Van Horn writes: "We'd never argue that 2017 was a great year, but some really great things did happen!"
Wind farm in Weatherford, Oklahoma. (photo: EcoWatch)
50 Ways 100% Clean Energy Won in 2017
01 January 18
e'd never argue that 2017 was a great year, but some really great things did happen!
Here are 50 ways (yes, 50!) that clean energy kept winning in 2017 despite Trump's attempts to roll back the country's progress.
1. The Republican Mayor Championing 100% Renewable Energy in Louisiana
Republican Mayor Greg Lemons made his small town of Abita Springs the first municipality in Louisiana to commit to 100% clean energy. Mayor Lemons said his 100% renewable energy vision for Abita Springs, which has a population of 2,900, aligns with the conservative values of his community�and it has made him a trailblazer across Louisiana.
2. Madison and Abita Springs Committed to 100% Clean Energy on the Same Day!
On March 21, Madison, Wisconsin and Abita Springs, Louisiana became the 24th and 25th cities in the country to commit to 100% clean energy. Last year, more than 70% of voters in Madison cast ballots supporting Hillary Clinton, while in St. Tammany Parish, where Abita Springs is located, more than 70% of voters supported Donald Trump. They agree on one thing, at least�the need for 100% clean energy.
3. Solar Created Even More Jobs Across America
A new report released this year by The Solar Foundation showed that in 2016, the number of solar jobs increased in 44 of the 50 states, and more than 260,000 Americans now work in solar. In several major metro areas, the solar workforce grew by 50% or more. The New York Times ran a major piece in April, which pretty much sums it up: Today's Energy Jobs Are in Solar, Not Coal.
4. Chicago Committed to Power All Municipal Buildings with 100% Renewable Energy by 2025
In April, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that by 2025, all 900-plus buildings operated by the city, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Housing Authority and City Colleges will be powered entirely by renewable sources. In 2016, those buildings used nearly 1.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity�equal to the energy needed to power about 295,000 homes.
5. U.S. Mayors Announced New National Drive for 100% Clean Energy
Mayors from across the U.S. teamed up with the Ready for 100 campaign to announce Mayors for 100% Clean Energy, a new effort to engage and recruit mayors to endorse a goal of transitioning to 100% renewable energy in cities across the country.
6. 100% Clean Energy at the People's Climate March
A contingent of 100% clean energy activists representing communities from coast to coast joined hundreds of thousands of people marching in the People's Climate March in Washington, DC on April 29.
7. Atlanta Committed to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy
Atlanta became the largest city in the South to commit to running entirely on clean energy. The city then took it to the people to learn through a series of #CommunityConversations why Atlanta is #ReadyFor100. Atlantans are helping shape the plan, set to be released next year�and they've even got some superhero support.
8. More Companies Bought Into 100% Clean Energy
Around the world, a record number of big corporations, ranging from Anheuser-Busch to Kellogg, committed to going all-in on 100% clean energy. Collectively, their energy footprint is greater than all energy consumed in the state of New York. Corporate demand for renewable energy is helping drive a shift away from fossil fuels and bringing more renewable energy online. Google declared it now buys enough wind to cover 100% of its energy use.
9. Even Puppies Love 100% Clean Energy
And what's more uplifting than puppies?
10. Entire Town of Hanover Voted Unanimously for 100%
At a town meeting on May 9, residents of Hanover, New Hampshire voted to get off of all fossil fuels by 2050. This is the first community in the country to adopt a goal of 100% clean, renewable energy voted on and approved by the residents of the community.
11. Clean Energy Spiked In California and Texas
In California and Texas this year, clean energy like wind and solar set new records for energy generation. On May 13, renewable energy supplied 67% of all power in California. And wind broke records across the country, especially in Texas where 54% of grid electricity came from wind at one point on Oct. 27, breaking a previous 50% record set on March 23.
