Thread by @HoarseWisperer

Okay, I’m going to lay out a metaphor for the high-level conceptual idea of Warren’s Medicare for All plan.

All metaphors are imperfect simplifications and this one will be too but it’s not without a basis...

1/

Imagine instead of talking about healthcare and coverage, we were talking about a public bus systems like the kind commuters take into a major city like New York City.

Right now, people who can afford to buy a ticket can take a variety of bus options to get to work.

2/

Some people can’t afford the public buses and some would rather pay more to drive.

Every commuter needs a way to work though...

3/

Warren’s plan is akin to saying “Everybody deserves a good, fast, affordable commute to work.”

(all commuters clap)

“So, here is what I’m going to do...” Warren continues.

4/

“I’m going to do the following:

1) Improve the roads. Shorter routes, less traffic.

2) Regulate the price of gasoline. Cheaper gas brings the costs down.

3) Limit what people in the commuting business can make.

4) Make the Ferrari guys pay more.

5/

“And the last thing I’m gonna do is build 1,000 passenger super-buses that all commuters will take from now on.”

(clapping thins)

“Super buses will be super efficient. The federal government will run the super bus system.”

(clapping thins some more)

6/

Then Warren opens it up to questions:

“I drive to a park and ride and take a private bus because it leaves every 15 minutes. Can I still take that one?”

Warren: “No, but the new one will be cheaper.”

7/

“My current bus picks me up a block away from my house. Will the new one stop there?”

Warren: “The new one will be more efficient and a lot cheaper.”

“Just as close though?”

Warren: “Everyone will have a good, cheap bus now. That’s the point.”

8/

“My bus company has been pretty good. I don’t live the idea of a federal bus. Can I just keep my current bus?”

Warren: “No, private buses will be outlawed. The federal ones will be great though.”

(room falls into whispers)

9/

Finally, one commuter speaks up:

“We love the idea but the one-size-fits-all doesn’t work for all of us.

Couldn’t we just do all the stuff you said but without the mandatory federal super bus part?”

10/

Commuter continues “Couldn’t we make the roads better and regulate the cost of gas and make the Ferrari guys pay more now? Couldn’t we just offer super buses for people who want them and let people keep private ones if they want?”

11/

Warren: “No, it’s Super Buses or none of this because that would be the cheapest and most efficient.”

Commuters: “We like the optional super buses plan better...”

12/

Like I said, a simplification but not a terrible one.

Warren’s plan hinges on effectively cutting payments to providers, regulating drug costs and taxing the wealthy and corporations.

Those would be widely popular components.

13/

The requirement of a single, government-run public option won’t be though.

Lots of reasons for that but voters are going to like and be attracted to a public *option* and repelled by a public *mandate*.

14/

I’m coming at this from the perspective of someone who spent their career understanding what makes people tick and using those insights to craft “consumer value propositions”.

I’m talking about the “product” of Warren’s Medicare for All plan and how it will be received.

15/

It is the best M4A plan out there.

It will not be sellable to the overall electorate.

People want all the benefits without the trade-offs and drawbacks.

Mandated federal coverage isn’t the solution that offers the best blend of each.

16/

Mark my words, the focus on Warren’s plan is actually going to renew the attention on plans like Kamala Harris’...

...and those plans are going to poll far higher once fully understood.

I’ll bet any takers a frosty beer on it.

17/17

And just because I have to restate this every single time I talk about healthcare:

- Our system is broken
- Affordable healthcare should be a basic right
- I strongly support universal healthcare
- I want to see us actually get there