Healthy leadership is required to pass healthy legislation, and that makes for a healthy society. If our leaders don't have the political will to fight for healthy legislation—Senator Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All Act, S.1804 being a prime example—then we are, as a country, fundamentally unwell.
How is our health affected by the society in which we live? Why are U.S. patients consistently among the sickest in the industrialized world, despite having the highest health expenditure per person? How has the investment of tens of billions of dollars in healthcare technology affected patients and the nursing profession?
A recent Washington Post article highlighted how National Nurses United and other progressive groups influenced and shaped Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (D-Wash.) new Medicare for All act into the strongest possible legislation.
NNU Executive Director, Bonnie Castillo, RN, Contributing to The Hill
The past two weeks have been a "Where's Waldo" moment for President Obama. He's been largely a bystander while tens of thousands of American workers, joined by students, and community allies, marched in Madison's snow and freezing temperatures, and slept on the floors of the capitol to defend their most fundamental right to freedom of assembly and a collective voice.
Michael Moore is hosting his film festival in Michigan this week, and I sure hope they are showing “Gaslight†from 1944. The American electorate would be wise to watch it again and to put into context the messages of our elected officials as they work us to do their bidding on the debt deal and beyond. There are acting awards to be given in the latest turn of events – the President and the Speaker of the House might vie for best actor’s honors while the Senate Majority Leader and Tea Party darling Eric Cantor would surely compete for best supporting actors among a plethora of worthy players.
The percentage of adults with no health insurance is the highest on record, 17.3 percent of adults as of the third quarter of 2011. Three years ago, in the third quarter of 2008, only 14.4 percent of adults lacked health insurance.
After spending the past month on the California Nurses Association Medicare for all bus tour in California, I am more confident than ever about the prospects of winning guaranteed healthcare for all under an improved Medicare model. Cradle to grave. For life. In California. Everywhere. By Donna Smith
Across the country, RNs are getting out the vote. Nurses make sure that their communities understand what's at stake, and make the connection between "big politics" and everyday life. Thanks, nurses, for all you do!
The undemocratic, illegal process used to pass that law was shameful. The bills were rushed through the Legislature in a way Michigan has never seen, without public comment and with citizens locked out of the Capitol at times.
