Are the Democrats too extreme? It’s an evergreen story. I see it espoused a lot, mostly by irate Republicans, but it’s all over. Our media giants seem to enjoy saying it. (Much too well, I think.) The counter-claim can be about any topic: the climate emergency, refugees, college costs, medical care, income inequality, anti-corruption, voting rights, immigration, and on and on. It really doesn’t matter. Whatever a Democrat takes a position or espouses a policy, someone will begin shouting “Too extreme!” within a few minutes.
I’ll start with health care. All the Democratic Presidential candidates explained what look like thoughtful positions. During the last debate, they all called calling for a public option at a minimum. Some of them pushed for more, arguing that profits are antagonistic to effective healthcare delivery. They have a point. I have my own opinions. Still, each candidate I’ve listened to has made cogent points. These aren’t just campaign slogans; they’re detailed, cohesive, realistic possibilities.
In response, we hear a chorus of complaints about how extreme the position clearly is. It’s changing such a large part of our economy, after all! Too much money at stake!
Right.
This is when every Republican in the party is on record calling for the complete destruction of the Affordable Care Act. Along with their attempts to whittle it to death in the states, the Republicans party as a whole voted to repeal the ACA what, 24 times? I lost count. They’ve argued against it, they’ve denied it, they actively sabotage it, and they lie about the results. Republicans have been acting in bad faith from the beginning. And now, like before, the Republican administration is arguing in court that the ACA is unconstitutional. As always, they have the full support of the Republican party. And this time, unlike earlier attempts, they may succeed. The ACA might die from this last slice.
In other words, every current Republican is on record as wishing for the destruction of the ACA, asking for its death, and working diligently. They suggest no alternatives, and despite endless promises, there is no Republican replacement. The GOP is destroying the largest part of the existing American health care network. They are on the cusp of achieving the goal they’ve wanted for almost a decade: denying millions of needy people health care.
So no, the new Democrats aren’t being “too extreme” when they suggest different, possibly better options for delivering affordable healthcare to more people.
Republicans have been liars. They continue to lie. Can we stop pretending they’re arguing in good faith?
