Organizing for America | Posts with the tag Single payer health care

Posts with the tag Single payer health care

Positive Lessons Learned from Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff’s Healthcare Reform Town Hall on Tuesday 8/11/2009

By Michael from Santa Monica, CA - Aug 21st, 2009 at 1:03 am EDT

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Please help me figure out how to get this to those that are preparing for future events...

Positive Lessons Learned from
Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff’s Healthcare Reform Town Hall
on Tuesday 8/11/2009

On Tuesday 8/11/2009, I attended a very well run Town Hall event that provided some very clear lessons on how to overcome the organized attempts at disruption and fear/hate mongering led by the radical right and corporate anti-reform supporters.

My thanks and congratulations go to Congressman Schiff and everyone involved in this event. This is the first such event that I have attended, and it was a very positive experience overall. (I was drawn to attend in an attempt to balance out the rowdy anti-reform crowds that I have seen on TV trying to dominate such events.)

The event had at least the expected 2000 people present, and despite the vocal attempts of anti-reform people, the event was kept relatively civilized and constructive.

A large part of this success is due to the obvious efforts of the event organizers to actively manage the event, rather than utilize a normal town hall format, which the anti-reform sponsors have recently managed so well to game to their advantage.

Below I list my observations, which I highly recommend that all Democratic legislators and town hall event planners study before/while planning their own events to discuss healthcare reform.

I also recommend that you contact Congressman Schiff, the event planners at his office and the City of Alhambra, the moderator Dr. Bruce Hensel, and the Alhambra Police Department for their own lessons learned.

Things done right to support a constructive dialog:

Don’t assume that this will be a normal town hall event. Treat this as a unique event with its own necessary preparation steps to ensure success.
The anti-reform sponsors have worked hard to game the format employed by normal town hall gatherings. Do not reward their efforts by passively playing along.
Be very clear on the goals of anti-reform sponsors…

· To agitate the radical right

· To prevent constructive dialog on this topic by disrupting and monopolizing the event

· To limit opportunities for reform supporters to spread their message

· To propagate intentional lies about reform goals/methods

· To intimidate supporters of healthcare reform from participating

· To wear down and intimidate pro-reform legislators

Do not limit attendance.
Attendance limits reward organizers who can bus in their supporters early during working hours so as to claim all available seats. Limits thus penalize people with jobs who find that by the time they can arrive after work and traffic the event is filled and they will not be admitted.
Hold the event outdoors.
This reduces the impact of people shouting to disrupt the event. During the first half of our event a number of anti-reformers attempted to shout non-stop to reduce dialog, but the open air dispersed their volume. They could not effectively compete with the sound system used by the podium speakers, and eventually they gave up and shut up.
An outdoor venue also supports the ability to avoid attendance limits.
Our event was held at a grassy area outside the library at the City of Alhambra Town Hall.
Use a high-quality sound system for the podium speakers.
The sound must be loud enough to be clearly heard by all in the audience, without distortion. Use a professional company for this and test it in advance.
Allow signs
Pro-reform audience members were obviously more polite and less likely to resort to out-shouting their opponents. Signs provided an alternative means for them to make their opinions known.
There will be many crazy signs from the anti-reform movement, such as pictures of Obama with a Hitler mustache. This is acceptable vs. the benefit of providing more civilized members of the audience with a means to communicate.
Use a professional moderator who is knowledgeable about healthcare reform.
Dr. Bruce Hensel, Medical, Health, and Science Editor/Reporter for NBC4 performed this role very admirably at Adam Schiff’s event. I recommend that organizers of similar events contact him to learn his own lessons learned.
The moderator should feel free to guide the discussion with the goal of providing constructive dialog.
Do not provide microphones for audience speakers, have the moderator restate their questions for the audience.
This reduces both the incentive for and impact of grandstanding and attempts to disrupt.
Not hearing amplified ranting also discourages other members of the audience from piling on with more shouting/chanting in an attempt to disrupt/monopolize the event.
It also allows legitimate, but nervous/awkwardly phrased questions to be restated in a manner that supports better dialog.
Have audience members line up to approach the front to ask questions
This is necessary for them to be heard by the moderator and legislator, since they will not be issued microphones. It also allows the moderator to more clearly call on people to come forward and speak.
At our event there was a pseudo line which formed as people moved forward to reach the front where they might be called on. This provided a cooling off period where people are required to behave in a civilized manner before speaking. Make sure that latecomers to the event are able to join the line as well as people that camp it before hand.
Using a line does not mean that the next person to speak is predetermined. At our event the line was a few people wide, and the moderator retained the right select the next speaker. This helps him/her try to balance the questions based on impressions of which side people may support, and to avoid calling on obviously disruptive people.
(I was able to move through the crowd, line up and eventually ask a question, even though by the time I arrived the event was just starting with over 2000 people present.)
Have sufficient room at the front for the selected speaker to step forward away from the line and speak.
Having the person separate themselves from the line makes it more clear who is to speak. It also reduces any potential intimidation from other people in line.
At our event a little girl was able to step up and ask a question without feeling intimidated.
Use a panel format
This allows the moderator to select appropriate experts to speak, and perhaps more importantly will avoid having the legislator get trapped in a cycle of having to continuously defend him/her self. The legislator remains free to speak up as desired though. It also supports the impression that the legislator is not the only person supporting reform.
Do not feel that the panel needs to be overly balanced so as to include people that do not support healthcare reform. The goal should be to support discussion of what type of reform, rather than having panelists attack the very concept.
Panelists should be warned though that due to the contentious nature of the anti-reformers, there may be limited opportunities to have a real debate, and much of the time may be spent simply defending the concept of healthcare reform.
Give the panelists a few minutes each at the beginning to state their positions once they are introduced.
At our event, the panelists were…