12. A Movement of Mayors Across Florida
Florida mayors are leading the way towards 100% clean, renewable energy. More than 40 mayors from across Florida have joined Mayors for 100% Clean Energy, the most of any state in the country. Although the Sunshine State gets less than half a percent of its power from the sun, Floridians beat back previous utility-backed efforts to limit solar energy in the state. Now clean energy advocates and dozens of mayors say they deserve better.
13. Pueblo, Colorado Committed to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy
The city of Pueblo, Colorado committed to running entirely on renewable energy by 2035. City council is now exploring options for how they can cut ties with an uncooperative utility, protect low income rate payers, and move to 100% clean energy for all.
14. A Mother's Clean Energy Vision for Her City
On Mother's Day, Mayor Heidi Harmon of San Luis Obispo, California, who is also a proud mom of two, shared her vision for 100% clean energy in her community. Citing the safety and health threats that climate change and pollution will pose to children, Mayor Harmon sees a solution: transitioning San Luis Obispo to run on 100% clean energy.
15. Oregonians Committed to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy
On the same day that Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, the Portland City Council and Multnomah County Commission voted to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Thanks to organizations like Verde and Opal, these commitments also represent a strong commitment to racial and economic justice and will ensure that communities of color and low income communities define, lead, and share the economic, social, and environmental benefits of a renewable energy transition.
16. Energy Experts Agreed: 100% Renewable Energy is Possible
In a global survey, more than 70% of the world's energy experts agreed that powering the globe with 100% renewable resources is achievable.
17. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto to Trump: the Steel City Will Move to 100% Clean Energy
Just hours after Donald Trump claimed to represent the voters of Pittsburgh in his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, Mayor Bill Peduto announced his support for a goal of powering Pittsburgh entirely with clean and renewable energy by 2035.
18. Edmonds and Whatcom County Were the First Washington Commitments to 100% Clean Energy
In June, the city of Edmonds became the first community in the state of Washington to commit to 100% clean, renewable energy. Edmonds set the goal of achieving a 100% transition by 2025 shortly after the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting in June. Whatcom County became the sixth county in the country to move towards 100% renewable energy.
19. Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, South Carolina Is a Clean Energy Champ
Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Steve Benjamin, Co-Chair of Mayors for 100% Clean Energy, is #ReadyFor100. Mayor Benjamin's leadership paved the way for Columbia to commit to 100% clean, renewable energy in June. As a local and national leader, Mayor Benjamin is sharing his vision far and wide.
20. Wind is Winning Across America
Wind power reached new heights in 2017! Earlier this year, American Electric Power announced that it would make a $4.5 billion investment in the nation's largest wind energy project, and local advocates like Nancy Moran spoke out in support. The wind farm will provide power in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, and is expected to save customers $7 billion over the next 25 years. In Texas, wind power became a bigger source of electricity than coal.
21. U.S. Conference of Mayors Approved Historic 100% Clean Energy Resolution, Proving That Mayors Are #ReadyFor100
The 85th U.S. Conference of Mayors approved a resolution establishing support from the nation's biggest cities for an equitable and just transition to 100% clean energy by 2035. Clean energy activists celebrated the mayors' vote by taking part in an aerial art action on the beach. Is your mayor signed onto Mayors for 100% Clean Energy?
22. One of the Country's Biggest Bus Fleets Will Be 100% Electric by 2030
This summer, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), voted to transition its fleet of more than 2,200 buses to zero emission electric buses by 2030. Transitioning to all electric buses will help improve air quality, fight climate change, enhance social equity and improve rider experience. Additionally, with policies that encourage local manufacturing, the transition can create good local jobs in disadvantaged communities. Congratulations to the Sierra Club's My Generation campaign and local partners in Los Angeles who worked hard to achieve this major victory.
23. Orlando's 100% Clean Energy Commitment is Already Having an Impact
In August Orlando became the largest city in Florida to commit to 100% renewable energy. The city plans to stop using fossil fuels by 2050. Orlando's commitment to clean energy is already having an impact: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer indicated that the city's 100% renewable energy goal is a key factor in determining who will become the next CEO of their city-owned utility.
