Medicare For All

Interesting dynamic in the debate last night. (No, I didn't watch; I never watch.)

Sanders and Warren staked out a position for single payer.  A few others attacked them for it, but largely ineffectually.  Tonight, Harris and Biden will likely lay out a plan for a medium course, similar to the one laid out by Buttigieg and O'Rourke.

Historically speaking there is only one way to increase medical coverage: incrementalism.  Every attempt to change the entire structure of health insurance in the country has failed.  It failed when the Progressives tried, FDR failed, Truman failed, and finally LBJ accepted the half a loaf of Medicaid and Medicare.  The Right freaked out (only civil rights was a bigger factor in empowering Goldwater), but eventually it became hallowed ground.  Nixon tried a half measure with Ted Kennedy, but Kennedy walked away (something he regretted).  Clinton tried full overhaul and failed.  Obama went half-measure and succeeded.

The next step should be a vigorous public option.  Employers and employees can elect to use Medicare/Medicaid as their health insurance program.  That - I think - is what Harris and Buttigieg are looking at, maybe Biden, too.

Enforced Medicare for All polls VERY poorly.  Medicare as an universal option polls very well.

Why would Democrats waddle into the threshing blades over this issue, when beating Trump is the single more important thing right now?