This is the Insurgent Radio Kiosk for Monday, January 6th
Hightower Commentary
Action Calendar
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The other Mexican migration
You probably haven’t heard about it, but there’s another mass migration coming across the US-Mexico border. However, these are not Central American families fleeing horrific conditions back home – only to be separated, incarcerated, traumatized, and demonized by the Trump Gang for seeking humanitarian asylum in our country.
Rather, these migrants are going the other way, from the USA into Mexican border towns, where they’re welcomed with open arms instead of armed guards. They are mostly working-class people seeking relief from our nation’s unaffordable, no-care healthcare system. As many as 6,000 a day travel to towns like Los Algodones, across from Yuma, Arizona, to get medical services and prescription drugs that are priced out of their reach here in the US. Nicknamed “Molar City,” Los Algodones has more dentists per capita than anywhere else in the world – quality dental work in Mexico averages two-thirds less than it costs here.
This is because the health system there prioritizes care over profits. Start with professional education, which is tuition-free in Mexico, meaning dentists and other healthcare providers don’t have to jack-up prices to cover a crushing load of student debt. Also, Mexico’s universal, tax-paid healthcare system doesn’t saddle patients with exorbitantly-expensive, insurance bureaucracies. It’s a system that’s open, affordable, and accessible to all – the opposite of ours, which is why hordes of US working-class people go south to find care. As a Truthout article reports, “US citizens seeking healthcare can park in Yuma for $5, walk across the border, get the help they need and come back for dinner.”
Instead of building a senseless border wall to keep people out of the US, our leaders ought to be looking across the border for ideas on how to build a better healthcare system.
“Millions of Americans Flood Into Mexico for Health Care – the Human Caravan You Haven’t Heard About,” January 23, 2019.
“A Reason To Smile: Mexican Town Is A Destination For Dental Tourism,” June 9, 2014.
“Dentist Prices – The Ultimate Guide,” January 26, 2019.
Hightower’s commentaries are brought to you by The Hightower Lowdown, the monthly newsletter with Hightower’s take on what Wall Street and Washington are up to. For information, visit hightowerlowdown.org.
It’s This Weekend’s Action Calendar!
All are welcome to attend a free presentation by the Ancient Earthworks Society on Saturday, January 18th, from 10:30 to noon, at the Goodman Library, 2222 South Park Street. The Society works to preserve, research, document, protect and honor Wisconsin’s prehistoric earthworks and associated landscapes. For information, visit ancientearthworks.org.
Get happy by learning to play a ukulele at a free workshop on Saturday, January 18th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Alicia Ashman Library, 733 North High Point Road. You’ll learn how to strum simple chords in a relaxed, fun environment. Bring a ukulele or try one of the instruments that will be on hand. Sponsored by the Madison Area Ukulele Initiative. Space is limited, so phone 824-1780 today to save a spot.
A workshop titled “ When the Diagnosis is Racism”, offering a frank discussion about racism, will be held on Sunday, January 19th from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Madison’s Grace Episcopal Church on the Capitol Square at 116 West Washington Avenue. Participants can share their feelings and frustrations about racism in a supportive space. This is the first in a series of four “Healing Racism” workshops. Additional sessions will be scheduled in February and March. For information, phone 216-4072.
The Insurgent Radio Kiosk welcomes your commentaries on subjects of interest to the W.O.R.T. listening community. Commentaries are limited to two minutes. If you’d like to do a Kiosk commentary, visit wortfm.org/kioskcommentary.
The Kiosk is available online at wortfm.org/kiosk.
This has been the Insurgent Radio Kiosk heard weekdays at 5:00, 6:30 and 9:00 AM and at 2:00 PM. With Engineer Alida, I’m Union Maid. Submit announcements at least ten days in advance of the event at wortfm.org/kiosk/announcements.