I am very proud to support Don Berwick for Governor, and will be voting for him on Tuesday, Sept. 9th.
I endorsed Don back in March, after giving a lot of thought to both his positions on key issues, but also where I see a Governor could make a difference on progressive public policy that makes a difference in people’s lives, both by executive action and pushing the Legislature to the left on a range of important legislation.
If we as progressives are really serious about tackling problems in Massachusetts like income inequality, our backwards criminal justice system, climate change, or the most expensive health care system in the US that still leaves many without proper care, I don’t think having a Democrat in the corner office is enough (just as I feel the same about the Legislature) – we need a visionary leader with strong principles, who has the capability to marshal the state programs and agencies to solve very complex problems, while inspiring the public to rally behind powerful ideas that take on the status quo.
We’re in a very interesting time in Massachusetts politics, and policy. For the past eight years, under Governor Patrick’s leadership and an active Democratic Legislature, we’ve made progress on access to health care, become a nationwide leader on alternative energy, sustained a strong economy, and protected marriage equality.
And yet there are things that happen on Beacon Hill that make me shake my head. A wasted opportunity on a progressive tax package that does not adequately invest in transportation infrastructure, underwhelming increases in public education, welfare, immigration and criminal justice “reforms” that only further punish the poor and oppressed, and state agencies that have made only modest progress on social suffering and moral outrages such as the state’s homeless crisis, and deep poverty in struggling cities and towns.
I believe that with Don Berwick’s progressive values, his liberal positions for universal health care for all, a progressive income tax and a carbon tax, ending ruthless criminal justice policies such as mandatory minimums and the enforcement of the Secure Communities program, and opposition to destructive economic development policies such as casino gambling, the Kinder Morgan gas pipeline, and the status quo of health care regulation, combined with his nationally-recognized skills as a manager and fixer of health care systems, Massachusetts could be further transformed into a more equal, more prosperous, and more just state.
In my conversations with Democrats and progressives in my district and across the state, I often hear a great deal of frustration expressed about how efforts like raising the minimum wage, passing a fair tax package that doesn’t burden working people, expanding the Bottle Bill, better serving immigrants, or fixing our criminal justice system, either sputter into some moderate legislation that will do little to impact the lives of everyday people, or never see the light of day at the State House.
Well, just as the members of the House and Senate progressive caucuses, and thousands of advocates and activists across the state do our part every year to create comprehensive change, we need a Governor who is equally committed to this level of transformation. And a Governor, with the power of the bully pulpit, the support of the grassroots, and ability to coordinate state efforts, can make this kind of change a reality.
In listening to Don Berwick speak to hundreds and thousands of people in Massachusetts, whether in people’s homes, at the Democratic state conventions, Democratic cookouts, and our one on one conversations on the phone, in the State House, or in his office, I believe that Don Berwick has the abilities to change the status quo that remains in so many policies in Massachusetts, which is holding the state and its people back.
I hope you will join me in voting for Don Berwick on Tuesday, September 9th!
If you haven’t yet heard about Don’s views on important issues, please take a look at this clip of Don’s answers from last week’s debate at Stonehill College https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ptpHgDN-Eo&feature=youtu.be and the coverage of the last night’s Western Massachusetts debate by MassLive.com reporter Brian Steele http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/08/democratic_massachusetts_gover.html
is not putting your money where your mouth is. He is unabashedly progressive, and yet has accomplishments to back it up. Yes it is translatable to the governor’s office. If you tune into the debate on Sept 3rd, Ch 5, 7pm, you will hear the breadth of knowledge he has on a variety of issues, not just health care. He has learned how to approach these problems, and holds a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government. If you let the polls lead you, a great opportunity will be lost. The worm has turned before. What do you really want out of government for yourself, your community, and this state? For this regular voter Don Berwick fills the bill. Does he walk on water? No. But his record shows he makes independent assessments based on real evidence, and then he rolls up his sleeves to make things happen. It is time to abandon safe choices, and choose someone who embraces what we all fight for on this blog. As Thomas Paine said: “yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.” I say get out there in Don Berwick’s campaign and make him the top vote getter on Sept 9th.
If you or someone you care about has even had to deal with a serious illness or injury, you know how frustrating it can be dealing with a half dozen or more specialists with no one coordinating the treatment. Each specialist is focused on their part and there is no communication between them. Test after test, appointments and forms, co-pays and confusion fill your days.
It’s like building a house without a general contractor. The plumber, the electrician, the masons and the carpenters all are doing their job without someone coordinating the construction.
You might think that your general practitioner is coordinating this but that is not the reality. Your GP may be the one who writes referrals, but he or she cannot bill for coordinating your overall care. In a fee for service system, such as the one that we have in Massachusetts, this is how it works. This is why we have multiple appointments, overlapping tests, piles of forms and costly mistakes.
There is only one candidate for governor who is addressing this problem. His name is Don Berwick. Health care eats up over 40% of our state budget is among the highest cost in the nation. The other candidates either make a passing remark about “transparency” to fix this or worse, one candidate does not even list Health Care as a key issue on his campaign web site. Don’s plan is to move our state away from fee-for-service payment and from fragmented delivery into coordinated, team-based, integrated care. Saving money, saving lives.
If you are concerned with our state budget and your health care, there is only one choice for governor. Don Berwick for Governor.
Sen Eldridge is one of our most committed and consistent progressives — he does not just SAY the things we all know to be true (we need fair taxation, corporate tax reform, single payer healthcare, campaign finance reform…) he is persistent in pushing for them, introducing bills, advocating with his (not so consistent) colleagues, making the case in the public square.
He, I think, knows what it is that has tripped us up on our road to progressive policies. And understands that we need a strong progressive center in the Executive that works with a robust progressive caucus in the Legislative. It’s not one or the other — it’s both together, working together.
More than any other candidate, Don Berwick has shown on the campaign trail that he understands that there is no magic wand in the Governor’s hands, but has instead shown he is building that progressive legislative/executive coalition for change.
Deval Patrick (despite the horrible sin of bringing us casinos) is a progressive, but he’s never been able to play well with Legislature (and vice versa).
I haven’t seen any indication that Steve or Martha understand this dynamic (in fact, I was dismayed by some comments by Coakley at the Prog MA forum in Worcester, where she seemed to lay certain problems at the feet of Legislature exclusively).
We should all listen attentively to our progressive legislators when they describe the problems/roadblocks to passing better policies and making MA the model we ought to be.
It’s not just about one office, one election… it’s about building a movement, and Don Berwick (and Jamie Eldridge) get it.
I think I speak for many here when I ask, When are you running for statewide office?
Medicare For All is perhaps the most progressive of all causes, thank you for your leadership on this issue!
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/Senate/S515
Section 1: The foundation for a productive and healthy Massachusetts is a health care system that provides equal access to quality health care for all its residents. Massachusetts spends more on health care per capita than any most states or any other country in the world, causing undue hardship for the state, municipalities, businesses, and residents, but without achieving universal access to quality health care. Medicare for All will allow us to achieve and sustain the three main pillars of a just, efficient health care system: (a) cost control and affordability, (b) universal equitable access, and (c) high quality medical care.
An indicator of Don’s leadership is that he fosters leadership in the people around him. It’s a great thing to experience. His campaign headquarters is an ecosystem of good energy.