So I watched the debate with a Republican co-worker tonight and there was one moment that

[Quixote1818]

caught my attention because he was saying yes to every question the candidate was asking the audience. The moment was when Sanders rattled off his series of financial burdens he wants to tackle. Don't get me wrong as this guy will NEVER vote for Sanders because he is a racist homophobe and religious nut, but if he wasn't a MAGA type he might have been open to Sanders. I believe these are the issues / questions Sanders listed:

1. Healthcare Burdin - I know for a fact his wife currently is not covered. She has had cancer, is high risk etc. I told them the exchange had to cover her but they are strange and seem to just hate it because Obama put it through.
2. Student Debt - He is 60 and STILL is paying off student debt
3. Prescription drugs - I have heard him complain to his wife many times how much they are getting ripped off for all their drugs. He recently had a triple bypass and he has diabetes and they are paying over $500 a month for drugs. His heart, diabetes and her issues.
4. Free college - Their son is about to start college and they don't know how they can afford to pay for it.


To get to the point, this moment and my co-workers reaction made me realize exactly why Sanders is resonating with HUGE numbers of folks. Because they are hurting and Sanders is a master at staying on a simple message. Keep in mind that Republicans are usually much better at messaging and keeping things simple for people to understand. Sanders is the ONLY one who seems to understand this and even though a lot of people tonight thought Sanders took some hits; to everyday struggling Americans he spoke RIGHT to them as the others sounded like John Kerry with too much detail and policy to where people tune out. Of course they want Sander to explain how he will pay for everything and these are very legitimate questions but in a debate this short, people don't expect someone to go over all the intricate, boring details.

I personally am in pretty good shape financially but I am fascinated by the tens of millions Sanders must be reaching by hitting on these extremely expensive, life threatening issues. Of the hot button issues Sanders mentions which if any apply to you?

Let me know if I forgot one of his hot button issues.

16 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	Healthcare Burden
	2 (13%)
	Student Debt
	0 (0%)
	Prescription Drugs
	0 (0%)
	In need of free college for you or children
	0 (0%)
	Two of these apply to me
	2 (13%)
	Three of these apply to me
	4 (25%)
	All four apply to me
	1 (6%)
	Zero apply to me
	7 (44%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I AM lucky, and I know it.

I am retired and have good retirement income. None of those issues applies to me at all.

[k2qb3]

2. That's been my experience too.

It isn't that Sanders is so far to the left.

It's the issues he focuses on are things everybody cares about.

Everybody I know is absolutely sick of the way our healthcare system currently works. Conservatives have very little good will to conserve on those topics.

The other advantage of his simple messaging is it keeps him clear of more divisive subjects, to the extent he's allowed to by everyone else anyway.

ETA- to answer your question, we're doing quite well, but I'm tired of spending enormous amounts on health insurance that doesn't pay for anything when we actually need it, paying cash for my scripts because it's cheaper than getting them through insurance, and my kids education is likely to limit my retirement options.

[elleng]

3. I'm OK, also retired with ok pension (and SocSec + medicare,)

adult daughters' educations were paid for by us, but concerned about THEIR abilities to deal with their kids' (my grandkids, ages 6 months - 6 years) educations.

[SunSeeker]

4. Never say never.

If Joe Walsh would vote for Bernie...your co-worker might vote Dem.

Walsh was initially a Trump supporter, but last year he apologized for “helping to put an unfit con man in the White House” as well as for his own extremist rhetoric over the years. The former favorite of the tea party movement says he hardly agrees with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on anything. 

But if Sanders is the Democratic nominee, Walsh says, he’ll not only vote for him but will campaign for him, too, to help beat President Donald Trump. 


“I’d rather have a socialist in the White House than a con man,” he wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Post. 

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5e55e8e5c5b649ec432f7248

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Any chance that

Health Care Burdin should really be Health Care Burden?

Otherwise, I haven't a clue what you mean by Health Care Burdin.

[Quixote1818]

7. Fixed it just for you so you will now have a "clue". I am dyslexic and failed 2nd grade

because I could not read or write. It was pretty devastating for me because of children constantly poking fun of my spelling and being in "the dumb" classes. I worked my way through college and self taught myself to write books. Feel free to buy my book 'Paisley Rabbit and the Treehouse Contest', which has won several awards, at the link below in my signature line.

In the future I would suggest you don't act superior to people who may make a spelling or grammar mistake. There are many types of intelligence and spelling and grammar is just one tiny component. Many of us have been through hell and when grown adults treat us the same way we were treated in Elementary school, many of those extremely hurtful emotions come back.

I forgot this forum pulls our signature lines so here you go: https://www.amazon.com/Paisley-Rabbit-Treehouse-Contest-Richardson/dp/097864221X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=314J6ETGB8NF6&keywords=paisley+rabbit+and+the+treehouse+contest&qid=1582730951&sprefix=Paisley+rabbit%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1

[Aussie105]

6. I had to press 'pass' as I'm not a US citizen.

I can understand people's concerns though.

Sanders is making some people think . . . . it need not be like this!