· Dr. Benjamin Chu, President, Southern California Region, Kaiser

· Dr. Richard Brown, Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

· Jerry Flanagan, Health Care Advocate, Consumer Watchdog

· Leeba Lessin, President, CareMore Health Plan

Have a visible, but not overbearing, police presence for crowd control, especially near the front.
The Alhambra Police Department is to be commended for very successful crowd control which helped to protect the panelists and audience, as well as the spirit of the event itself. Their firm, but restrained guidance should be seen as a model of police support for civilized debate in a democracy. They were visible, but not at all overbearing. This helped lead to an almost carnival atmosphere where people were confident of their safety, without feeling intimidated by the government.
The 3-4 police between the audience and the podium helped ensure that the “line” of people moving forward to ask questions remained civilized. At one point they were required to step in and handle a minor disruption, but this in no way detracted from the event as it was handled firmly, but with restraint. Once I asked my question, an officer politely, but firmly asked me to step back if I was done with my question. I happily thanked him for his efforts and rejoined the crowd.
Perhaps most importantly, keep a sense of humor, and don’t allow yourself to be intimidated
Congressman Schiff was very good at this, including occasionally joking in a friendly manner with the crowd about their “passionate debate”. He began the event by specifically asking everyone to act in a positive manner, which also helped. He also clearly stated that he was not going to be able to please everyone, while making visible attempts address anti-reform questions. A very impressive balancing act during a challenging event in my opinion.

