By Nellie Bailey, Black Agenda Report
The Only Way to Win Single Payer is to Leave the Democratic Party
By Glen Ford, Executive Editor, Black Agenda Report
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by executive editor Glen Ford
When supermajorities find that they cannot move their “own” political party to represent their interests, then it’s time to cut that party loose. “The best thing that the national majority and the Democratic super-majority can do, for the sake of everyone’s health and the future of democracy, is to leave the Democratic Party.” A national health disaster is looming. Single payer is the only solution.
The Only Way to Win Single Payer is to Leave the Democratic Party
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by executive editor Glen Ford
“Sticking with the Democrats only encourages them in their loyalty to their corporate masters.”
Sixty percent of the American people – three out of every five adults -- favor some form of single payer health care. They are a clear majority, but they have no major political party to represent them. More than 80 percent of the Democrats -- four out of every five – support a Medicare-for-all, single payer health care system, but their party refuses to represent them on this life and death issue. The best thing that the national majority and the Democratic super-majority can do, for the sake of everyone’s health and the future of democracy, is to leave the Democratic Party.
Clearly, the people that control the Democratic Party would rather lose elections than fight for single payer health care. So, cut them loose, and let them lose. As long as the debate over health care is monopolized by Democrats and Republicans, there will never be a decent, humane and affordable health delivery system in the United States.
Not one Democratic Senator is committed to single payer. That includes Bernie Sanders, who has not submitted a bill this year – and, if you don’t have a bill, then you’re not serious about single payer health care. Sanders talked up a storm about single payer during the primary campaign, but then essentially shut up after endorsing Hillary Clinton, the candidate who said that single payer would “never, never” happen. That wasn’t a prediction; it was a promise by Clinton that she would do her utmost to prevent health care from becoming a right in the United States.
President Obama dealt a huge blow to single payer health care, when he pulled a bait and switch on his supporters, back in 2009. Obama had campaigned on a promise to provide, what he called, “universal” health care, which virtually everyone took to mean single payer. Instead, Obama invited private drug and insurance corporations to write his Affordable Care Act -- which has now been largely dismantled by the Republicans, who are at least honest about opposing health care for all Americans, on principle.
64 Co-Signers – But Nobody’s Pushing Single Payer
The GOP’s plan, according to the Congressional Budget Office, would result in 52 million people without health insurance within the next decade, compared to the 28 million that would have remained uninsured under Obamacare. Fourteen million people would be cut from Medicaid, which would lose 25 percent of its budget. And, federal health care subsidies would be reversed, with young people getting big tax credits to encourage them to buy insurance, and older people paying far higher premiums out of their pockets.
Obamacare was bad, Trumpcare is worse, and there is nothing to prevent a national health care disaster except passage of single payer health care. It is the only solution. Sixty four members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed on to Congressman John Conyers’ Medicare-for-all bill. But, none of them are actively pushing the legislation. Instead, they’re trying to resurrect the ghost of Obamacare -- just like Bernie Sanders is doing. Sticking with the Democrats only encourages them in their loyalty to their corporate masters. What’s needed, is for single supporters to leave the party and let their voices be heard in the streets. Single payer supporters already comprise huge majorities. The Democrats are nothing but the ball-and-chain that paralyzes people’s movements.
For Black Agenda Radio, I’m Glen Ford. On the web, go to BlackAgendaReport.com.
BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com.
Appendix
Why contributing to the Greanville Post is urgent and makes sense.
The answer is that we pay attention to the entire world, not just to the “me-centered" US. Our contributors have spent a good portion of their lives among other peoples—roaming the world, or reporting from Beijing, Shenzhen, Rome, Paris, London, Lima, Wroclaw, and other important venues—gaining the kind of insight that can only come from a life-long commitment to understanding ‘the Other’. Our dispatches are therefore always focused on the other side’s story, and as unprecedented changes come to Washington, and therefrom, across the globe, you will want to know what under-reported or under-analyzed events are driving US policy. You won’t have to wait weeks to read our columnists’ take on what’s going on, by which time, sixteen other major events will have taken place. Because they have been watching the Big Picture literally for decades, they are able to locate daily events in both time and space, making it easier for you to sort out reality from imperialist fantasy. And the world of difference between our reporting and that of the mainstream media is magnified when it comes to backstories and forecasts. Learning what is really happening in the world today is no longer an option. Our planet’s very salvation now depends on truth reaching as many people as possible. Get the facts here and pass them on. Start by supporting the Greanville Post in its vital work. Now more than ever. Use the PayPal button below.
DISCLAIMER
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are of sole responsibility of the author(s). The Greanville Post, a publication of The Voice of Nature Network, Inc., (VNN), a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, will not be responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect statement in this article. The Greanville Post grants permission to cross-post original The Greanville Post articles on community internet sites as long as the text & title are not modified. The source and the author's copyright must be displayed. For publication of The Greanville Post articles in print or other forms including commercial internet sites, contact: greanville@gmail.com
THE GREANVILLE POST contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, economic and social issues, and the furtherance of peace and social justice, the defence of our planetary ecosystems, and the prevention and eventual elimination of human abuse, exploitation,.and cruelty toward any and all non-human species The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission from the copyright owner.
For media inquiries contact us at greanville@gmail.com
What will it take to bring America to live according to its own self image?