August 21, Saratoga Springs: Health care rally for Capital District

Date : 21 August 2008 From : 11:00am To : 12:00pm
Category : Health / Care Location : 12866

Event Description :

A new coalition of groups called Health Care for America Now! (HCAN) is holding a rally outside the Saratoga Springs Hospital.  Read more 

MoveOn.org should query its members on the issue of health care for all.

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, respectfully petition the leaders of MoveOn.Org to abide by its core democratic principles and ask the opinion of its members whether they support reform of the private health insurance system or replacement of private health insurance by universal single payer health care, before MoveOn continues to organizationally and financially support a new coalition which supports the former and excludes the latter.

WHEREAS, MoveOn has had extraordinary success because it has presented itself as democratic organization in which, as its web site proclaims, every member has a voice in choosing the direction.  Read more 

Consider the case for a national health program

The words “socialized medicine” are like stink bombs. Drop them into a discussion of health care reform, and everyone runs for the door.

So let’s try another phrase. How about “Medicare for all”?

Leon Zoghlin and Peter Mott have been members of Physicians for a National Health Program for decades. And when they talk about reform, they mean Medicare for all. It’s been working well for senior citizens since the 1960s. Why not share the good?  Read more 

Sometimes we win one:

AUSTIN, Texas - Affirming that “every person deserves access to affordable, quality health care” and noting that area residents are not getting it, the Austin City Council called today for the enactment of a nonprofit, single-payer national health insurance program.

At its regular Thursday meeting, the Council voted to endorse the U.S. National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and 91 other members of Congress. The vote was six in favor and one abstention.

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, single payer advocates from across New York will meet in Albany to form a new statewide organization.

Our aim: to build an unbeatable movement for a single payer public system that would fully fund comprehensive health care, including prescription drugs, for all. We invite all single-payer supporters to join us!  Read more 

Raising awareness about single-payer health care

On Sept. 20, we will be holding a silent art auction at Seaman’s Lodge, Nevada City, in conjunction with the South Yuba River Citizens League’s 25th anniversary celebration. All the fine art is being donated by California artists both locally and statewide. All the funds generated will go toward informing and making the general public aware concerning a single-payer health care system. Please come and support this effort.

Get involved in bringing single-payer health care to the state of Ohio

Bob and others have been collecting petition signatures for SPAN for nearly five years, in order to get it on the Ohio ballot so citizens can put it to a vote. SPAN doesn’t have the PR budget that big business has, but what it does have in its favor is the support of people who take the time to learn about it.  Read more 

Medicare anniversary brings calls for health care reform

“This country spends 16 percent of its total income on health care and we leave millions uninsured,” said Dr. David Zehring, of La Veta. “Our European allies spend about 11 percent of their income on health care and cover everyone, while Canada spends about 9 percent for universal coverage. I’m confident we will get universal coverage here some day.”  Read more 

Birthday Party for Medicare 30JUL2008

You are invited to join me, Barabra DeVane, at Congressman Boyd’s office at 11AM on Wednesday, July 30 for a birthday party complete with cake and noisemakers (that would be our Healthcare coalition calling for Boyd to sign on to HR 676).

We will celebrate the 43rd birthday of Medicare and ask Congressman Boyd for his support in extending Medicare to All through Universal Single Payer Healthcare—HR 676.

Boyd is very conservative, so they have their work cut out for them.

Health Care Now is announcing a series of parties across the country to celebrate 43 years of Medicare and to organize for HR 676! If you live in or near Detroit you can meet John Conyers! Say hellow for Corrente Wire. Parties in Texas, Florida, Ohio, New York, Illionois, and many other states. Download the list.

