General Discussion

Politician A presents a plan for student debt relief with details and numbers. After that, populist politician B comes out with a slogan: Cancel All Student Debt. When asked about details and numbers, says, Well, I don't have the numbers in my pocket. There are no details, no real plan.

Politician A supports Medicare for All, but the numbers don't work, changes their mind and presents a plan with details and numbers. Vermont state tried it, Green Mountain Care. Failed. I think it was tried elsewhere. Populist B and supporters use Medicare for All as a purity test without any plan for how it will work, accuse those who don't support it as not progressives, in the pocket of Big Pharma, do not think health care is a human right, etc. Medicare for All has been around forever as a plan, populist B claims it's a radical new idea that Democrats hate.

Using slogans as purity tests to identify enemies. Saying that the only reason these supposedly simple solutions can't become reality is that Congress is corrupt, bribed. Young people fall for this if they are new to how government works, don't know the history of the Democratic Party, end up booing more loudly and angrily at the words "Democratic establishment" than at the words "Republican establishment." They become cynical and convinced Democrats turn their backs on the working/middle classes because they're beholden to a "donor class" that corrupts them with campaign contributions. Why should they vote if both sides are same. Opportunity to educate and inspire young people to get involved in government and their own future squandered. For what.