Economist. It was concerned about the fact that Poland has
degenerated into a system where they have democratic elections,
which is sort of a nuisance.
The population in all of the East European countries is being
smashed by the economic changes that are being rammed down their
throats. (These changes are called “reforms,” which is supposed to
make them sound good.) In the last election, the Poles voted in an
anti-“reform” government. The Economist pointed out that this
really wasn’t too troublesome because “policy is insulated from
politics.” In their view, that’s a good thing.
In this country too, policy is insulated from politics. People can
have their opinions; they can even vote if they like. But policy goes
on its merry way, determined by other forces.
What the public wants is called “politically unrealistic.”
Translated into English, that means the major centers of power and
privilege are opposed to it. A change in our healthcare system has
now become politically more realistic because the corporate
community wants a change, since the current system is harming
them.
Vicente Navarro says that a universal and comprehensive
healthcare program is “directly related to the strength of the
working class and its political and economic instruments.”
That’s certainly been true in Canada and Europe. Canada had a
system rather like ours up until the mid-1960s. It was changed first
in one province, Saskatchewan, where the NDP [the New
Democratic Party, a mildly reformist, umbrella political party with
labor backing] was in power.
The NDP was able to put through a provincial insurance
program, driving the insurance companies out of the healthcare
business. It turned out to be very successful. It was giving good
medical care and reducing costs and was much more progressive in
payment. It was mimicked by other provinces, also under labor
pressure, often using the NDP as an instrument. Pretty soon it was
adopted across Canada nationally.
The history in Europe is pretty much the same. Working-class
organizations have been one of the main (although not the only)
mechanisms by which people with very limited power and