...Rabbi Michael Lerner Copyright © Tikkun magazine 2009 EDITORIALS BY RABBI MICHAEL LERNER Why the Left Lost Single-Payer H ealth Care R eform h e substance o f t h e “sin g le-payer” proposal is Ronald Reagan managed...

... to know as we attempted to deal with his A single-payer program has special appeal because it would diabetes and its complications. In the years I had knownadd him, little his or nothing to our nation’s overall health care expenses illnessO had never been under control. He had been...

... by the Civilian or mayor would use paid municipal Conservation Corps. It could be reused employees to supervise the work. WHYTHE LEFT LOSTSINGLE-PAYER REFORM nationwide to build a twenty-first- Workers could be paid at the end of Thank you Rabbi Lerner for century electrified hi-speed rail line...

... and complex than we can reasonably expect to have clarified through political discourse. Leading the list by far is the failure of these propos­ als to address the central problem blocking reform—the private multi-payer system itself...

... was at the forefront. In 6 p.m. Pacific Time order to disarm the supporters of a single-payer plan, who are the majority, a campaign was (9 p.m. Eastern) developed around a promised “compromise,” the public option, and given tens...

...Gar Alperovitz Copyright © Tikkun magazine 2012 At the state level, many interesting developments are taking place: Sixteen states (most famously Vermont) have passed — or are exploring the creation of — a single-payer system or a public option in health care. Seventeen states have...

... to accurate, un­ you: I am hopeful because I am seeing trem endous energy biased information and having adequate time to develop and enthusiasm am ong single-payer advocates. We the intim ate and trusting healing relationship. have not given up. We say...

... system work? Will families and on the federal entitlement system of Medicare and all ofthe patient, provider, and payer behavioral changes assumed Medicaid, 16 percent of the American economy and rising. Again, in this massive reworking of the health care system actually pro­ worthy...

... a federation could pursue a program of structural reform such as a campaign for single-payer health care or the public ownership of utilities. This political formation could make a fundamental departure from past efforts by recognizing the imperative to transform our basic economic and social institutions...

... system, with single-payer insurance, a noncommercial system. Why the glaring inconsistency? Many U.S. progressives believe that banning advertising (de-commercializing the public media) is a violation of corporate...

... in the ously results to lead favorable in­ an swat Christ Would Jesus he’sLama. exactlyDalai not the single-payer and medicines, AMA...

... promised to got used to support them! stand for when elected. How did this happen? Was he lying to us in the way he pre­ He failed to embrace a single-payer health plan or to fight ef­ sented himself in the 2008 elections? I don’t think so. Rather, fectively...

... believes that the Marranos were the para­ care. Yes, decent health care is partly a matter of who gets digm of separation between Jewish existence and Jewish religion, enabling access, and yes, single-payer reform would go a long way Jewish nationalism, assimilation, secularization...

... of incremental attempts to rein in costs, including m anaged care and consum er-directed health care. None have worked. We have a solution in plain sight—single-payer National Health Insurance (NHI). Mar­ ket stakeholders are fighting it fiercely...

... that relieved hospitals of patients whose care could not be medically justified and therefore would not be reimbursed by federal, state, or private payers. The skilled nursing facilities have their own sad history. By 1970 the construction of skilled nursing facilities exploded due to the increased numbers...

... health care” will make any common good on the basis of for single payer health care. Though we’ve always system somewhat dysfunc­ their ethical or spiritual com­ So, the Network of Spiri­ been fans of Michael Moore tional. mitments seems so...

.... This is a great high-priority job for Hillary Clinton. 8. Don’t let the insurance companies buy small banks to get at the treasury moneys. Let Daschle move health care toward a single-payer system to make us cost-effective and globally competitive. Sell it to the business commu­...

... to confront corporate power in order to immediately institute universal single­ payer health care, a Global Marshall Plan, and a global restructuring of the world economy in the interests of preserving...

... healthcare access and healthcare reform. it them from raising their prices again and again). I look forward to the day when we’ll see universal single-payer KE: Well, I think that estimate of the number of people eligible healthcare. But I understand that things sometimes go in steps...