24. The Path to 100% Clean Energy Is Saving Hawai'i Money
The Hawai'i House of Representatives found this year that Hawai'i residents have already saved over a quarter of a billion dollars as a result of the state's progress toward achieving its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. The state called on other states and the federal government to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, citing that it makes economic sense today. Hawai'i has a detailed plan to hit its goal five years ahead of schedule.
25. Faith Leaders Asked Boise's Mayor to Endorse a 100% Clean Energy Future
Boise Faith Leaders representing 20 different faith communities delivered a letter to Mayor Dave Bieter to urge him to support a goal to make Boise the first city in Idaho to commit to 100% clean energy. The Idaho chapter of the Sierra Club has been building grassroots support and asking Mayor Dave Bieter to commit to a 100% clean energy goal.
26. In the Coal-Dependent State of Utah, 100% Is Trending
In a state that still gets nearly 70% of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, municipalities have begun to say "no more." This year, Summit County and Moab, Utah committed to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy. Salt Lake City, which is also in the 100% club, released Climate Positive 2040, a plan to achieve its goal to run on clean energy by 2032, reduce carbon pollution, and take the lead on climate action.
27. 100% Clean Energy Unleashed in Capitals
U.S. lawmakers introduced bills in both the Senate and House of Representatives this year that would move the entire country to 100% renewable energy. Senators Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders announced their landmark "100x50" act with community leaders in April. And clean energy supporters from California to Massachusetts have been pushing state lawmakers adopt 100% renewable energy, but many of these efforts are still in progress.
28. 150 Mayors for 100% Clean Energy
The Sierra Club's Mayors for 100% Clean Energy initiative reached a major milestone: 150 mayors from across the country signed onto the campaign and pledged to power their communities with 100% clean, renewable energy. Civic leaders from across the country are stepping up to make it known that they care about the health of their residents and the strength of their local economy by advocating for 100% clean, renewable energy.
29. Local Clean Energy Advocates Rallied for Community Choice
In support of a clean energy future for California, community members rallied in September to protect Community Choice energy programs, like Alameda County's East Bay Community Energy. Community Choice gives cities and counties the chance to take control of their electric power supply and offer renewable energy to residents and businesses.
30. North Carolina Counties Went All-In On Renewable Energy
While cities across the country continue to commit to 100% clean energy, some North Carolina communities are going even bigger. Orange County and Buncombe County, North Carolina this year became some of the first counties in the country to commit to 100% clean, renewable energy.
31. Pueblo's Movement for Energy Justice Featured in Sierra Magazine Profile
In a profile published in Sierra, Michael Tannahill's story reveals the connections between economic and environmental justice�and highlights why the community of Pueblo, Colorado is pushing back hard against high utility costs and dirty fuels to get to 100% clean energy.
32. Portland's Commitment to 100% Clean Energy Pushed Portland General Electric (PGE) to Invest in Renewables
PGE acknowledged that Portland and surrounding Multnomah County's 100% renewable energy goals are shaping its future energy investments. After the Oregon Public Utility Commission rejected PGE's proposal to expand a gas-fired power station in August, PGE issued a proposal to develop renewable energy and energy storage.
33. St. Louis Became the Largest Midwest City to Commit to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy
On Oct. 27, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously approved the city's commitment to transition to 100% by 2035. St. Louis, a longtime coal capital home to Arch Coal and Peabody Energy, represents the largest city in Missouri and across the Midwest to establish a goal of transitioning entirely to clean, renewable energy. The city will develop a plan by December 2018 to meet the goal and conduct a transparent and inclusive stakeholder process. This includes community members and representatives from organizations representing labor, faith, social justice, environmental justice, frontline communities and those most impacted by our current energy systems, among others.
34. In Cleveland, the Community Wants Clean Energy for Everyone
Through a series of Community Dialogues in Cleveland, Ohio, Ready for 100 organizer Jocelyn Travis has been helping residents of "the Rock and Roll Capital of the World" envision a 100% clean energy transition in their city. The Dialogues have helped Cleveland's diverse communities connect with each other, learn about clean energy solutions, and build a movement for a healthy and just clean energy transition.