Potential improvements:
A few minor points might be improved upon…

When asking how many people in the audience are for or against healthcare reform, know that the second side asked will typically be louder than the first.
This is because they have time to prepare themselves, and have the ability to gauge how load they are willing to shout to surpass the first asked side. If you want to even out the chance for the more polite pro-reform side to present their numbers, I recommend that you ask first how many oppose healthcare reform, and then how many support it. At our event, the Congressman’s final question of how many people were undecided produced a predictable, but humorous response of only a handful of people.
Have the front area specifically reserved for people in line to ask questions,
Allowing people to remain in the front area allows more aggressive anti-reformers to crowd the more valuable positions towards the front where they can more effectively disrupt and intimidate.
At our event the crowd was allowed to be a little too close to the podium, which allowed a small mob of anti-reform shouters to have more than their fair share of influence.
Have police expel people that obviously attempt to disrupt the event
As mentioned above, at least one person as able to stand near the front and shout at the top of his lungs non-stop for about half the event.
Obviously the desire to address this has to be balanced with any potential for actual or perceived police intimidation. As stated, at our event, the open air venue and excellent sound system used by the podium speakers eventually caused this person to quit yelling, so perhaps this is not always necessary.
Try not to call on any one panelist too frequently
Mixing it up keeps all panelists involved and reduces the impression that any “pet-panelist” is being given too much attention.
Set the crowd’s expectations by clearly stating that there will be a period of at least ½ hour for the legislator and panelists to introduce themselves and give their positions before questions will be taken from the audience.
This will help control the anti-reformers’ desire to go straight to questions so that they can dominate the event. (It obviously won’t reduce their desire for this, but it will make their chants for questions to begin sound more rude, which will encourage the rest of the audience to discourage them.)
Possibly use a lottery to decide who is initially allowed to be up front for questions.
Assuming that the lottery is held immediately before the event, instead of well in advance, this would keep people from being able to camp the front.
The challenge here would be to come up with a method that would allow this to be done quickly and fairly, so it doesn’t become a distraction.

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Disappointed in President Obama's Organizing for America Health Care Forum

By Michael from Santa Monica, CA - Aug 20th, 2009 at 5:37 pm EDT

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Billed as a strategy session and “an incredible opportunity to huddle with the President and discuss how we're going to pass real health insurance reform this year”, what we got was preaching to the choir by our Professor in Chief, rather than a discussion of strategies to actually move this forward.

I was ESPECIALLY disappointed to hear the President refer to the select panel as a legitimate negotiating method, and to hear him praise the Republicans on it, including Senator Grassley who has promoted the lies about death panels, as acting in good faith.

Surely Obama can’t be this naïve!!

First of all, how can that panel be legitimate when half of the members are Republican in the first place. This is not the proportion that was elected. Voluntarily giving them equal weight has only prevented any real reform from moving forward. A perfect example of this is how the single payer option was never considered, because these Republicans would never go along with it. This freed them to target any public option as socialized medicine, which it now sounds like we are moving away from as we try to compromise with them.

The American public elected a Democratic majority to get the job done. In giving away our majority to do so, I can only assume that enough Democrats have been bought out by special interests so that no intent to actually deliver effective healthcare reform has ever been intended. Instead apparently we only wanted to sound like we are trying to accomplish it, while at the same time stacking the deck against ourselves.

Secondly, the actions and comments from these three Republicans have shown that they have no interest in passing anything. Grassley himself, after warning people to be afraid for grandma, recently said that he would never support a bill that a majority of Republicans would vote for. Given the underhanded tactics that they and their pundits use, it should be obvious that they have NO interest in a dialog in good faith, and are only negotiating as a means to drag out the process with a series of endless compromises, while they foster an environment of hatred and intolerance for reform.

Wake up Mr. President!!!

Quit letting the Republicans and Blue Dogs play you for a fool.

It’s time to show less compassion and understanding and instead more backbone and righteous indignation.

Call out the liars as despicable and unpatriotic.

Quit trying to convince the Blue Dogs to support reform by watering it down, and instead make it politically impossible for them to act against it.

Stop portraying the anger in America as legitimate debate and instead demonstrate how it is manufactured astro-turf.

If you don’t feel like you can do this and be a nice guy, assign a senior hard-ass to do it for you. The movement desperately needs someone to lead the counter charge.

It also needs more clear organization...

Your discussion today only vaguely stressed the need for people to talk to their friends and neighbors, and offered a couple of talking points in response to a couple of questions.
Lame! We need someone who is actively providing clear instructions on what and how to help.

At a minimum, there should be a 3-5 point bullet list of talking points that everyone is pushing. Shorter, sound bite length talking points, which you can then lecture on to your heart’s content.There needs to be clear instruction on who to contact to help.We need to take the tactics of our opponents, refine them so they are morally acceptable, and then deploy them in a clear fashion.This movement needs a General to guide it.

Now unfortunately, I missed the beginning of the Forum due to internet issues, so maybe the initial speakers provided this leadership and guidance.
If so, I’ll be very, very happy to see more information coming from them in the future.

So far though, this effort seems like a weak, half-hearted attempt to capitalize on the exact same volunteer structure used during the election, without realizing that it needs more focus and clarity to work for an issue-specific movement. And for God’s sake, don’t think that we will win in the end based on the pattern of the election! A lot of the reason that we won convincingly is that the Republicans imploded towards the end of the election.We can’t count on that now, especially given that there are such powerful special interests whose profits are directly threatened by the reform movement.

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THE UNITED SUCKERS OF AMERICA... *or, The Progressives LAST STAND!

By Frank Esposito - Aug 19th, 2009 at 4:32 pm EDT

AUTHORS NOTE: I’ve spent the last decade and a half fighting against the phenomenon that I write about in the following post. This just might be my way of avoiding a future of explaining to my children (and grandchildren) how THE ADULTS allowed a bunch of vain, self-serving, power mad, greed stricken, silver spoon Con Artists to steal away the American Dream. At the very least I didn’t become one of the silly, ignorant, victimized, self-absorbed, apathetic, celebrity worshipping COWARDS who stood by and let vile, contemptible NONSENSE get in the way of my values.

1st draft:

The American PEOPLE are at the CROSSROADS in 2009. We can do NOTHING and let the Status Quo ruin everything America stands for… OR, we can fight for the UNALIENABLE rights and freedoms that were “endowed by the Creator”.

“NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION” has been ingrained in the public consciousness by the recent right-wing Tea Party Movement. Once again Republicans/Conservatives took a Patriotic symbol and put their own spin on it. (These LOSERS misrepresent American HISTORY, vital issues and the Constitution as badly as they interpret the Bible, lol)

I want to correct this travesty with facts that are more in tune with what the Founding Fathers had in mind.

It’s a slogan that described the grievance, people who lived in the original 13 Colonies, had with the Brits. The British Ruling Class was distant and unsympathetic to the wants and needs of the American Colonists. (sound familiar?)

Here’s the thing… The PEOPLE had BALLS back then, so they REJECTED the Stamp Act of 1765 which was repealed. In 1773, years of fermenting anger/frustration turned to violent uprisings (one most famously known as the Boston Tea Party) which led to the great American Revolution. Like I said… the PEOPLE had COURAGE back then. (and didn’t like being played for FOOLS)

Single payer health care WAS Obama’s Waterloo and he already lost that battle. Our sacred Obama/Biden Administration seems to have retreated to the weakest possible version of Healthcare reform. Speaking for myself, if the politicHo’s leave single payer out of health care reform then I rather they did nothing at all. It will only end up being a failure and huge waste of taxpayers dollars.

Let me explain how this ONE ISSUE can dash the hopes of a majority of the American PEOPLE.

I have a question… When did the USA become the United Suckers of America? Here’s the average American taxpayer… basically honest, hardworking, law abiding citizens caught in the middle.

On one side are Corporations, who have all the RIGHTS of a citizen but none of the responsibilities (limited liability). The Corporations don’t REPRESENT the American PEOPLE, their only concern is profit and stock holders.

On the other side of Mr/MS average taxpayer is the Government. A UNION of Federal, State, County and local government workers and elected officials. Many of these government officials/workers take a sworn OATH to UPHOLD the Constitution, PROTECT, SERVE and work for the best interests of the American PEOPLE.

But things CHANGED in the 1980’s. It was a REPEAT of what happened to the PEOPLE before the Great Depression. Government Representatives of the average taxpayer were wined, dined. sexed, and bribed by wealthy powerful men who wanted the game rigged so they would ALWAYS come out on top. (Status Quo)

It was and IS hard times, THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER started to NOTICE things… On the one side Corporations spending the last few decades getting huge government subsides and stimulus while *@~/ing over the American PEOPLE every chance they got.

