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When we think about the greatest example of social change, Social Security comes to mind. Forgotten is the five decades of slow change that made Social Security what it is today.
When it started Social Security only covered a minority of Americans and excluded occupations populated by women. Hotel workers, laundry workers, household employees, farm workers, and government workers were added slowly in the 1950s and 1960s. Divorcees weren’t added until 1965. It didn’t have a cost-of-living provision until the 1970’s.
The point is simple. Success comes slowly. And rushing doesn’t work.
The advocates for a single-payer healthcare system learned that last week. AB 1400 failed. It was big. It was bold. And hundreds of elected leaders have promised it. But in the end, it was too big.
Compare that failure to the incremental success California has achieved in universal health care. By the end of this year, 98% of all Californians will have health coverage... including undocumented Californians. It happened slowly. One step at a time.
When it comes to Workers’ Compensation the last two Governor’s went for big reforms. But in the end, those reforms were so big and so complex that legislators ended up hurting seriously injured workers, institutionalizing ageism, expanding sexism, and legitimizing racist outcomes... and increased profits for insurers.
This year the talk has started. Another big “reform” is whispered. No, it won’t undo the ageist, sexist or racist “reforms”... it will undoubtedly result in more “unintended” consequences for women, people of color, and those who work with calloused hands and worn out backs.
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