Demagogues for Fiscal Responsibility

(also against Putin and Castro)

Klobuchar, Buttigieg, Bloomberg, and Biden are classical demagogues.

demagogue A political orator or leader who gains favor by pandering to or exciting the passions and prejudices of the audience rather than by using rational argument.

They shout $50, $60, $70 trillion for single payer health care to scare people.  But single payer costs much less where it used in other countries, as compared to our existing system in the United States.  Single payer will reduce costs by cutting into the inefficient existing system.  This means that a lot of people who profit from the current system will make less money from it -- i.e. the vested interests.

Mayo Pete math (sponsored by Aetna):  Health care is free when provided by the private sector.

So the Democratic establishment is trying to scare us by acting as if a single payer system will bankrupt the country.  In fact, the country's health care system as a whole will be more efficient, but the vested interests that support the establishment will be adversely affected in the short run.

BE AFRAID.  THE COUNTRY WILL GO BANKRUPT (unspoken: if we do anything which will affect my campaign contributors' profits).

Demagogic logic:

1. Be afraid of Bernie!!  He will bankrupt the country.
2. Bernie will lose to Trump because people are afraid.

Of course, according to the demagogues, there are other reasons to be afraid of Bernie (who dares to take on some establishment interests).  For example, be afraid of Bernie because he is supported by the Russians! 

So it boils down to whether or not we should genuinely be afraid of Bernie because of his policy proposals.  The answer is a resounding no. We will not go bankrupt or suffer withering inflation if we implement a more efficient health care financing system.  Russia will not be controlling our government if Bernie wins.  This is just good old fashioned demagoguery.

For more on modern day demagogues' favorite subjects, please see Two Great Societal Lies.