35. Community Choice Can Help San Diego Reach Its 100% Clean Energy Goal
A City of San Diego study released this year determined that Community Choice Energy can help San Diego achieve its goal of 100% clean energy at a cost competitive rate with the local utility. San Diego is the largest city in the country to have adopted a legally binding 100% renewable energy goal, which the city plans to achieve by 2035. San Diego's Republican Mayor, Kevin Faulconer, is a co-chair of Mayors for 100% Clean Energy.
36. 100% Clean Energy Won Big on Election Day
Across the country, from East Lansing, Michigan to St. Petersburg, Florida, 100% clean energy champions won big on Election Day, reaffirming that local communities want more clean energy!
37. U.S. Climate Leadership is All About Local
During the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, U.S. cities and mayors joined other local leaders to stand behind the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Mayors affirmed #WeAreStillIn by doubling down on local support for bold climate action. The aggregate climate actions of We Are Still In signatories and other non-federal U.S. actors are being quantified through America's Pledge, an initiative spearheaded by UN Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael Bloomberg and California Gov. Jerry Brown.
38. The Sierras Went All-In On Renewable Energy
South Lake Tahoe, Nevada City and Truckee, California all committed to 100% clean, renewable energy this year, leading the way for other communities across the Sierras. Mountain towns in the West have been leading a move to clean energy to save their snow and the tourist industry.
39. Ready for 100 Released 2nd Annual Case Studies Report
The Ready for 100 campaign released a new report in English and Spanish highlighting 10 cities across the U.S. that have committed to 100% renewable energy and the steps they are taking to get there. Featured cities span from coast to coast, and include tiny towns and large metropolises. This is the second case studies report issued by Ready for 100, following a 2016 release.
40. What Do an Eagle Scout, a Colonel, and a Utility Company Have in Common?
They all support 100% renewable energy! Community members packed a town hall in Breckenridge, Colorado, in support of the town adopting a goal to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2035. Testimony included fifth-grade Boy Scout Eli Larson, who stated, "If this global warming keeps up, we might not even have a winter." And a U.S. Colonel testified that there was a mandate from the community to go renewable. Six Colorado cities in total have committed to 100%, including Nederland and Lafayette this year. An Xcel Energy spokesperson acknowledged that the utility would do everything it can to help cities achieve their goals.
41. Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski is #ReadyFor100
Since Salt Lake City committed to 100% renewable energy last year, Mayor Jackie Biskupski has been on a mission to get other mayors on board. A co-chair of Mayors for 100% Clean Energy, Mayor Biskupski has rallied support for 100% everywhere from Twitter to the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
42. Two Massachusetts Cities Committed to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy
Cambridge and Amherst, Massachusetts passed resolutions in 2017 committing to 100% clean, renewable energy. As the first municipalities to do so in Massachusetts, the cities are leading the way in the Bay State.
43. Ameren Missouri Proposed Wind to Help Meet St. Louis's 100% Clean Energy Goal
Ameren Missouri, the utility serving St. Louis, acted right away on the city's 100% clean energy commitment, which passed in October. The utility has invested $1 billion in wind projects and now wants to create a Renewable Choice Program for customers that would give cities and companies the option to buy wind energy.
44. TOAD the Wet Sprocket Took Ready for 100 on Tour
TOAD the Wet Sprocket went on tour with a cause this summer. Promoting the Ready for 100 campaign at tour stops across the country, the alternative rock band encouraged fans to join the campaign and support 100% renewable energy!
45. Coastal California Cities Embraced 100%
This year, the cities of Santa Barbara, Monterey, Solana Beach, Chula Vista and Goleta, California all made commitments to transitioning to 100% clean, renewable energy. To date, 14 cities across California have committed to running entirely to clean energy.
46. Scotland Will Reach 100% Renewable Energy By 2020
The Scottish government confirmed the country is on track to get all of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Scotland hit its 2020 emission targets five years early and has gone from delivering 10% to 60% of its electricity consumption from renewable sources over the past 15 years. For the first six months of 2017, wind power provided enough electricity to meet 118% of Scotland's national demand.
47. Greater Philadelphia Is Sparking a Movement for 100% Clean Energy in Pennsylvania
Three Philadelphia-area communities committed to transition to 100% clean, renewable energy. West Chester, Phoenixville Borough and Downingtown in Chester County all set goals to move entirely to renewable energy, setting the bar for Philly and other Pennsylvania cities to follow. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney pledged support for the goal through Mayors for 100% Clean Energy this year, a great first step.
48. Hawai'ian Mayors Committed to 100% Renewably Powered Ground Transportation by 2045
In December, mayors from the City and County of Honolulu, Maui County, Hawai'i County and Kaua'i County committed to transforming Hawai'i's transportation to 100% renewable fuel sources by 2045. The proclamations build off of Hawai'i's goal to transition away from fossil fuels in the electricity sector by the same date.
49. It's Not 100% If It's Not Equitable and Just
This year California adopted legislation requiring all communities in the state to integrate environmental justice policies, objectives, and goals into their General Plans. In October the California Environmental Justice Alliance released a toolkit to help cities integrate these changes. NAACP also released a national toolkit on Just Energy Policies & Practices, a resource for energy justice advocates. And Island Press published a new book titled Energy Democracy, Advancing Equity in Clean Energy Solutions, a collection of essays from leaders across the U.S. who are winning local campaigns that demonstrate what an alternative, democratized energy future can look like. #powertothepeople.
50. More Than 50 (Yes, 50!) Cities Committed to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy
The Ready for 100 campaign hit a milestone when Truckee, California became the 50th city in the U.S. to make a 100% commitment. The Town Council adopted a resolution to move entirely to clean electricity town-wide by 2030, as well as all energy sources by 2050. See a complete list of all cities, counties, and states committed to 100% clean energy here. Ready for your community to be next?
|
THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community. |
Comments
We are concerned about a recent drift towards vitriol in the RSN Reader comments section. There is a fine line between moderation and censorship. No one likes a harsh or confrontational forum atmosphere. At the same time everyone wants to be able to express themselves freely. We'll start by encouraging good judgment. If that doesn't work we'll have to ramp up the moderation.
General guidelines: Avoid personal attacks on other forum members; Avoid remarks that are ethnically derogatory; Do not advocate violence, or any illegal activity.
Remember that making the world better begins with responsible action.
- The RSN Team
And to the fat guy in the steam room?
Yet, for years small "neutral countries" hidden money, aka part of the national treasure, with no consequence. I'm sure it has been this way, because off-shore accounts smell of unaccountable white-collar crime.
I hope Senator Sanders' bill gets traction, but I'm not hopeful.
We saw how Occupy was brutally beat back and smeared in over 25 cities.. So, the Congress? Senate? Right now?
But, this pure corruption of a 2 tiered tax system runs much deeper than just revenue.
These colonialist, Trans National Corps will never truly invest in a Country they've already colonized unless they are forced, (tariffs & taxes are much higher) and that ain't gonna be happening any time soon..
Or, we can at least start chipping away at some of their monopolistic domination tools to create some kinda competition..
If, the People continue to welfare all their domestic labor costs plus some Chump Change left over to further buy / bribe their Political Stooges.. Then, who in the heck will ever be able compete with that? This, just has to stop.. Now!
I never thought I would say this.. "Uhm, maybe, we should have Bernie speaking to the WTO for us, too.." lol.!
To all Americans, We still have a voice, it is our wallet our paycheck that they hear, not the words on this site or those like it. Its is accounts closed, credit cards canceled. Find out the Companies that steal from us (US) and refuse to do business with them, refuse to invest in them, local banks and credit unions can handle the banking, local stores the goods we buy at Walmart and if no alternative exist such as gasoline let's do all we can to buy less. Sure pound on your congressman and Senators but in the end they will do just like BOA they will side with the biggest campaign donors.