Medicare’s 43rd Birthday is July 30th - Medicare is known as one of the most successful social programs in the United States. Its universal coverage for those 65 and older creates the ability to redistribute benefits to those who are neediest, it pools risk in order to share the burdens of health care among the healthy and the sick, and through Medicare, the government protects the rights of all beneficiaries to essential health care without putting profit interests first. Medicare beneficiaries are overwhelmingly satisfied with their coverage, and now it is time to give improve and expand this wonderful program to everyone in the country! Support HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All!
We need you to help us celebrate! Here is what you can do:

Join a group near you! Medicare Birthday Parties are happening all over the country to celebrate the importance of Medicare and to fight the privatization of one of our most beloved social programs. Download the list—located in the right column—of already planned parties to see if there’s one near you.  Read more 

Expand successful Medicare program to all

July 30 is the 43rd anniversary of the passage of Medicare. Medicare began because no one except the government was willing to cover the oldest and sickest of us. …  Read more 

State & Local Organizations Working for Health Care for All
CA
Health Access California - www.health-access.org
Health Care for All California - www.healthcareforall.org
California Universal Health Care Organizing Project - www.singlepayernow.net

CO
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative - www.cohealthinitiative.org  Read more 

Single-Payer Health Coverage, HCAN And Health Care Reform:

What strikes me about the three quotations I start with above is how they really encapsulate the single-payer problem in the upcoming universal health care debate. Single-payer advocates are often dedicated and strong-willed grassroots activists for their cause - but they are as of now marginalized in the policy discussion, with a public that doesn’t really understand its options. Single-payer advocates have already lost the crucial framing of the current universal health care political debate because as noted the compromises for ’some sort of universal health care’ are what’s on the table - not adherence to single-payer, or we walk away. The time to win the debate was before, or at worst, during the Democratic primary. Part of why single-payer advocates have lost for now, I suspect, is because they lack the resources of “K-Street professionals” and are, as a group, not as experienced or skilled at “building mailing lists and fundraising and get[ting]-out-the vote for November.” Look at Massachusetts’ recent reform, or what happened much earlier in 2002 in Oregon, where single-payer forces lost massively…

Let’s look at the assumptions here.  Read more 

I think this is about a local union, but I can’t be sure.

Scott

Board meeting all day friday, but that never feels like work. We’re discussing healthcare reform again, more specifically the glaring fact that our local has not taken a formal position on it. We had a short presentation on HR 676 in march and i proposed we officially make a motion of support, but got shot down..Lots of people saying they didn’t have enough information. Well believe me…they’ll not be able to say that THIS time. I’ve got about a ream of paper ready to distribute this time, and am not even about to let it go without a hell of an argument…Fun times, man.  Read more 

Health Care for All Colorado

Greater Boulder Area Chapter, of HCAC

Denver, Colorado HCAC Chapter

Northern Colorado HCAC Chapter - Fort Collins

Southern Colorado HCAC Chapter

Western Slope Of Colorado HCAC Chapter

Health Care for All

I am really happy to see that the health care movement in the United States seems to be growing. It makes sense that the movement is growing, since our health care situation is getting worse and worse. Here are some stats from a recent Healthy Washington Coalition caucus I attended:

The Washington Health Care Caucuses:

Speak Up for Quality, Affordable Health Care  Read more 

Letter: Universal health coverage within reach

We feel that one of the prominent issues to be discussed among many in the presidential elections should be our health-care system. The only real solution is a universal, single-payer system.

HR 676 is a perfect answer to the mess our present system is in with regard to the uninsured and underinsured. It is backed by many counties, the National Conference of Mayors (very recently), nursing organizations, business coalitions and doctors’ groups. Three Florida congressmen have endorsed it.  Read more 

The Wichita Eagle has a letter to the editor about the alleged evils of single payer. If we are to win this fight, we need to write our own letters to the editor. You can tie your letter to a local candidate who supports single payer, or find some other hook.

Letters to the editor are one of the most popular sections of any newspaper. They are closely studied by both politicians and their press secretaries.

Letters to the Editor are a baromator of reader interest, so even if your letter is not printed, there is a good chance of influencing future news coverage.

June 19 - National Day of Protest Against Health Insurance Companies  Read more 

Except for Dennis Kucinich, none of the Presidential candidates proposed universal health care. All the rest offered various ways to extend health insurance.

Health insurance is not healthcare  Read more 

Healthcare Activists Plan June 19th As National Day Of Action Against Health Insurance Companies, California  Read more 

We have a lot of problems, and no shortage of criticism. What we don’t have and need more of are positive, affirmative plans for action, ways to reverse the damage done and start building a sustainable and equitable future.

This is a start.  Read more