JB: It seems like we haven't made any progress at all. Bernie's campaign in 2016 showed that there were hordes of voters who willingly support Medicare for all. And now, after the massive tax bill and its cuts to services, claims will be bandied about that we can't afford such an expense at this time. What would you say to that, Margaret?
MF: We have made progress because we now have record support for the model bill in the House, HR 676: The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act. There is also a new bill in the Senate that has 17 co-sponsors. While the Senate bill is highly flawed, it does open the door to discussions of Medicare for All in the Senate. And Democratic Party presidential hopefuls have signed on to the Senate bill. This is due to pressure on legislators by the public. Business leaders are speaking out in favor of NIMA too.
We do face serious threats to both Medicaid and Medicare. These have been undermined for decades through increasing privatization and cuts. At the same time, the popularity of Medicare and Medicaid is high, even among conservatives. We must fight those cuts and push for NIMA. These struggles go hand-in-hand.
When it comes to money, we are always told that there isn't enough money at the federal level for the things we need. We never hear that there isn't enough when it comes to expanding the military, cutting taxes for the rich or bailing out the banks and industries when they fail. The federal government can create money through the federal reserve. They can operate at a deficit.
Perhaps the most important point is that we can't afford to continue on the same path when it comes to health care. We spend the most on health care in the United States, twice what most other countries spend and they cover everyone, have better outcomes and longer life expectancies. Over the past few decades, economic studies have shown that single payer systems like NIMA will cost less in the long run.
JB: What you say is true about our health care spending compared with other industrial countries. And it doesn't seem sustainable, even if we somehow overlooked the fact that many millions of people are underinsured or not insured at all. But getting from where we currently are to a successful, major legislative push that reflects the public's desires is another thing. What are you recommending in terms of raising awareness and bringing pressure to bear?
MF: There are many groups across the country that advocate for NIMA. This has grown in recent years, and it is very exciting to see. I coordinate a national campaign called Health Over Profit for Everyone (HOPE). We provide education and tools for activists to get involved locally. We hold national education and organizing calls, information about how to hold educational events locally, resources for educating members of Congress and more. We are holding our first Spring Single Payer Action Camp in Washington, DC this April to build activists' skills. We also have a window sign campaign - people put signs supportive of NIMA on their homes, businesses and vehicles. The website is www.HealthOverProfit.org .
We need to focus on our members of Congress. Election season is a time when they are frequently in public, so this is a great time to press them on their support for NIMA. Those in office should be pressured to sign on to HR 676 in the House and to go beyond that by speaking out in favor of single payer health care.
The fact that a Wall Street-backed institution like the Center for American Progress is using Medicare for All language shows that we are having an impact. Our tasks are to stay on track pushing for NIMA, continue spreading the word about NIMA in our communities and press members of Congress to support NIMA. Together, we are changing the political culture so that anyone who runs for office will be compelled to support NIMA. That is how we'll win.
JB: Thanks so much for talking with me, Margaret. It's always a pleasure!
MF: Thanks, Joan.
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Some of my past interviews with Dr. Flowers for OpEdNews include:
Zeesse and Flowers: TPP Fight is NOT Over! June 29, 2015
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