Mark Small

In capitalism, concerns for profit supersede concerns for people. A myth of capitalism is that it fosters competition and, through that competition, the marketplace benefits. 7/26

Given basic economic forces, socialism should not be feared. It makes sense. Basic dynamics of economics boil down to “stuff.” People need it, there only are so many ways to make it, and the more people that control it, the better. 8/26

Also, a country’s economic system does not have to be one hundred percent (100%) purely socialist. Parts can function on principles of socialism. Socialism has been part of the USA’s system for a long time. 9/26

After this country’s experiences in the late 1800s and during the Great Depression, Federal measures were taken to protect people and included Social Security and the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). 10/26

Social Security protects people who are old or disabled and is part of our social “safety net.” The FDIC was created to protect the non-rich from the effects of bank failures. (See: “It’s a Wonderful Life”) 11/26

Before & during Great Depression, ppl lost life savings when bank they used folded Old people were supposed to just “make do.” As many times as people have predicted the imminent collapse of Social Security, it’s still running. 12/26

As to competition, when lots of $ is required 2 build something, it makes > sense for govt 2 control. Our Interstates - sys that arose under Republican Pres Eisenhower - involved a lot of money and government control. 13/26

Prisons, hospitals & air traffic control involve capital & coordination, as well as substantive matters (i.e., what they do) best run by govt Prisons run privately & 4 profit R prime example of why those institutions should be run by the public. 14/26

On specific issues, Mr. Bales is inconsistent: he wants > control by Fed govt if it serves his needs. Ppl pay taxes into Fed govt, yet he would cut funding to cities that provide sanctuary to immigrants. 15/26

Economy: improve our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but doesnt say how If he’d assistance any businesses, esp large ones, that inherently is anti-free market and, many would say, socialistic. 16/26

Health care: Mr Bales bashes ACA (first originated by then-Mass Gov (and Republican) Mitt Romney) & suggests, in part, we “lower the cost of prescription drugs and hospital care through a National Fee Schedule...” 17/26

A national fee schedule would not work without enforcement. If that enforcement is “national” it necessarily means the Federal government - read “The Summer of 1787" and why the Articles of Confederation were replaced. 18/26

Mr Bales says natl health care would bankrupt America Our current healthcare system has been effective at bankrupting people. A study last February found 66.5% of bankruptcies were tied to medical issues. 109 Amer J Public Health No. 3, p. 411, 02/06/19. 19/26

The report notes the numbers are similar to those pre-ACA. A lot of us believed ACA did not go far enough. These debts would have been off people’s shoulders if the USA had single payor. 20/26

If “socialized” health care is bad, then the USA’s health care system should be at the top. It is not. In a March, 2019, paper, for quality of health care, we were ranked 37th. 21/26

Okay, but if socialized medicine is so bad, there should be few, if any, countries, ranked ahead of us in which socialized medicine is a large component or an entire system that we would call “socialized.” 22/26

Of 36 countries ahead of us, only 2 R considered either to not have socialized medicine or a large component of its system socialized. Norway, ranked 11th, has a deductible of equivalent of $200. Morocco has mixed mandatory and private insurance. 23/26

Mr. Bales criticizes current occupant of Oval Office on 1 issue: natl debt. I’m the only candidate in GOP primary 2 say we should cut military budget in 1/2. That will make us more secure and get us on the road to restore our economy. 24/26

I’m a different kind of Republican, 1 that lately has been rare. I’m pro-choice & anti-war. We need ignorance & bigotry out of politics. 2 steps that direction: 1) remove an illegal President from the WH and 2) have rational people in charge of the GOP. 25/26