Download a copy of these talking points

These powerful talking points were delivered by Martha Holstein, Co-Director of HMPRG’s Center for  Long-Term Care Reform at the Chicago Rally on May 18, 2011: Social Security – Keeping the Promise to All Generations, co-sponsored by HMPRG and The Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans.

Martha Holstein:

Health & Medicine Policy Research Group is committed to supporting vulnerable populations of all ages.  We’re in for whatever struggle lies ahead to assure a stronger Social Security.  To that end, we suggest the following actions:

• Reject language of crises whenever and wherever you hear it. Crises set up conditions for radical, often non-reflective change or change that benefits the class that pays lobbyists to have prepared solutions in times of co-called crises.  That’s not us.   Social Security is not in crises.  We have time to determine how to address its long term sustainability.

• Beware of the accepted wisdom that “entitlement reform” is the key to solving the deficit problems. It is only if you are willing to “solve” this problem by tossing some people under the train while giving new millions to private money managers and insurance companies.

• Reject the myth and the language of “greedy geezers.” We must rage against that phrase whenever we hear it.  It is humiliating and plain wrong.  In large part because of Social Security there are fewer poor older people than poor younger people but being less poor does not mean affluent.  Large numbers of older women especially are one man and one Social Security check away from poverty.

• Do not let the words—well, it won’t be there when I need it—go uncorrected. Threats to Social Security are political not financial.  Defeatism or pessimism threaten needed political support.

• Vigorously reclaim the importance of government and government programs as the bulwark of equality and security without which freedom is impossible.

For more information on HMPRG’s Long-Term Care work, visit our website and subscribe to our blog

Download this speech from the APHA website

The important stuff: Parting words from APHA’s president

Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH

It has been an honor to represent you as APHA president. In my travels, I have often recounted the following story.

When my youngest granddaughter, Ty, was about 6 years old, I asked the usual question adults ask: “What did you learn in school today?” I expected the usual — “Nothing.” But one day, she surprised me and asked, “Did you know that eggs are really dead baby chickens?” I chuckled, “Yes, baby, I knew that.”

Her little face looked suspicious. “Then did you know that we used to be slaves?” Yes, I responded. She pointed her finger and shook it at me, saying, “You are supposed to tell us the important stuff!”

Despite reminders to Tyler and her big sister, Amina, to brush their teeth, cover their coughs, wash their hands and eat their vegetables, I had failed in my duty to tell them about the important stuff.

That is what children expect of grandmothers and what communities expect from public health. Our routine advice about exercising, avoiding tobacco, driving sober and eating fruits and vegetables daily helps people and even saves lives, but it is not the important stuff.

The huge jump in U.S. life expectancy that occurred over the past century didn’t happen only through individual lifestyle changes. It occurred because of basic changes to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Chattel slavery was ended, the nation was enriched by millions of immigrants, the eight-hour workday was won, workers organized and fought for the rights of ordinary folks and nutrition improved. Public health leaders saw issues such as mine safety, meat safety, sanitation and sewage infrastructure, slums and poverty as important battles. In the past, we did not pick battles simply because they were “winnable” by marking measurable progress in a few years. We picked battles because they went to root causes of the pain and suffering.

We have retreated to technocratic tasks, categorical programs and “evidence-based,” narrowly focused interventions while losing the faith of the people we serve. In America, your SAT score, your chance of chronic disease and the length of your life is determined by your gender, the color of your skin, the nature of your accent, the social class of your parents and the ZIP code in which you reside far more than individual attributes.

We need to speak clearly and forcibly to answer the important question for every policy, whether at the village or international level: Does it help or hurt human health? We must mobilize for the important battles directed at changing the inequitable distribution of power, money and resources that determines population health. We must renew our fight against racism and discrimination by ethnicity, class and gender. The core mission of public health is social justice. We must never forget the important stuff, because injustice is killing millions of people.

If we rally with the people we serve, then we can leave our grandchildren a world that is at peace, where justice rules, and its people — all of them — are healthy.

Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association

The Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program is proud to release the Winter 2011 Newsletter!  Featuring the work of our Fellows and Fellows for Life, the newsletter is a great way to stay current about our programming and upcoming events.

Download the Winter 2011 Newsletter by clicking here.

Questions or comments? Contact Ray Wang, the Chicago Schweitzer Fellows Program Director.

Over the last year, Health & Medicine has been part of the Fair Care Coalition, a group examining the issue of tax exemption status and non-profit hospital charity care provision in Illinois.  Senator Iris Martinez (IL-20) recently convened a group of key stakeholders, including members of the Fair Care Coalition, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the IL Office of the Governor, the IL Attorney General’s office, the Illinois Hospital Association, the Office of the Cook County President, and other state Senators, to discuss the issue of charity care and non-profit hospital tax exemption.  Senator Martinez asked each stakeholder group to develop policy recommendations for developing a clear standard for charity care provision in Illinois.

Health & Medicine’s Board committee on charity care met to discuss policy principles and criteria and then offered suggestions to the Fair Care Coalition’s policy committee.  The recommendations were finalized and sent to the Senator’s office for the next meeting on charity care.

Click here to view the final Fair Care Coalition recommendations on charity care and tax exemption status.