Sharon McMahon on How Physicians Can Make Real Change in the Healthcare System

Sharon McMahon, America's government teacher, author of the number one New York Times bestseller The Small and the Mighty, and one of the most effective science communicators working right now, just on the government side joins us today. She makes the case for what types of people should run for office. The bulk of our conversation is about something I see constantly in healthcare comments: learned helplessness, the feeling that the system is too broken and too big and too entrenched to ever get better. Sharon's reframe is the one I needed to hear, this is not a volcano, it's a human-constructed system, and the abolitionists and the suffragists and the civil rights organizers all felt exactly as hopeless as we do, and they kept working anyway. We get into the Overton window, the range of what's currently politically possible, and why universal healthcare isn't in it federally right now, but state-by-state Medicaid expansion absolutely is, and why states function as "democracy laboratories" that can shift the national window over time. Sharon walks me through how to actually get a meeting with your representative, why joining your state medical society or specialty organization matters more than being one annoyed person on the internet, and how Emily Calandrelli got a federal law passed protecting nursing mothers at airport security just by having a big platform and a specific senator. We also cover the filibuster, the Electoral College (winner-take-all was never in the Constitution), the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, gerrymandering's embarrassing etymological origin, and Great Lakes shipping facts that Sharon would absolutely use to fill 24 hours on the Senate floor. My government teacher was a football coach. I am now remediated. Takeaways: Learned helplessness is the biggest obstacle to healthcare reform. The Overton window explains why federal universal healthcare feels impossible right now, but state-level progress doesn't . The most effective way to get a meeting with your representative is to call their district office, not their DC office. Joining a professional advocacy organization multiplies your impact dramatically. The filibuster is a Senate-only procedural rule that started as an accident. — Want more Sharon McMahon? @sharonsaysso http://www.thepreamble.com http://www.sharonmcmahon.com To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live  We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com Can’t get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/ If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken If you want more information on models I use: Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact.  For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: https://anatomywarehouse.com/?aff=14 Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15 -- A friendly reminder from the G’s and Tarsus: If you want to learn more about Demodex Blepharitis, making an appointment with your eye doctor for an eyelid exam can help you know for sure. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.EyelidCheck.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. Head to http://www.cozyearth.com and use my code KNOCKKNOCK for an exclusive 20% off. Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Human Content⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices