The U.S.-Mexico border crossing at Tijuana (Photo: jonathan mcintosh / Flickr / creative commons)
Aug 07, 2019
You probably haven't heard about it, but there's another mass migration coming across the U.S.-Mexico border.
However, these aren't Central American families fleeing horrific conditions back home--only to be separated, incarcerated, traumatized, and demonized by Trump for seeking humanitarian asylum in our country.
Instead of building a senseless border wall to keep people out of the U.S., our leaders ought to be looking across the border for ideas on how to build a better health care system.
Rather, these migrants are going the other way--from the United States into Mexican border towns, where they're welcomed with open arms instead of armed guards.
They're mostly working-class people seeking relief from our nation's unaffordable, no-care health care system. As many as 6,000 a day travel to towns like Los Algodones, across from Yuma, Arizona, to get medical services and prescription drugs that are priced out of their reach here in the United States.
Nicknamed "Molar City," Los Algodones has more dentists per capita than anywhere else in the world. Quality dental work in Mexico averages two-thirds less than it costs here.
This is because the health system there prioritizes care over profits.
Start with professional education, which is tuition-free in Mexico, meaning dentists and other health care providers don't have to jack up prices to cover a crushing load of student debt. Also, Mexico's universal, tax-paid health care system doesn't saddle patients with exorbitantly expensive insurance bureaucracies.
It's a system that's open, affordable, and accessible to all--the opposite of ours, which is why hordes of U.S. working-class people go south to find care. As a Truthout.org article reports, "U.S. citizens seeking healthcare can park in Yuma for $5, walk across the border, get the help they need, and come back for dinner."
Instead of building a senseless border wall to keep people out of the U.S., our leaders ought to be looking across the border for ideas on how to build a better health care system.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
This column was distributed by OtherWords.
Jim Hightower
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the books "Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow" (2008) and "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion" (1998). Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
You probably haven't heard about it, but there's another mass migration coming across the U.S.-Mexico border.
However, these aren't Central American families fleeing horrific conditions back home--only to be separated, incarcerated, traumatized, and demonized by Trump for seeking humanitarian asylum in our country.
Instead of building a senseless border wall to keep people out of the U.S., our leaders ought to be looking across the border for ideas on how to build a better health care system.
Rather, these migrants are going the other way--from the United States into Mexican border towns, where they're welcomed with open arms instead of armed guards.
They're mostly working-class people seeking relief from our nation's unaffordable, no-care health care system. As many as 6,000 a day travel to towns like Los Algodones, across from Yuma, Arizona, to get medical services and prescription drugs that are priced out of their reach here in the United States.
Nicknamed "Molar City," Los Algodones has more dentists per capita than anywhere else in the world. Quality dental work in Mexico averages two-thirds less than it costs here.
This is because the health system there prioritizes care over profits.
Start with professional education, which is tuition-free in Mexico, meaning dentists and other health care providers don't have to jack up prices to cover a crushing load of student debt. Also, Mexico's universal, tax-paid health care system doesn't saddle patients with exorbitantly expensive insurance bureaucracies.
It's a system that's open, affordable, and accessible to all--the opposite of ours, which is why hordes of U.S. working-class people go south to find care. As a Truthout.org article reports, "U.S. citizens seeking healthcare can park in Yuma for $5, walk across the border, get the help they need, and come back for dinner."
Instead of building a senseless border wall to keep people out of the U.S., our leaders ought to be looking across the border for ideas on how to build a better health care system.
Jim Hightower
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the books "Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow" (2008) and "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion" (1998). Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
You probably haven't heard about it, but there's another mass migration coming across the U.S.-Mexico border.
However, these aren't Central American families fleeing horrific conditions back home--only to be separated, incarcerated, traumatized, and demonized by Trump for seeking humanitarian asylum in our country.
Instead of building a senseless border wall to keep people out of the U.S., our leaders ought to be looking across the border for ideas on how to build a better health care system.
Rather, these migrants are going the other way--from the United States into Mexican border towns, where they're welcomed with open arms instead of armed guards.
They're mostly working-class people seeking relief from our nation's unaffordable, no-care health care system. As many as 6,000 a day travel to towns like Los Algodones, across from Yuma, Arizona, to get medical services and prescription drugs that are priced out of their reach here in the United States.
Nicknamed "Molar City," Los Algodones has more dentists per capita than anywhere else in the world. Quality dental work in Mexico averages two-thirds less than it costs here.
This is because the health system there prioritizes care over profits.
Start with professional education, which is tuition-free in Mexico, meaning dentists and other health care providers don't have to jack up prices to cover a crushing load of student debt. Also, Mexico's universal, tax-paid health care system doesn't saddle patients with exorbitantly expensive insurance bureaucracies.
It's a system that's open, affordable, and accessible to all--the opposite of ours, which is why hordes of U.S. working-class people go south to find care. As a Truthout.org article reports, "U.S. citizens seeking healthcare can park in Yuma for $5, walk across the border, get the help they need, and come back for dinner."
Instead of building a senseless border wall to keep people out of the U.S., our leaders ought to be looking across the border for ideas on how to build a better health care system.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.