> When was the last time a major politician said something a long the lines of
I can only answer considering Brazil, my home country. Despite the mess that we're currently in, even we have these points in the public debate. Fixing the income tax progression to rebalance the tax burden, reducing tax on goods and compensating on services, prioritizing investments on public services essential but currently too expensive for the poor (e.g. infant day care). More often we discuss that taxes are not following the "principle of contributive capacity" than we discuss increasing taxes (except for stock dividends and other super-rich stuff, which are also always mentioned).
I won't say that we're having significant progress, as there are always some profiting from the current state of affairs to block the road, but if you pay attention to the right politicians, those topics pop up constantly.
Every progressive politician beats the drum of more taxes, more money for healthcare (and other stuff) and things magically improve. When was the last time a major politician said something a long the lines of: "let's think how to make doctor visits cheaper so people don't avoid them, maybe you know, lower requirements, allow nurses and other healthcare workers to carry simple checkups or minor treatments".
Making stuff cheaper if what worked historically to improve the economic situation of poor/lower economic classes. It should be the main focus but it somehow isn't.