In one state now, it is official: health care is "a right and not a privilege." Vermont has broken through the barrier set up by those opposed to cost-efficient, single-payer systems and, now, has a law that commits the state to providing health care to all its residents.
According to ThinkProgress, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin signed the legislation today. Of course, it won't happen immediately - and the state still must receive a waiver from the national health legislation passed last year - but unless the Republicans assume control of both houses of Congress and the White House in the next couple of years, Vermont will eventually provide a model of how "Medicare for all" works.
Once that happens, there will be no turning back. The Republicans will be unable to argue against a system that works and cuts the profits out that the privatized health insurance companies add to the cost of health care. And the safety and security all Vermont residents will receive in knowing that they will no longer be at risk of losing their employee or private health insurance - or not be able to afford it - will become an attractive option to most Americans.
