This is the Insurgent Radio Kiosk for Thursday, January 2nd
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.
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It’s today’s Action Calendar!
A round table discussion on “Hitting the Ground Running: The Perils and Prospects for the Coming Year”, will be held this evening starting at 6:30 p.m. at Madison’s Central Library, 201 West Mifflin Street. Free and open to all, the discussion will feature both local and national perspectives. Sponsored by the Peregrine Forum. For information, phone 284-9082.
The Peace and Justice Book Circle will discuss Dan Kaufman’s “The Fall of Wisconsin”, this evening from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Goodman South Library, 2222 South Park Street. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation if interested in the topic, regardless of whether you have read the book. For information, phone 264-9292.
A free workshop titled, “ Your Bone Health: A Workshop for Every Body” will be offered on Friday, January 3rd from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sequoya Library, 4340 Tokay Boulevard. Instructor Ellen Millar will cover the basics of bone health, including understanding the research and what it tells us about bone diseases, who’s at risk for osteoporosis, the effects of osteoporosis and how to maintain good bone health. Pre-register to attend today by phoning 266-6385.
The Insurgent Radio Kiosk is a four minute, pre-recorded segment featuring a commentary and a calendar of daily events. Events must be low cost or non-profit and of interest to people in and around the WORT listening area. Please submit announcements at least ten days before the event at wortfm.org/kiosk/announcements.
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 Engineer Alida. Submit announcements at least ten days in advance of the event at wortfm.org/kiosk/announcements.
