Over the next four years, the federal government seems unlikely to address serious social problems like health insurance for the uninsured, or greater access to prescription medications. Nor can we expect it to care about weaning the nation's addiction to dirty, polluting oil-based products, or to encourage clean energy alternatives.
Progressives therefore must look to state and local governments, to public-private partnerships, to non-profit organizations, and to online networks to do more.
Some local governments and communities are already addressing these problems in innovative ways, and far faster than the federal government could do so.
In Montgomery County, MD, for example, about 100,000 residents lack health insurance. The county is vowing to provide health insurance for nearly half of them over the next five years by expanding funding for a network of nonprofit clinics. By 2010, the county will spend as much as $20 million a year to provide primary care to people without health insurance.
"While others argue about how to provide health care to the uninsured -- or conclude that it just can't be done -- we are making it happen," Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan told a press conference on Thursday, The Washington Post reported.
Since 1993, the Primary Care Coalition has collaborated with public and private safety-net organizations to offer direct patient care.
"If you're sick and you're poor, we're going to make sure you get to see a doctor," said council member George L. Leventhal (D-At Large), according to The Post.
Last spring, Leventhal proposed that the county use its buying power to create a "community pharmacy" to purchase the 12 most common generic prescription drugs in bulk, and offer them at deep discounts to the non-profit organizations in the county that serve residents without health insurance.
The legislation passed, and less than six months later, non-profit health clinics in the county are providing the most common prescription medications to county residents at deep discounts.
"We still have to keep the pressure on federal and state government to take responsibility," says Ulder J. Tillman, the county's health officer.
Montgomery County, Md. also purchases five percent of its energy from wind power, and offers tax credits to residents who purchase non-polluting energy, such as wind power. Last week, it was honored as "the greenest county in Maryland."
Even if the federal government is close-minded or unresponsive, visionary people can work together to seek solutions to social problems on the state and local level.
Recent Comments