If you've been paying attention you would know he has done that numerous times.
Yes, and so do we!
This old canard is so painfully obviously - and historically - baseless, I can only wonder why it is still knee-jerk reaction offered with all evidence to the contrary.
It sounds to me like you do not realize that the taxes are the LOWEST they have been since the presidency of EISENHOWER???
Look it up. It is true, and there are many, that can certainly afford to pay more tax. The people,whose MONEY are making MORE MONEY!!
They are certainly not working hard and earning their money by their own sweat, unlike the poor and the middle class.
Doc E is who you should have been addressing. Jon was pointing out the absurdity of Doc E's comment about lowering taxes.
Thank you for pointing out my mistake. I didn't pay enough attention to the quotation mark.
I apologize Jon, please excuse the mistake.
How you earned a living was none of the business of the political class. For that matter, your bank account could be under a false name and absolutely no one cared.
This was the world of a mere 100 years ago in the United States. That's why it was called the "land for the free."
Back then, all federal revenue -- tiny by today's standards -- came from a tax on imported goods.
I think Bernie Sanders,...who I admire...
Has constituents, who are more sensible, ....and I really think, are more... intelligent, as opposed to many of the deep red southern states or purple states.
Consequently, he is not in need of all that corporate money, and can be more honest and forceful.
Before you hit me over the head, for my remark about the red states.....Ther e's LOUIS GOMERT, an idiot who is re-elected time after time and another idiot in Georgia, Brown, . He is unbelievable, and now is considering running for Saxby Chamblis' seat I think. The voters who send these guys to congress are NOT bright.
Follow Iceland's lead.
Spank the Banks
We are weenies.
I sure wish Bernie Sanders a lot of luck.
He is the most courageous person in Congress. And we all need him.
It's no wonder corporations have these welfare plans, they own the best congressmen money can buy. Get rid of the Republicans and we can get the corporations paying taxes again and also get our jobs back.
People have a right to demand an end to it and that corporate profiteers and vulture capitalists pay their share as Bernie states.
This theory says if you feed high expectations, in our case "The American Dream," to the lower and middle classes, and then snatch it away from them, you fuel the disappointment (a very strong emotion, like the one the early Americans felt when they felt they were British "citizens" and the English passed the Stamp Act and the Tea Tax without their approval, in effect telling them they were not citizens and had no say in how they were going to be treated.)and that emotion can lead as in America, France, and Russia, the Arab Spring,to giant and bloody revolutions.
FDR knew this, and in order to save capitalists from revolution from an American Communist Party,he created the two (other)great socialist programs we have, Social Security, and Medicare.
He also created huge job programs to help the people suffering from the starvation and everything else during the depression. He never got the love from the rich in our country. They stupidly cursed him instead. He saved their butts, and they still talk about him as the anti-Christ and cash their SSI checks monthly...,
I thought I was correct, but to make doubly sure I Googled it, and I AM CORRECT.
It WAS Lyndon Johnson, and congress during his term in office, which started Medicare and medicaid. Look it up yourself
FDR would have gotten us single payer or at least the public option.But that would have pissed off the drug companies and huge insurance companies that give millions every year to pay off Washington. In the first month of the first term, the drug companies made a deal with the president and gave him eighty billion towards Obamacare over ten years. Eight billion a year. They will make three trillion in that time. Use the math people.
Note how the Drug store chains fix prices because the job to stop them went from D.C. to the states somewhere along the line from the Sherman Anti Trust Act. I never see Bernie talk about that one, as it too affects millions of people on Medicare who can't afford their drugs.(My daughter lives in England because of that system. Her husband has MS.)
Single payer, and free college education laws would be enough to stop a revolution here. In the next four years, our president better get on the stick, both for the "forty seven percent" and for the World because of climate change. The World is watching, and thankfully, so is Senator Sanders.
Bernie, please start talking about the drug store heist of the public. Thanks in advance.
