This fall, in the run-up to the midterm elections, a group of Catholic nuns, Protestant clergy and other religious leaders caravanned through South Dakota on what they called the “Love Your Neighbor Tour.”
They stopped at grocery stores, diners, senior centers, libraries, and other community gathering places to engage in conversations with people about health insurance. They heard story after story of family, friends and neighbors struggling to provide quality health care.
The goal of this tour is to build support for voting initiatives to ensure that people in South Dakota receive the care they need.
Through initiatives like this, citizens can put an end to elected officials being cut off from the electorate.
In this year’s election, voters will 30 states engaged in this form of direct democracy. these voters We raised taxes on the wealthy in Massachusetts and Los Angeles, funded kindergarten and child care in New Mexico, and cracked down on medical debt in Arizona.
In South Dakota, the “Love Your Neighbor” campaign was a huge success. By a margin of 56 to 44, voters approved a proposal to force state governments to expand Medicaid eligibility. an estimated 42,500 working-class people take care.
These people earn too much to qualify for the state’s existing Medicaid programs, but too little to access private insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Since 2010, the federal government has funded his 90% of the costs of expanding Medicaid in states, while state political leaders South Dakota and 11 other states refused to do so.
South Dakota hairdresser Angela Linde participates in a voting campaign to expand Medicaid. Linde says she works two jobs but can’t afford health insurance. credit: South Dakota Decides on Healthcare.
This isn’t the first time South Dakota has used effective person-to-person organizing and voting initiative strategies for its neighbors.
Back in 2016, a bipartisan coalition with strong faith community support scored an incredible victory over financial looters, garnering 76% support. ballot measure Impose a 36% interest rate cap on payday loans. Previously, South Dakota’s average interest rate was around 600%, leaving many low-income families stuck in a vicious cycle of debt.
This midterm election season, Nebraska offers another inspiring example of civic action bypassing no-contact politicians.
For the past 13 years, Republicans in Congress have blocked an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 since 2009. For example, Rep. Adrian Smith recently attacked President Biden’s proposal for his $15 federal minimum by saying:economically harmful“
Nebraskans see the issue differently.
Voters there approved raising the state minimum wage to the same level Biden proposed ($15 an hour) by 2026. 58% supportmeans a bigger salary for approx. 150,000 Nebraskans.
