activism

[Gar W. Lipow]

Interesting. Single payer health is a big  movement here in Washington (finally)
. It has both the avantages and disadvantages of being led by doctors. The
advantage is that it is fairly well funded compared to your average grass roots
movement. The disadvantages is that the doctors are used to being at the top of
a pretty extreme hierarchy and  tend to use a very top down style. This is
mitagated by the realization that they cannot win by playing the
advertising/corporate game. In point of fact there is a co-ordinated initiatives
and referendums planned for simulaneious presenatation in California, Oregon and
Washington States.  This is to be preceded by a two  year door to door campaign
aimed at creating a large base which understands the issue in depth and thus is
immune to last minute ad barrages.

While the single payer movement accepts help from any part of the spectrum which
offers it, it remains a single issue movement not closely linked to any
movement. (It is at least not repeating the mistake the California single payer
initiative made a few years ago of trying to pander to the anti-choice
movement.) So, as a lowly volunteer within this movement, the only way I can
promote links to other movements is to occasionally point out to other
volunteers similiarities between the need for single payer health, and the need
for public provision of other public goods, and the broader importance of
economic equality.

Winning this immediate battle is an important place put our energies  right
now.. But if we do win I have the feeling there is an opportunity here to do
something more. The question is what, and how do we take advantage of it.

Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:


> Gar,
>
> >I work for a living and do activisim in my spare time.
>
> So do I. I am paid to teach composition, literature, etc. (part-time);
> naturally no university would ever pay anyone to think and theorize for
> revolution!
>
> Anyway, we have a good chance, I think, to restart a movement for national
> health care in the US, because many people--patients, nurses, doctors,
> other workers in health care industries--have become so negatively affected
> by HMOs and because downsizings have increased those without employer-paid
> health insurance. IMHO, reform-minded labor activists should take a lead in
> creating a coalition of people who are affected by HMOs--as workers and
> patients--to argue for national health care.
>
> I think HMOs are great targets for the left in that they symbolize greed,
> corruption, bureaucratic waste, and disregard for human life at the same
> time.
>
> Yoshie