Our Biggest Ever Healthcare Strike: Harold Meyerson; plus the 'Fabulous Failure' of Bill Clinton: Nelson Lichtenstein
Oct 5, 2023
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Harold Meyerson comments on the largest healthcare strike in US history, while Nelson Lichtenstein explains Bill Clinton's turn to the right. California's ethnic group politics and a new solar energy project in Minnesota are also discussed.
The healthcare worker strike in California highlighted issues such as low staffing levels and burnout among healthcare staff.
California's demographic changes and ethnic diversity play a significant role in the state's political landscape.
Bill Clinton's turn to the right and failures in addressing healthcare reform serve as crucial lessons for today's Democrats.
Deep dives
Healthcare workers strike in California
California saw the largest strike of healthcare workers in American history, with 75,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente participating. The strike, which also took place in other states, was organized by a coalition of eight unions, including SEIU. The strike highlighted issues such as low staffing levels and burnout among healthcare staff.
California's ethnic group politics
California's demographic makeup has significantly changed over the years, with Latinos now representing the largest ethnic group at around 40%. The state's political landscape reflects this diversity, with blacks historically holding more elected positions despite being a shrinking part of the electorate. Characteristics of Texas' demographics are similar to California, but the political climate is deeply conservative.
The failures of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton's presidency is critiqued for its turn to the right, including adopting right-wing ideas such as welfare reform and deregulating banks and telecommunications. He also faced challenges in achieving healthcare reform and failed to address the growing financialization and deregulation of the economy. Donald Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016 marked a turning point for the Clintons' standing in politics.
Lessons learned from Clinton's failures
Obama's success in passing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) can be attributed to his ability to shape the program in a way that garnered support from big insurance companies and other influential players. Biden, having learned from Clinton's failures, has taken a more progressive approach, implementing industrial policy measures and prioritizing infrastructure and welfare state investments.
Minnesota's transition to solar energy
Minnesota continues its transition from coal to solar energy, with a new solar plant in Becker expected to be one of the largest in the upper Midwest. The solar plant, scheduled for completion in 2025, will have a 460 megawatt capacity and contribute to Minnesota's goal of increasing solar energy to 9% of its energy mix in 2026.
Conclusion
This episode of Living in the USA discusses the healthcare worker strike in California, ethnicity's role in state politics, the failures of Bill Clinton's presidency, lessons learned from these failures, and Minnesota's transition to solar energy. Overall, the episode underscores the importance of addressing healthcare worker concerns, understanding shifting demographics and their impact on politics, and the need for progressive policy approaches to overcome past failures.
Kaiser Workers' strike this week is the largest by healthcare workers in US history. Harold Meyerson comments. Also: ethnic politics in California.
Plus: Our politics today is haunted by the failures of Bill Clinton—the “centrist” who "triangulated” with Republicans, lost on healthcare, and proclaimed that “the era of big government is over.” Nelson Lichtenstein will explain Clinton’s turn to the right, and the lessons for today’s Democrats. His new book on Clinton has the wonderful title A Fabulous Failure.
Also: Your Minnesota Moment: a big new solar energy project is in the works.
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