COVID-19: Socialist Solution

Theresa Alt tells David Foote about what the country need before the next epidemic. Medicare for All would cover everyone for all medical, dental, vision and mental needs at less cost than the present system. Savings come from eliminating waste. The New York Health Act would do similar things in this state. Recorded April 11, 2020.

COVID-19: Socialist Response

René Rojas and Wayles Browne discuss the COVID-19 crisis. What has gone wrong? The crisis exposed the weaknesses of free markets. The housing and financial crisis of 2008 was another example. Will the government again bail out corporations? Or will it finally adopt a real solution — Medicare for All? Recorded March 21, 2020.

In Iran with Code Pink

Amber Gilewski visited Iran with Code Pink in February-March this year. She tells Deirdre Silverman how the group met politicians, activists, filmmakers and ordinary people. Iran wants independence, not bullying by the US. Sanctions are affecting people — e.g. medications not getting in. While there are many legal-cultural restrictions on women, they do have political power. Iranians are typically very friendly toward Americans, despite historic US misdeeds. Recorded July 4, 2019.

Washington State Immigrant Farmworkers Unite!

Ramon Torres, President of a farmworkers’ union in Washington State, seeks higher wages, respect and better working conditions. The farmworkers want better chances for their kids. This takes a union contract. They do not want high-paid union officers negotiating for them. Now they can form farmworker cooperatives so that they don’t need bosses and can decide to go organic on their own berry farms. Recorded March 27, 2018 at a meeting organized by the Cornell Farmworker Program.

Labor Day Awards 2017

Rob Brown, Sam Mason, Pete Meyers, Ellen David Friedman, Megan Graham, Shoshe Cole, Rachel Gunderson, David Kornreich, Dave Marsh, Angela Cornell, Leni Hochman, Eric Evans and Lindsay Mercer tell us about unionizing baristas at Gimme!, the Ithaca College faculty fired three, help from the Cornell Labor Law Clinic, workers supporting the Robin Fund, unionbusting at Cornell, and bad building practices of Cayuga Medical Center. Recorded September 4, 2017.

Housing Myths

Housing in Ithaca and Tompkins County is notoriously expensive. Teresa Halpert and Tom Eisenberg explain that many erroneously assume that adding any new housing -- even luxury housing -- will make excess housing filter down to the bottom. This doesn't work. It's too slow. Landlord upscale rather than reduce rents. Worst of all, there are not enough middle-income people through whose hands housing units would have to pass to make filtering work. New projects must be required to include affordable units.

New York Health Campaign

Dr. Susan Soboroff discusses health insurance with Theresa Alt. Whether the ACA survives or is repealed, the much better way to go is single payer. A bill New York Health before both houses in Albany would provide for improved Medicare for all to cover everyone in New York State at lower cost. It has gained nearly enough cosponsors to pass. Recorded March 24, 2017.