On the other side government workers and elected officials (public sector) had the kind of JOB/PENSION/HEALTH CARE SECURITY the average taxpayer could only HOPE for or dream about. (pursuit of HAPPINESS) Civil servants, my skinny Italian-American @$$… just who the #*~/ is serving WHO?

Caught in the middle is the average American citizen, PAYING FOR IT ALL while watching their jobs, pensions, prosperity, health and happiness FADE AWAY! They started to realize this was the price of their APATHY of the last few decades. They didn’t hold their leaders ACCOUNTABLE for their actions, they forgot ETERNAL VIGILANCE included DEMANDING ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITY!

Because of this error in judgment and lax standards (deregulation), an orgy of waste fraud, abuse, scandal, corruption, arms dealing, war profiteering, violations of the Constitution HAPPENED! (which the 4th Estate mostly ignored or diverted attention from)

Vain, self-serving, power mad, greed stricken silver spoon Con Artists ravaged, off-shored and expatriated most of our nations wealth and resources… AND THEN GOT THE GOVERNMENT to force the DEBT of these criminal actions ON the average taxpayer. (while the Con Artists got multimillion dollar salaries, golden parachutes, $150,000 speaking engagements and police/secret service protection)

PLEASE! Someone tell me WHERE the REPRESENTATION IS in this whole scenario? What did the average American taxpayer get for their tax dollars in the last 13 years? You dumbass numbskull mother#*~/‘s really need to learn that a con is a CON! No matter in a back alley or from the Ivory Towers, the trick is to RECOGNIZE IT and not get played for a FOOL…

Whether one believes it or not… Single Payer Health Care WAS the Waterloo of both Obama’s Presidency and rights/freedoms of the American PEOPLE. Y’know, all that about “Of, By, For, Life, Liberty, Happiness, Equal Rights and JUSTICE”. Single Payer was the most efficient, cost effective way to start down the path to the American Dream. This ONE issue can rock the foundations of the Status Quo much like the Tea Party did at the start of this great nation.

Not in the way Conservatives think, though. Single payer is not government control over our lives but a way to get out from under the thumb of this Corporate/Government fascist police state that uses strong arm tactics resembling ORGANIZED CRIME to get what they want. A first step to bring POWER back to the PEOPLE. The kind of CHANGE most American taxpayers really want (whether they know it or NOT)

Can anyone tell me with a straight face what it is Insurance Companies DO… beyond creating a pool of people they can profit from? Is making outrageous profits from the suffering of your fellow man/woman a RIGHT or a PRIVILEGE? Single Payer was the way for Progressives to get rid of evil middle-men between YOU and your Doctor. That’s all it was, pooling all Americans so we could watch out for least of our Brothers.

I don’t know about what the knuckle-heads think but sick people being denied because of pre-existing conditions or contract fine print and 47 MILLION Americans WITHOUT health care is all the proof I need that our present system is G-damn failure. I’d even go so far to say it’s one of the MANY crimes against HUMANITY our government/corporate entities have gotten themselves involved in.

(if the American PEOPLE don't start DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY from their leaders then you don't deserve the RIGHTS and FREEDOMS you're letting slip away)

EXPOSÉ:
Something I been warning about since 1998. What I like to call the Liberal VS Conservative, DIVIDE and CONQUER Scam. The Rich and Powerful (corporations/special interests) turned many of our government officials in to their bitches. The economy was rigged to work AGAINST the best interests of the American PEOPLE.

12/1/2000 - Leaked CIA document Case# F-2001-00009:
“International Crime Threat Assessment” defines “Kleptocracy,
…rather than serve PUBLIC INTEREST, top leaders use nations resources solely to enrich themselves and their cronies. To cover up crimes the stage is set for social and political upheavals…”

Sound familiar America? The CIA will never admit they included USA “top leaders” in that report. I say anyone with half a brain already realizes something is just NOT RIGHT! One news story after another about waste, fraud, abuse, incompetence, corruption, etc. due to the LOW GRADE THOUGHT PROCESSES of our top leaders.

