Alternative Visions - Revisiting ‘Obamacare Unwinding?’ & ‘Will AFL-CIO Merge with Community Groups?’ - 08/14/13

In recent weeks, the Alternative Vision show has addressed the Obama administration’s postponing of important provisions of the Health Care Act and growing problems with implementation of the Act, as well as the largest US labor union federation, the AFL-CIO, discussion of allowing community organizations as members ‘with voting power’.  Today’s show revisits both these topics, providing updates in recent weeks.  Dr. Rasmus looks at the most recent delay of Obamacare provisions announced last week re. suspension of limits on ‘out of pocket’ expenses by individuals who buy health insurance. The only solution to what could prove the unraveling of the Act by 2015-16, he argues, is to substitute the current Act with a combined ‘Medicare for All’ and ‘Public Option’ add-on.  A second follow-up to last week show’s topic of the AFL-CIO bringing in community organizations as members, to be decided at its upcoming Convention, is also discussed. Some recent commentaries by community and union strategists on this topic are reviewed. 

 

Tune in next week to Alternative Visions as Dr. Rasmus reviews his own 2005 recommendations for ‘reinventing American unions’ and the necessary major structural reorganization required for the AFL-CIO to survive in the 21st century—as written in his 2006 book, ‘The War At Home: The Corporate Offensive From Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush’.  Next week’s show will also include guests reporting back from the recent ‘Democracy Convention’ in Wisconsin. (Watch for Jack’s articles on ‘The Stop-Go US Economic Recovery’ and ‘Reinventing the AFL-CIO’ posted on the Progressive Radio Network website.”