I think you give FDR too much credit. He did NOT institute Medicare.....Ly ndon Johnson did. Social Security was a big step in helping the less well off, and really a hated step by the majority of the wealthy. He would never have been able to implement medicare ....roo.
I have dealt with the healthcare crisis firsthand. I saw firsthand how an uninsured relative of mine put off care until it was too late, dying of cancer. Now I can't say that having insurance would have saved her--there are those with great insurance whose cancers get detected who still die--but she would have had more options. Obamacare and the state exchanges would have helped her and perhaps might have saved her life.
Obamacare is probably the best healthcare reform we will see in near to midterm unfortunately. The problem is that there is a significant minority, if not a majority, of Americans who honestly believes that "only those on welfare" don't have access to health insurance. They believe that, were it not for their decision to "have cell phones, cable TV, and Internet", they could afford insurance. Alternatively there are tons of Americans, including many liberals, who believe that you can show up at the emergency room, get care, and not have to pay. More in next post.
I literally have had the same argument over and over again with many friends, including many of whom who happen to be Democrats and liberals, that, no the emergency room isn't free. Now perhaps they don't collect from everyone who shows up there, but they damn sure will send collection agencies and garnish paychecks. Indeed a New York Times article I read about a year mentioned how one hospital in MN hired a contractor to hound patients to get money at each step of the way. This company even embedded staff with doctors.
And then yet you have others who are resistant to any form of national healthcare because "they don't want to lose the right to pick their own doctor". The irony is that insurance companies often decide which doctors they'll visit. But they fear having to report to some large, scary, Soviet-Style building staffed with unfriendly bureaucrats whose only mission in life is to prevent them from seeing their doctor and getting the care they need. They fear having to wait months on end for care, even though many doctors here in the US don't have openings for several weeks.
Alternatively you still have others who believe that national healthcare will result in "higher taxes for a social welfare benefit program that will reward and enable pathological/ir responsible behavior". More in next post.
In their fantasies they envision their taxes supporting a welfare program where the beneficiaries will be "those people"--i.e., the mythical uneducated, unemployed welfare queen with five kids getting all these checks every month--and they will have to wait in line while said welfare queen rushes to the front. They don't think they will get good care and they think their tax dollars will promote/reward/ enable irresponsible behavior.
The tragedy is that most Americans who have benefits through work will never see the flipside of the US healthcare system. They don't believe that there are those who want coverage, but can't afford either due to low salary, their employees not offering it, or having pre-existing conditions. In their mind it's "only the lazy and shiftless" who don't have insurance.
For those reasons we are not likely to get single-payer or national healthcare anytime soon. There are too many Americans opposed to it. Against this backdrop that President Obama was able to get ANY healthcare bill passed is a miracle.
Obamacare was hardly a panacea and it doesn't come close to solving the healthcare crisis. But it does provide some help to some people and it is a step forward. I'll glad take it over having nothing at all.
Thank you very much for setting it straight.
You are so right about the attitude of a great many of our country men and women.
Obamacare certainly is far from perfect, BUT it is the needed START, I am sure it will be improved upon as time goes on, and now a lot of people with preexisting conditions can get help.
Imagine,.... giving birth, means you have a preexisting condition?? And if you had skin problems when you were a teenager and saw a dermatologist.. ..same thing.
As part of his 2008 campaign Obama spoke of this problem. Americans generally don't seem to be willing to do much about it.
In the 1950's talk of the rich included Swiss bank accounts. As emerging middle class evangelicals moved to the right there were dreams of Mercedes and Swiss bank accounts. This may speek to the lack of will to address tax cheating. Trouble is, middle class Americans don't have Swiss or Cayman Island accounts and their dream is still worth letting the rich get off scott free. The thinking is irrational but serves the wealthy very very well doesn't it?
How uncharacteristi c of US Senators!
Here are the primary reasons for socialism: 1) the grotesque bipartisan political irresponsibilit y in Washington, D. C.; 2) the alarmingly obscene criminal behavior of US corporate giants; 3) the predictable political & moral lethargy of the US voter.
Why is there even a question about whether or not we have the radical collapse of education in the US?
Bernie, please start a Twelve Step Program for elected officials who love re-election more than America.
1. Educate voters on which elected officials truly love America by showing them the voting records while in office.
2. Get the voters to the polls on election days.
and.....live in a blue state
I read this on the back pages of the NYT.....
This was an immediate tip to me that he intended to get that mess,instead of single payer.And perhaps an immediate change once the republicans get the white house?
The question is: Did he figure he could never press for single payer which was really needed to help us get out of our economic mess by raising taxes to pay for single payer? Did he realize he couldn't pass anything rational like that with a rightwing house?
Or did he intend to help all the corporations involved in that important part of our economy, the healthcare business?
My thinking, or intuition is that the mayor of Chicago had something to do with that decision.
I believe that Sanders and a lot of you out there had the same thoughts in mind. I felt it was a great moment in our history and it was a huge mistake by the government.
I also think it led to the type of feelings and thoughts I have read online ever since. There seems to be a big lack of trust. And I do not blame anyone who feels that way. It is dangerous, and it is getting a pushback which is making matters worse. Obama has to make a move to have us trust him again. Right now, I don't. I wish I did.
That being said I don't agree with how Obama pushed the bill. I think he wasted way too much time trying to get Republican support when it was patently clear to even the most uninformed observer that the GOP was never going to agree to support any bill, even the supposedly "moderate" Olympia Snowe. I think he failed miserably in the messaging of the bill and compromised too much way too early. He could have pushed for single-payer and the public option, even if he (privately) knew Obamacare was the best that he could get.
Obama and the Democrats lost the messaging war. I remember how, right after the inauguration, Patients United Now and Conservatives for Patients Rights were running ads "warning against a government takeover of healthcare". I remember how the media was talking about "death panels" and so forth.
Continued in next post. . . .
By May 2009 it was clear to anyone that the bill was in trouble. The messaging war was steadily being lost. And then, when the summer finally arrived, it was the Tea Party who stormed all the townhall meetings. Like on most other policy issues the right was out there early getting their message, shaped the terms of the debate, and were able to put the pro-reform side on the defensive.
But the bottom line here is that national healthcare, the public option, or single-payer never had the votes. The votes were NEVER going to be there. As I wrote in a post above too many Americans believe that the uninsured lack coverage "because they are lazy and irresponsible". Or alternatively they fear "losing the right to choose their own doctor". Yet others believe that you can show up at the emergency room, get care, and not have to pay.
Until these attitudes change you are never going to see single-payer or the public option in the US. That Obamacare passed in the political climate at the time is a miracle.
x dane, thanks for the correction. there are two major bills he signed and i can't think of the other. fdic was also important, etc....
It is because he is not beholden to corporations or wealthy individuals.
Vermont has intelligent voters who vote for him.
He does not need to go begging for money to run a campaign, and consequently, he doesn't owe anybody but his constituents.
PUBLICLY funded elections is the answer.
all everyone has to do to alleviate the crap that is spread about socialized medicine is speak to a person from canada or england.
yes there is waiting for "elective" surgery, but emergancy stuff is done at once without charge. my son-in-law is alive because he lives in europe, england mostly, and spain now to warm up. he also used france's system when he owned a hotel in Poe. He has MS and needs about a thousand bucks or more of meds right now as he came out of remission. both england and france agreed to give him the meds he needs even though it is very expensive. i play bridge with canadians and every one of them would not trade their system of national health with ours, taxes or no taxes.
On economics, war and civil liberties the Obama Administration very much resembles the Bush Administration.
My grandfather fought such folks in WWII.
Many, since, have warned of 'Fascism with a Democratic Face.'
How ironic that that face belongs to Barry Obama.
Even Fuedal landowners realized the serfs had to win sometimes in order for them to keep their lands producing, but our rich believe they are entitled to everything, including not paying for living in a country where they can become super rich, but believe those without jobs, education or homes are miscreants of a welfare system. We need 300 Bernies to take over from our current government, because just one crying in the wind won't do.