Am I mistaken, isn’t the job of our top leaders to protect the PEOPLE from “upheavals”? The problem here is NOT ENOUGH American PEOPLE had the COURAGE to DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY from those in power. Elected officials and public sector officers in general get away with the same things those of us in the private sector would be fired and prosecuted for. There’s NO incentive to be VIRTUOUS.

Not only top leaders in government but also those from the business world that have INFLUENCE over America’s future. I think this phenomenon was best described by Benito Mussolini:
“… fascism might more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of State and corporate power…”

And we all know how badly THAT turned out THEN and what the consequences are of history repeating itself NOW!

Single Payer Health Care is only a representation of a much bigger STRUGGLE. An uprising of 40 MILLION AMERICANS struggling BELOW the poverty level… OR the 47 MILLION AMERICANS without health insurance. Don’t THEY DESERVE the government subsidies and stimulus MORE than the wealthy, powerful entities who’ve been sucking the lifeblood of the American PEOPLE?

REALITY PLEASE!

A bit of factual history so Americans don’t make the same MISTAKES of the past.

If our economy is failing it’s because of the low grade thought processes involved with the long range fiscal planning of the Republican Party since 1980... THAT NOT ONE OF THEM WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOW!

Republicans believe Corporations have a right to do as they please. Most card carrying conservatives are so ignorant they don’t even know their own ideological CREDO. “Limited intervention in the economy. Substantial intervention in morality”. This means let the RICH/POWERFUL do whatever they please while finger pointing and preaching to the average Joe and Jane Schmuck.

Reagan/Bush killed ANTI-TRUST and any regulation that kept industry HONEST. When Reagan/Bush came to power, the USA was #1 on the planet in exporting goods and importing raw materials. This is the very definition of a prosperous economy. In 2009, it is the exact opposite. Why? Years of Republicans selling out the American middle class, that’s why. Oh and let’s not forget Reagan union busting and DEREGULATION. The root of ALL future Corporate scandal.

A long list of legislation starting with “fiscal conservatism” and “trickle down economics” led to the decline in federal aid to local governments from $64 per resident in 1980 to $29 per in 1992. To REPLACE the lost funding, a mandate for LAW ENFORCEMENT and Criminal Justice (sic) System to generate revenue for itself, State and local governments. PROFIT margins created a government VS. the PEOPLE mentality.

NOTE: (Sunday, April 16, 2000 Press-Enterprise B-1 article titled “San Bernardino County leads nation in forfeitures” WHAT? Joseph D. Mcnamara, a research fellow at Stanford University and former police chief in San Jose, said: “I think in general it’s a BAD MISTAKE to have the police interested in anything other than the pursuit of justice”)

Add the special interest pandering which further separated the PEOPLE from “LIFE, LIBERTY, HAPPINESS, EQUAL RIGHTS and JUSTICE”. As a mater of fact JUSTICE became a commodity bought and sold by the wealthy, powerful and well-connected.

NOTE: (Robert Ito in Los Angeles Magazine writes: “…YES, the $40 BILLION dollar private prison business is recession proof. The Corrections Corporation of America controlled 52% of the domestic market. Net income grew 75% in 1997, it’s stock doubled…” YEA! Ask Bob Barker about investing in the jail/prison industry. Bob Barker plastic soap dishes, jail shoes… and how can one strip down, bend over and COUGH without thinking of Bob Barker latex examination gloves?)

Then we go to the 90’s with Newt Gingrich/Tom Delay/John McCain/etc. controlled Congress... Republican’s busy selling out the American PEOPLE. I wanted to ask the Grich about all the hidden legislation such as the “Expatriate Clause” in Clinton’s Family Leave bill. It allowed the super rich (multinational Corporations, Saudi royals, drug trafficers, etc) take their billions out of the country PENALTY FREE!

