With all of the horror at the cuts being made by the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), there are planned economic boycotts which can be seen in the image below. The cuts to Medicaid will do serious harm to many at the lower end of the economic scale. The Democrats are currently focused on maintaining the social services that are now being hacked away by DOGE. In the video above, Ed Grystar argues for a national single payer and mass movements for social justice. Single payer is analogous to Bernie Sanders Medicare for All proposal. The video above was made before the 2020 election.
The economic boycott for today (Feb 28) means to not shop at national chain businesses such as Walmart, Amazon, or McDonald’s. Then there are specific boycotts of other large conglomerates which have supported these draconian cuts.
Single payer is shown to be more efficient at providing care while controlling costs. The healthcare industry, including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and the insurance industry, has been well organized to use scare tactics to prevent it from happening in the U.S. We need a mass movement of well informed citizens to counteract these tactics. We cannot just hold on to the social justice victories of the 1930s and the 1960s.
I have worked with Ed Grystar for more then 20 years. Reforms like single payer need mass movements in order to happen. Just as for profit healthcare does not work, for profit media outlets are not capable of informing the public on the social ills they face.
As a reminder, this evening we will have a fundraiser for Allegheny Independent Media. It will be at Studio 404 in on 404 Messenger St. in Johnstown. For those of you who cannot come you may donate at this website.