committee, including Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, Germany and Japan.”
The US voted against the proposal along with Israel.
The vote follows previous decisions by the Albanese government in the UN which have hardened Australia's stance against Israel's actions in Gaza.
Netanyahu with this war and how he is running it seems to be turning every one off Israel these days.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
I think maybe now that Trump is the incoming President, Australia and other countries are going to look to other markets in the world to limit the damage from his Tariffs. To limit any damage from his policies.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-15/apec-climate-donald-trump-albanese/104603996
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is using a week-long trip to South America to pitch Australia as a safe and reliable country to invest in, especially if the incoming US president follows through on his climate threats.
While the US accounts for a quarter of global trade, Mr Albanese was at pains to tell reporters that relationships with China, India and Indonesia would be just as important to Australia's future.
"Increasingly, population will be a driver of economic growth. And that's why countries in our region, such as China, but also Indonesia, India and other nations, will have considerable economic growth in the future," he said.
"And that's why Australia is well positioned as a country that is located in the fastest growing region of the world in human history. That represents opportunity."
On the eve of Mr Albanese’s meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping as part of the APEC and G20 talks in South America, state-run paper, China Daily, praised the Prime Minister’s “strategic authority” in the face of the “unprecedented geopolitical complexity and uncertainty” stirred by the recent election of US President-elect, Donald Trump.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
Something to take your mind off the current situation for at least 5 minutes. We as a country are renowned for dangerous animals just waiting to kill you. I thought you might like to know which is our deadliest animal, we have so many to choose from like crocodiles, great whites, cassowary’s, box jelly fish, taipans which are the most deadliest snake in the world. Who will it be?
From 2001 to 2021, Australia recorded 713 animal-related deaths, averaging 34 fatalities per year, NCIS reported.
Cheers
Matildagirl
https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360502473/controversial-us-speaker-candace-owens-banned-new-zealand
You will be pleased to know she has also been banned in New Zealand.
Cheers
Matildagirl
NZ seems to have its sh*t together. I have family in NZ; while they have their complaints about the government, it is much more sensible than what we have.
Well our government has just passed laws to prevent children under 16 from using social media. Not sure how that will work or how successful the outcome will be. The reasoning being how it affects their mental well-being.
I gather the world is watching this experiment.
Elon is not happy about it.
“This is a global problem and we want young Australians essentially to have a childhood,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last week.
“We want parents to have peace of mind.”
Polling has shown that parents widely support the ban.
“For too long parents have had this impossible choice between giving in and getting their child an addictive device or seeing their child isolated and feeling left out,” Amy Friedlander, a mother of three from the Wait Mate movement, recently told the BBC.
“We’ve been trapped in a norm that no one wants to be a part of.”
Regards to all
Matildagirl
A bit of history on the lamb ad, it’s 20 this year.
2025 lamb ad
Regards to all
Matildagirl