While President Clinton and the American PEOPLE were MISDIRECTED by the media, fake Christian morality and the famous Monica Lewinski blowjobs… Newt oversaw legislation/policy that paved the way for outsourcing of American jobs, off-shore accounts scandal, media consolidation, predatory lending and the “Corporate Crime Wave” (Enron, etc.) While Republicans were waving the American flag and professing love of our great nation, behind the scenes they were busy selling out our children’s future. Explain to me please Newt, what good can come from insuring the venture capital of Corporations that move American jobs to Communist China?

And what were the TOP OFFICIALS doing while all the so-called representatives of the PEOPLE were breaking their sworn oaths and ignoring the SIGNS from the turbulent Middle East? Well, they were hanging out in the Halls of Congress with Larry Craig, Mark Foley and Ken Starr MASTURBATING to Monica Lewinski testimony…

THEN the biggest insult to the American Constitution conservatives could possibly come up with… these pathetic morons elect George W. Bush (not once BUT TWO TIMES) and there is the death blow to the US economy.

What kind of FOOLS took pleasure in Bush bragging about his TAX CUTS? What you idiots don’t realize is he’s had to borrow TRILLIONS of dollars from foreign entities to pay for his WAR in Iraq. 12 billion dollars a week going to the Iraqi money pit, arms dealers and war profiteers. AND OUR CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN WILL GET STUCK WITH THE BILL! How’s that for fiscal irresponsibility? (explain that to the next generation)

THE DOLLAR ISN’T WORTH THE PAPER IT’S PRINTED ON!

Tell me, PLEASE TELL ME one damn thing the George W. Bush administration DID for the American PEOPLE? And don’t give me that bullshit about he “protected us from terrorism”… LIES! You people are so #*~/’n brainwashed, reality is right in front of your EYES but you failed to SEE! If one does the slightest bit of research into the subject the facts are there SCREAMING AT YOU TO LISTEN.

The questionable election of Bush/Cheney in 2000 was everything a smart strategic planner like Osama bin Lunatic could have hoped for. With a handful of terrorists he has succeeded in taking DOWN the U.S. ECONOMY! He knew a cheerleader cowboy like Bush and all his sniveling, greedy, conniving cronies would break the bank to show they were tough guys… The basic plan of bin Laden was to

1) get the USA in AN expensive, never-ending WAR.

2) take down the economy of the Great Satan and the infidels.

I’m convinced economic among other POLICY of the last decade will hurt the United States of America MORE THAN ANY TERRORIST ATTACK! (read: Vanity Fair magazine article titled “Economic Consequences of Mr. Bush”)

Reagan didn’t bring down the Soviet Empire it was that War in Afghanistan that broke the Soviet Union. Bin Laden just used the same method counting on the right-wing hawks to bring down the USA! AND IT WORKED! Really, our economy is already fucked, Bush traveled around the world getting his wealthy handlers to PROP UP THE US ECONOMY UNTIL he left office… then he can blame the Democrats who were sure to WIN BIG IN 2008.

IT was also a good excuse to initiate the Conservative wet dream of what Reagan called “Starving the Beast”

Americans who want single payer health care among OTHER Progressive vital issues are what Conservatives consider the BEAST! Which proves just how brainwashed, ignorant, misinformed and un-American the RIGHT-WING REALLY IS!

A displeased critic (such as myself) jeopardizes the good life the Ruling Class and public sector set up for themselves. Boat-rockers must be stopped at ANY cost. Better to slap some uncomplimentary labels of terrorist threat or conspiracy nut than to EXAMINE the opposing viewpoints or alternative thought process.

Well I say it’s the height of hypocrisy shown by a Ruling Class that holds up core American values like they’re were actually proud American patriots. NO FREE THINKERS ALLOWED! It seems many government officials/workers have taken on the contemporary manifestation of the Neo-Conservative.
“…highly skeptical of the PEOPLE’s ability to analyze the complexity of historically developed society or the capacity for correctly planning desirable conditions…”

My readers can take this information any way they want… But I’m not so sure even the most open-minded, enlightened individuals among us UNDERSTAND just how IMPORTANT the next few years really are. Everything is in place for true CHANGE. We have all worked so hard to elect Obama/Biden and a Democratic controlled Congress WHY LET IT ALL SLIP AWAY NOW?

