SOCIAL DEMOCRACY Manifesto

A legacy of 2020 Part 1

DISCLAIMER: This book is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents depicted herein are either products of the authors' imagination, used fictitiously, or are collective false memories. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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I extend my deep appreciation to Kyle Kulinski, a man whose multifaceted identity — progressive, social democrat, agnostic atheist, secular humanist, left-wing populist, and left-libertarian — echoes the varied and vibrant voices of those striving for change. He has stood firm in his convictions, unyieldingly advocating for transformation on a scale many would deem audacious. His devotion to shifting our national discourse leftwards from its far-right alignment is a testament to his enduring belief in the possibilities of progress.

Kulinski has been instrumental in galvanizing public attention towards a constellation of social democratic ideals. His unrelenting advocacy for Medicare for All underscores his belief in healthcare as a universal right, not a privilege. He champions a living wage, embodying the spirit of dignity in labor and economic justice. His call for free college education acknowledges the transformative power of knowledge in this fourth industrial revolution, empowering the nation to forge ahead in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Moreover, his clarion call to end the drug war resounds with compassion and practicality, recognizing the need for a paradigm shift from criminalization to rehabilitation. Lastly, his unwavering support for the Green New Deal illuminates his commitment to environmental justice and sustainable future, intertwining the fight against climate change with the pursuit of socioeconomic equality. For all of these endeavors and more, I thank Kyle Kulinski. His tireless work continues to inspire, challenge, and propel us towards a more equitable and just America.

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Introduction

In the face of the future, a shadow grim,

Where the people's wish seldom wins.

Lost were we, in the year of twenty-score,

Became but a race of lesser horrors and more.

Biden, my friend, his promises slain,

Our dream for the folk, long held in vain.

Thus, we seek a future, better and bright,

Laid bare are our demands, in the fading light.

A dying wish, a manifesto bold,

In ink and spirit, our hopes enfold.

This manifesto, a collected lore,

Of progressive thoughts, ideas, and more.

A dream shared by social democrats,

A popular pulse, beating under hats.

In thriving all, we see our creed,

A single law passed, a significant deed.

Please, share in this wish, so vast, so free,

And see the world as we wish it to be.

Why manifesto?

The path to redemption in 2020 found no dawn,

Yet the journey's end is where it's drawn.

Five years long has been our quest,

With each progressive step, we hoped for the best.

Yet when the stage called for progressive minds,

Many a soul found slumber's binds.

Bernie Sander's first race lit a hopeful light,

Extinguished when the second run took flight.

We are but desperate folk, burning for ideals so bright,

Our flesh, our souls aflame, we stand and fight.

In desperation's name, our manifesto we declare,

To speak our truth, to hope, to dare.

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Chapter 1: Medicare For All

Behold the policies of day-zero, enumerated thus:

Foremost, Medicare For All, M4A as it is known, or single-payer, universal care. In denying a human's right to life and health, we commit an egregious act. Medical care stands as a fundamental right of the human condition. Acknowledged are the diseases that remain beyond our reach, demanding resources, manpower, and wealth to an astronomical degree, yet basic care we can provide. We stand ready to support those in dire need, whether it be to sustain life, provide terminal care, or effectuate a cure. Let common ailments, accidents, and emergencies find relief in the arms of universal healthcare. The ratio of public funds to out-of-pocket expenses ought to be at least 1:3, indicating a healthcare system willing to shoulder our burdens thrice over.

There exists a litany of cancers and chronic diseases demanding expensive experimental treatments or radical interventions. Here, we must find balance between the potential for expenditure and social efficiency. Such treatments may be elective, but let the basic sustenance of care be freely provided.

Never shall we countenance the horror of individuals reduced to mere commodities, offered up to the highest bidder for their survival. No one should be forced to surrender their life or health merely for shelter or sustenance. The specter of bankruptcy should not haunt significant life events. Healthcare stands as a right, an undeniable bulwark against the hardships of life.

The leeches of profit, these "middlemen," have bled our nation for decades. Picture, if you will, a world in which the simplest errands require consultation. The march of life science has doubled our lifespan in the last century. Where once we bowed to fate and accepted death, we now resist. Yet, as the gates of healthcare rise higher and higher, access becomes an increasingly costly commodity.

Why, then, do we champion Medicare For All?

Health is a right, not a privilege, and those who are ill would pay any price for wellness.

• It is too costly, say the critics.

Indeed, Medicare For All demands a high price. But the ends justify the expenditure. In our country, 30 million souls remain uninsured, 8 million underinsured, a number rivaling the population of Canada. Yet, despite this, the cost per capita in the U.S.A., including the uninsured, remains the highest worldwide. For the first time, life expectancy for Americans has declined in the last decade, a chilling statistic unseen since the Great Depression. When one couples these truths, it becomes clear: health insurance is a lifesaver.

The current system of insurance requires a staggering network of physicians, insurance managers, brokers, and your own insurance team, all while ensuring profit for the insurance company. Eliminating these profit-driven middlemen and insurance specialists, we can reduce the cost of medical care, allowing physicians a larger share.

Young and old, hear this well: there exists a plethora of mediocre physicians profiting from prescribing costly branded drugs, ignorant of medical advancements, relying on past experiences to diagnose. Imagine the chronically ill treating the sick; there might be wisdom in this. If the floodgates of education were opened to democratize the medical doctor degree, the truth of our path would be laid bare.

