Interview with Greg Miller
One of our correspondents in Northern California, interviewed Greg Miller, coordinator and activist with the Campaign for a Healthy California in Santa Clara County.
Tribuno del Pueblo: When and why did this Campaign for a Healthy California emerge?
Greg Miller: Since 1994, there was in California a more-or-less untied movement for a universal health care system. We became a more integrated and coordinated Campaign a year and a half ago. Our Campaign supports the conversion of the current quasi-health system—either federal or state—into a nonprofit system guaranteeing access to all residents, independently or employment and immigration status, and limiting health care costs. Several bills are pending: HR 676 in Congress and SB 810 in the California legislature, both with the same objective. In California, due to a difficult system of having taxes approved, where one must obtain a 2/3 vote, not just a majority, the strategy is first approval by simple majority of a bill that sets up the structure of the new system. Then, voters would approve financing, through taxes, by a 2/3 initiative in the general election. To succeed, it is crucial to build a large, diverse social movement.
TP: How would this health system be financed?
GM: In two ways: (1) eliminating the expense of private insurance companies and negotiating with the corporations, hospitals, pharmaceuticals and other companies, prices that are lower and fair for health care services, medicines and equipment; and (2) increasing payroll taxes for Medicare and/or other types of taxes, for example, on high incomes.
TP: Why doesn’t a universal health care system exist in the U.S.?
GM: Definitely the power of corporations. Hospitals, insurance, pharmaceuticals and other companies are concentrated in large corporations. These corporations realize many benefits by restricting health care, imposing the highest prices, and advocating for changes in the law that give them an advantage. They use their power through monetary contributions to political campaigns and publicizing their products and opinions in the media. For example, the law of Medicare Part D, is a gift to the pharmaceutical corporations, in which negotiation by government to reduce prices of medicines is specifically prohibited, so beneficiaries of Medicare are paying exorbitant prices.
TP: Would undocumented immigrants have access to this universal health care system?
GM: Of course, the concept is Medicare for All. The idea is that all pay for this system, and all are covered. The requirement is residence, independently of one’s immigration status or employment.
TP: What are the accomplished and future objectives of the Campaign for a Healthy California?
GM: The principal achievement is the very creation of this Campaign. Also we have coordinate strategic objectives for the organizations’ members. Furthermore, the Campaign is formed of regional coalitions, adapted to the different regions. Each coalition must identify and enlist the groups or organizations most critical to build the movement to make it stronger and as diverse as possible. In this way, we have united efforts more effectively in education on the need for Medicare for All. We are working each day so that more organizations join us, from unions and organization for social Justice, religious, entrepreneurial, student, ethnic, retired, gays and lesbians, etc. The greatest future challenge we face is construction of a strong, diverse social movement necessary to achieve Medicare for All.
Medicare for All each day is closer to becoming a reality.
