The vast field of Democratic presidential hopefuls are pushing to outdo each other in offering American voters freebies.
Andrew Yang remains the only one actually offering cash in hopes of attracting votes, as seen in his universal basic income plan, which guarantees every American a $1,000 stipend each and every month.
Student loan debt forgiveness is a popular draw for young voters and now Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is throwing in medical debt forgiveness, which impacts a wide swath of Americans.
“We will eliminate medical debt in this country,” Sanders said at a Friday town hall. “Just stop and think for a second — why should people be placed in financial duress? For what crime did you commit? You had a serious illness? That is not what this country should be about.”
As with most freebies from the left, there’s no clear plan to pay for it — this coming from the friendly confines of CNN.
In effect, why should you be responsible for your own health care, the senator implies. But it’s important to understand that for the most part, this debt is held by private corporations, not the federal government.
Sanders, who consistently trails former Vice President Joe Biden and could use a nice boost in the polls, also pushed the idea on social media.
“It is nothing less than barbaric that the leading cause of bankruptcy in America is medical debt,” the self-avowed socialist tweeted. “These people didn’t spend all their money on luxury items. Their crime was that they got sick. We are going to cancel all $81 billion in existing past-due medical debt.”
It is nothing less than barbaric that the leading cause of bankruptcy in America is medical debt.
These people didn’t spend all their money on luxury items. Their crime was that they got sick.
We are going to cancel all $81 billion in existing past-due medical debt.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 31, 2019
Social media users were a little skeptical of all these “magical cancel buttons,” while some questioned how soon other Democratic candidates will jump on board.
Here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:
It’s a mother feckin debt jubilee and I’m so here for it
— Winkle, Punching Up at Bedbugs? (@WinkleBerns) August 31, 2019
At my last calculation your spending promises total $50 trillion. Where is this money coming from or do you plan on bankrupting the country?
— Trigger (@CB_HTID) August 31, 2019
Start the clock on Elizabeth Warren releasing a “bold new plan” to allow means-tested refinancing of medical debt. She is trying hard, but imitators always fall behind.#Bernie2020
— Ignatius J. Reilly (@LevyPants07) August 31, 2019
Pandering to older Biden voters.
Canceling student debt and creating Medicare for all will get to the same place, with a more long-term benefit.
— Matt Aldridge (@M_Aldridge) August 31, 2019
How many of these magical “cancel” buttons exist out there? Every candidate seems to have one. Can I get a mortgage cancel button?
— Kent Doyle (@kaywdee) August 31, 2019
How do you cancel debt held by private companies?
— Jason Haddix (@doctor_eon) August 31, 2019
And I’m sure those owed the $81 billion won’t, say, simply stop providing coverage since they were told their agreed-upon debt is being unceremoniously canceled without fulfillment.
There’s further effect to this course of action than you’re describing.
— ?Misplaced Swamp Tortoise? (@RaySchneid) September 1, 2019
Isn’t magic fun? Maybe if you start pulling enough quarters from people’s ears you can pay for some of these fantasies.
— Farewellandadieu (@QSharkowski) August 31, 2019
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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