IN THIS EPISODE
How does the struggle for healthcare justice intersect with the movement to protect consumers? How do regulations on corporations and their products benefit us all? Is putting profit above consumer safety really “good business?” What’s essential to winning Medicare for All?
To find out, we spoke with Andrew McGuire, a lifelong trauma prevention specialist and grassroots activist who lives in Sonoma County, California. He’s an MacArthur fellow and Emmy award-winning filmmaker who has produced films related to his work in trauma prevention. Andrew’s also the executive director of Code WACK’s parent organization, California OneCare, and a strong single-payer advocate.
SHOW NOTES
WE DISCUSS
What sparked your interest in trauma prevention?
“I was severely burned when I was seven years old – on my 7th birthday – and went through four hospitalizations, about a year and a half of recovery and that was a major traumatic event of my childhood.” – Andrew McGuire
In which corporate arenas have you worked?
“…as an activist …[I’ve] taken on pajama manufacturers, the Cotton Council, and then later on, I worked on getting cigarettes that wouldn’t ignite fires, wouldn’t cause bedding and couches to catch fire, and taking on the tobacco industry who fought that – that was 32 years of a fight – and the auto industry … not putting in airbags and the gun industry … and gun control ….” – Andrew McGuire
What’s it going to take to get a healthcare system that works for everybody?
“It’s very simple. We need a huge financial investment in a long-term campaign for single payer, a major investment, because we have to battle the hundreds of millions of dollars the other side will gladly spend to keep preying on the sick and the vulnerable ” – Andrew McGuire
Helpful Links
Fire safe cigarette, Wikipedia
How California and Other States Can STOP Murder by Fire–Fire-Safe Cigarettes Now!, The Trauma Foundation
Children’s Sleepwear Regulations, Consumer Product Safety Commission
Children’s pajamas don’t always meet flammability standards; here are ways to avoid dangerous products, Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group
Airbags Have Saved Tens of Thousands of Americans… and Industry Obstruction Cost Three Times As Many, Center for Effective Government
How Airbags Changed the Auto Industry, The Takeaway
Lack of Gun Industry Accountability, EVERYTOWN for Gun Safety
Seeds of a Gun Control Movement, SF Gate
Episode Transcript
Read the full episode transcript!
Andrew McGuire – Biography
Andrew McGuire (Wikipedia)
Get Involved / Take Action
Subscribe to Code WACK! to catch all our weekly podcast episodes.
Let Governor Newsom know that you support single-payer health care in California.
Tell your state senator and assembly member to work with the governor to save California $500 billion in healthcare costs over the next 10 years!
Subscribe to HEAL California for health policy news with a California focus
Find more Code WACK! episodes on ProgressiveVoices.com, on the PV App and on NurseTalk Media. You can also subscribe to Code WACK! wherever you find your podcasts. This podcast is powered by HEAL California, uplifting the voices of those fighting for health care reform around the country. I’m Brenda Gazzar.
____________________________________________________________________________
HEAL California is an independent news and information hub focused on the Medicare for All movement. We highlight the on-going injustices of our broken healthcare system and amplify the voices of those who are most impacted by it, with non-partisan news, views, podcasts and videos,
Our Podcasts shine a light on the failures of America’s healthcare system, while explaining how Medicare for All could help.
Our Media page offers connections to experts and additional resources including links to legislation and studies.
Keep up with the Medicare for All movement!
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Subscribe for email updates.