vermont

Thom Hartmann hosts Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) every Friday to talk about important progressive issues of the day.

The Senate and the House of Representatives agree: single-payer health care is the only way to provide real coverage for all. Insurance companies are never going to do the right thing and put people before profits, so the only option is to go around them, and politicians in both houses have voted to create a real health care system. In Vermont, that is. Mary Gerisch of the Vermont Workers Center joined us last month here on GRITtv to explain the grassroots organizing campaign that finally resulted in victory in the state legislature. She noted that two years ago, they were told that it was not politically possible to pass single-payer legislation, but they didn't take no for an answer. The insurance companies will no doubt keep fighting this bill—even one small state single-payer plan could provide a powerful example for the rest of the country. Already, California Democrats are reviving a bill that would create single-payer care in that state—and it's already moved out of the Health Committee. We've spoken before to Wendell Potter, formerly a CIGNA executive, about the way the health insurance industry fought national health care reform, and we know that misinformation, attack ads, and millions of dollars will be flowing Vermont's way as the bill moves through reconciliation and toward the governor's desk. But for now, Vermont—and all of us--should be celebrating the proof that a grassroots campaign can lead to victory for single-payer advocates and progressives in general. We're that much closer to recognizing health care as a human right. And much closer to the big fight which will show really, which side our for-profit insurers are on. Keep an eye on Vermont, people. An alternative model. . . the US has invaded small countries for less. Distributed by Tubemogul.

"Sooner or later people are going to realize that decisions about whether one lives or dies should not be predicated on 'How much money can I make off this?'" says Michael Moore, looking back at his film Sicko with Donna Smith of National Nurses United. They both note that it's the health care workers who are leading the fight for a better system for all, even as those workers are under attack themselves. To kick off our new series, The Nurses' Station, Michael and Donna joined Laura in studio for a look back at Sicko and a conversation about what has changed since the film was made, and why it's not enough. Distributed by Tubemogul.

"There is a war going on in this country, and I am not referring to the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. I am talking about a war being waged by some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in this country against the working families of the United States of America, against the disappearing and shrinking middle class of our country." That was just one of many, many things Senator Bernie Sanders said on Friday over the course of his eight and a half hours standing on the Senate floor, giving a speech that might not have technically been a filibuster, but certainly served to remind progressives what it looks like when someone fights for their rights. We can't air it all, but we do have a selection from the Senator's speech for you. Distributed by Tubemogul.