The Mad As Hell Doctors in DC

I was late to the rally, I came in while the Raging Grannies were singing. Given that it had been raining, there was a decent crowd, I would guess 100 people. The Progressive Democrats of America were there wearing hospital gowns over their clothes with signs in the front that said "health insurance is like a hospital gown" with a sign in back that said "You are not really covered." They were wearing false fannies for full effect. It was pretty funny. Then the doctor's spoke. They told all the stories we have heard about how they cannot practice medicine the way they were taught in a for profit system.

Time to go to Jail; Civil Disobedience Campaign "Patients NOT Profits: Healthcare for All"

On September 29th in New York City, the Mobilization for Health Care for All is launching a campaign of "Patients Not Profit" sit-ins at insurance company offices to demand an end to a system that profits by denying people care and puts insurance company bureaucrats between doctors and patients. We want the real "public option": improved Medicare for All, a national single payer plan that cuts out the profit and puts patients first.
Private insurance death panels are killing people every day and blocking real health care reform.

It's time for nonviolent civil disobedience to turn the tide.

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Dave Johnson blogging the G20 protests:

It appeared that the police might have outnumbered the demonstrators. I have iPhone video which I can try to post that shows just how many police there were, just where I was. One the one hand there were people looking for trouble, who broke lots of windows and threw bricks at the police last night. On the other hand it is highly intimidating and creates an atmosphere where people are afraid to join peaceful protests.

What are the chances that the people throwing bricks were agent provocateurs.

Here it is, Friday morning, the G20 got underway last night a couple of miles from where I sit, and I ain't seen nothing yet except what's on my computer, unless you count the helicopter that hovered over my neighborhood for an unconscionable length of time day before yesterday.

So I went in search of news this morning, partly to prepare myself for this afternoon's march, partly to have something to share with all of you.

First thing that hits me from McClatchy is a cute little paragraph that reminded me of my disgust the other day at hearing the phrase "G20 wives":

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Visible Vigils for Health Care Reform

The next two months will be critical in the shaping of health care bills in the U.S. Congress. We want to let our Congressmen know that Rhode Islanders support meaningful health care reform, a strong national health care option (“Medicare-For-All”). We are holding “Visible Vigils” across the state every Tuesday evening between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m. from September 15 until November 17th.

Leaders Absent at Health Care Demonstration in Midtown

Sure enough, President Obama got out on the road, briefly, to shore up support for health care reform. Yet it is his opponents that have monopolized the airwaves and framed the health care reform debate to such a degree that the public option has been all but abandoned in the corridors of power (Baucus' proposal makes no mention of it), while the people are still chanting in support of a 'single payer' system in the streets of the nation's cities.

Nation-Wide Local Protests For A People's Bailout & Financial Restructuring On April 11

A new group named "A New Way Forward" is organizing nationwide local protests for a people's bailout next Saturday, April 11, at 2 PM EDT.

Gorbachev took power in 1985, but the fall of communism did not happen until August of 1991. What Obama's election did was shift the national debate. With the deteriorating economic situation the national conversation will continue to radicalize.

Action Alert: Demo. at National Health Policy Conference
Tuesday, February 3, 2009, 8:30 – 10:00 AM

Where: JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC

What
National Health Policy Conference that includes a Congressional Plenary on Tuesday morning starting at 9:00 AM. Senator Baucus and Representative Stark start off at 9:00, followed by Senate and House staff at 9:45 AM.

The Plan
-Gather outside the hotel with banners and signs
-Street theater targeting health insurers, big Pharma and Baucus

Rally photo watch here.

Read what the people of Canada think over at the coalition Twitter page. (We're one of the top topics!)

Health Care Now Rally and March Thursday 11/13

Attend HealthCare NOW’s rally and march calling for a national Single-Payer health care system. At the rally there will be a Phone-A-Thon supporting HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act. Let’s get it passed.

One Nation, One Plan!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
4:00PM - 5:00PM Rally
Corner 42nd & 7th Ave
5:00PM March to GHI 34th St & 9th Ave

Anger in Philadelphia: CIGNA + McCain = Murder by Spreadsheet

Six days before the most important election in my lifetime, it was an auspicious moment to be standing in the lobby of this Murder by Spreadsheet factory.

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Thursday November 13th at 4:00 pm

New Yorkers will
gather at Bryant Park (42nd St. & 6th Ave.) to
demonstrate in favor of the creation of a Single-payer National Health Insurance Plan (H.R. 676). Today in America, more than 50 million people have no health insurance, 20 million more are under-insured and more than 20,000 people die each year of a treatable illness. In this moment of billion-dollar taxpayer “bailouts” for Corporate America, few people recognize that debts incurred as a result of medical procedures are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy. H.R. 676 would end these destructive trends and secure healthcare as a human right.