On aggregate, M4A will yield savings for most Americans and potentially save the lives of the remainder.

May We Have a St0ry:

In the industrial heartland of Michigan, a family of four struggled to make ends meet. Jack Smith, a welder by trade, and his wife Molly, a high school teacher, along with their two children, Lily and Liam, lived a modest but comfortable life. Everything changed when Jack was diagnosed with a serious heart condition that required immediate bypass surgery.

Despite their health insurance, the steep price of the operation was insurmountable. The insurance company pointed fingers at the hospitals for the high costs, while the hospitals reciprocated by blaming insurance companies. Caught in the crossfire, the Smiths found themselves trapped in a complex and costly system.

Out of desperation, they considered an unconventional route: travelling to Cuba for Jack's surgery. They had heard stories of neighbors finding affordable medical care abroad. They were initially skeptical, but Jack's rapidly declining health left them with no other option.

Once in Cuba, they found a hospital that far exceeded their expectations. It was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, staffed with well-trained doctors, and, to their relief, charged only a fraction of what they would have paid back home.

Upon returning to Michigan, the Smiths felt a newfound sense of frustration towards the U.S. healthcare system. The exorbitant costs at home were not a mere result of insurance company greed, but a symptom of a broader issue. The system, they realized, was being manipulated by a network of pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and clinics, with profit taking precedence over patient welfare.

Fueled by their experience, the Smiths became advocates for healthcare reform. They shared their story with local newspapers, social media, and at community gatherings. Their firsthand account of finding affordable healthcare outside of the U.S resonated with many, becoming a rallying cry for those demanding change.

However, reform was a steep uphill battle. The healthcare industry's influence was deeply entrenched, and the government seemed more interested in maintaining the status quo. The Smiths remembered with frustration, President Trump's plan to import doctors and introduce super visas, a potential solution that was pushed aside by President Biden's administration in favor of other issues.

The Smiths were no politicians, but ordinary Americans who had been failed by their healthcare system. They felt a sense of duty not only to fight for their own right to affordable healthcare, but for all citizens who found themselves in a similar predicament. Through community rallies, petitions, and peaceful demonstrations, they ignited a campaign for reform that began to gather momentum.

Their story stands as a reminder of the power that ordinary people hold when they stand up against systemic injustice. The road to healthcare reform in America is fraught with challenges, but with every shared story and act of advocacy, it moves a step closer to becoming a reality.

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• The healthy will overpay, they claim. Here we find another instance of flawed reasoning. Those who contribute to unemployment benefits are currently employed. By this line of thought, should the employed refrain from paying taxes to evade supporting the needs of others? The system establishes a balance, where the vigor of youth underwrites the fragility of age, secure in the knowledge that as youth fades or health fails, their contributions will be repaid. The state stands as the guarantor of this covenant, affirming that none shall escape the inevitable toll of time.

This is a subtle means of masking the morally ambiguous decree of a quiet death. Should we abandon those born with congenital afflictions or wounded by unforeseen calamity to the cold hand of social Darwinism, the blame is deflected, spread amongst all. In this case, the state is relieved of the burden of declaring an individual too costly to save. A collective action removes individual guilt; blood shared by all ensures none can claim innocence. It is nature's way - absent healthcare, the weak are culled, just as predators single out the weakest of the herd.

• The government is untrustworthy. It curtails our choice, they argue. "Life is dear, love is dearer. Both can be given up for freedom." - Petőfi Sándor. To free oneself from the specter of death and despair, I propose choosing love, the love manifest in the shared bond of your fellow Americans and their support, embodied in Medicare for All.

Imagine a society where happiness is the norm and lifestyles mirror one another. Traditional wisdom would have each member save for potential crises. Then Sam proposes an alternative: each contributes to a community fund that enables hiring a physician to provide universal healthcare. The physician would remain at the community center, available as needed, eliminating the risks of unavailability during emergencies or price hikes in times of epidemic. Such a community fund also mitigates financial risk and the cost of time, ensuring the wealthy retain their wealth and the poor receive services they can pay back later.

The government's trustworthiness is not the matter at hand. The pivotal aspects are these: a non-profit system outperforms a for-profit one in terms of cost and efficiency, and the cost of managing additional layers inevitably expands with time. The existing Medicare and Medicaid programs function well enough; M4A builds upon them, promising at least a basic level of efficiency, devoid of overt corruption.

Freedom of choice is not the same as freedom. In a crisis, the options often reduce to paying for assistance or succumbing to illness. The multiplicity of insurance options can be overwhelming. Here, let me share a secret: the wealthy seldom invest in insurance. Their wealth buffers against hardship, and insuring against risk proves too costly. They consider themselves "safe" and see no need to invest in "safety". However, if they perceive a disparity between their knowledge of risk and that of the insurer, they might pay the insurance premium and await a profitable outcome. Unless you are rich or a physician-broker, M4A will likely be your optimal choice. It provides a basic option with the possibility of add-ons. Everyone begins with a gold health plan, but upgrades remain possible.

No insurance company offers an ideal plan. Why? Because those who did are no more.

• How are you going to pay for it?