We need your help to get the word out about this

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EFF

Freedom Not Fear is the world's ongoing demonstration against the encroachment of civil liberties by anti-terrorist laws -- particularly in the online world. This year the protests take place this Saturday, October 11th in nearly thirty countries, including the very first events in the Americas.

Freedom Not Fear Wiki

Via Crooks and Liars we find out about a Health Care for America Now event:
Time:
Tuesday, July 22 at 11:00 AM
Duration:
1 hour
Host:
Lorraine at Progress Ohio
Location:
The Hyatt on Capitol Square (Columbus, OH)
75 E State St.
Columbus, OH 43215

Update - Politico

Dying for Healthcare: A National Day of Protest Against Insurance Companies and Rejections of Patients

Philadelphia was one of the 18 cities around the country hosting demonstrations as a part of today's National Day of Protest Against Health Insurance Corporations protesting at the headquarters of each of the major health insurance corporations. Organized by Healthcare-NOW!," the speakers and demonstrators congregated in front of the national headquarters of Cigna in Center City with a crowd of around 200 people.

Health Care rally in front of Humana HQ

1,000 Picket Health Insurance Convention In San Francisco

Pittsburgh's part in the National Day of Action Against Health Insurance Companies took place today downtown in front of the Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield building. I was able to be there for about 45 minutes.

The good parts: perfect weather; a wide sidewalk on a busy corner with lots of pedestrians and cars; a decent sound system; good people speaking with something to say and the ability to say it briefly and affectingly; plenty of signs and leaflets; the news that Pittsburgh City Council is on record as endorsing single-payer healthcare; the Tribune-Review (Scaife's paper!) sent a reporter; the local CBS affiliate sent a cameraman.

Complete list of tomorrow's demonstrations:

Atlanta, GA

Location: Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Time: 3 pm to 5:30 pm

Contact: Margie Rece (msrece [@] yahoo [.] com)

___________________

St. Louis, MO

Location: Milles Fountain located between Market Street and Chestnut Street across from Union Station

Time: 11:45 am

Contact: Julia Lamborne (Julia0409 [@] aol [.] com)

________________________________

Albany, NY

Location: 90 State Street (in front of NY Health Plan Association Office)

Time: 5 pm

Contact: Mike Keenan (mikekeenan [@] pefencon [.] info)

More Info: www.singlepayernow.net

Community Unites to Tell Health Insurance Industy: Health Care Yes, Insurance Companies No!

The June 19 rally will be the first organized mass expression of popular demand for high-quality, affordable health care directed by patients and doctors, not insurance profiteers.

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June 19 (that's this Thursday) there will be a demonstration at the offices of the Humana Insurance Company in San Antonio, TX at 6 PM.

Contact: Jane Lee Cantu (janelee [@] satx.rr [.] com)

Health Care for all Texas

We are a grassroots coalition that believes health care is a human right. Every person in the state of Texas deserves access to high quality health care at an affordable cost.

June 19, Indianapolis, IN, Wellpoint

Contact is Cindy Calley: home [@] calleys[.]org

Check out: Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan

Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan is a group of Indiana citizens who support a publicly financed, privately delivered (single payer) universal health plan at the state and national level. HCHP is working to educate the public and the legislature about the benefits of a single payer plan. We are seeking individuals and groups who have an interest in helping achieve this goal.

June 19, National Day of Action for HR 676, Hartford, CT Aetna/Hartford, Contract: Lucille Rosenblatt, IIrosenblatt [@] comcast [.] net

Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care Web Site

Members of the Mighty Corrente Building who attend these events are encouraged to post about them. By this time next week we will be reflecting of the day's events.

Terry McAuliffe to be Protested June 19th

AHIP, America's Health Insurance Plans, decided downtown San Francisco would be a good place for the health insurance company lobbyists and executives to hold their convention. Not surprisingly, thousands of people will take to the streets at noon on June 19th at the Moscone center

One of the key people being protested is none other than former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe who is a keynote speaker for the industry.

Gainesville, Florida-- Contact: Mark Piotrowski, markp [@] floridalaborparty [.] org
2008 Alachua County Labor Party Calendar

Thurs., June 19 - National Day of Action Against Insurance Companies. In solidarity with the large anti-Insurance Company demonstrations being planned in San Francisco, ACLP will be joining with brothers and sisters in Jacksonville at BlueCross/Blue Shield.