If the American PEOPLE don’t have the imagination, will or COURAGE to fight back NOW… then we might NEVER (in our lifetimes) get ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET WHAT WE WANT ...WHAT AMERICA NEEDS! I swear to the ALMIGHTY, if you apathetic, dumbass m#*~/ers don’t take this shit seriously then one might as well wipe your @$$ and flush down the toilet everything we hold dear about this great nation.

This is one of those RARE moments in the history of humanity where average PEOPLE can actually affect CHANGE for their own good. NOTHING is more vital to the USA than THAT!

...viva la revolution as posted on blog jinnbad.blogspot.com

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I'm Confused

By Andrew Bairnsfather - Aug 16th, 2009 at 10:59 pm EDT

Also listed in: Citizens for Marijuana Reform | Obama Supporters for Marijuana Law Reform

Dear President Obama,

Who are you trying to please?

The people who elected you or the people who thought you were the anti-Christ before you got elected and still haven't changed their minds?

Please do what is best for the country, you are the leader. Don't let yourself be led around by those who wish to continue bankrupting our country (and ruining other countries) due to the War on Drugs, which is exacerbating every problem the prohibitionists decry, or those who think that somehow a single-payer system is going to end up costing each of us more for healthcare while reducing what's available. How is it not obvious that if we ALL pool our resources, we can cover everyone and better than we do now?

What did the Founding Fathers pledge to each other?

• Continuously shop for the lowest labor costs.

• Always figure out the most expensive prices vendors can charge.

• Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

• Our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

• Exploit natural resources for the benefit of a few.

• Legislate and force their religions—or professed abstinence from—on others.

Yes, they pledged their lives, FORTUNES, and sacred honor to each other. We all live in this country but I feel more like it's a pack of wolves hunting the prey and fighting each other for dominance. Any sense of teamwork we had was killed off by the hateful, crying "commie," "socialist." Don't you think it's ironic that many of these people's parents gladly took their belongings to collection points and gave them away for free to be melted down and used as communal property to fight Hitler? Seems to me the way some think now, they hate what their parents did, it was not capitalistic, they should have sold it to our begging government. They probably wish their parents could've sold their old brass spitoons on eBay to whatever govt. agency was the highest bidder.

To pretend corruption and conflict of interest doesn't exist or "won't happen" is foolish. This is why those who designed our govt. put checks and balances in place.

You really need to whip the Congress into shape, they've been practicing the removal of checks and balances for decades! Give them a tongue lashing, which does not need to be public, pick them up and set them back down 180° from how they seem pointed.

All those people shouting "Nazi" and such… Here is the ONLY comparison I see.

You are well aware that hateful Hitler's loud mouth and minion convinced many people that the Gypsies were bad, the Jews were bad, the blacks were bad, etc… I'm sure many of them thought, "gee, others must feel this way too" and they went along with the bullies. After WWII many ordinary Germans were sorry they went along with it.

The comparison I see is that some of the loud-mouths are basically just describing themselves, and those in the upper echelons of political power are just like the mild-mannered Germans who were overtaken by the bullies.

Get out the charts and graphs, do like the senators do up at the front of Congress with their huge placards. Show people the dire straights we're in and rushing towards!

C'mon! What did Bob Marley sing? "Wake up! Stand up! Stand up for your rights!" Well, you are president and you have a whole lot more rights to get things done and get the message out than many of us who voted for you. This is why we voted for you, so you could do them. We didn't vote for you, so you would do the will of those who DID NOT vote for you.

In any case, it's my firm belief that many of these 50 & 60 somethings who are screaming loudest will benefit the most from cutting down the unfruitful for-profit healthcare system that benefits from denying coverage so they can pay bonuses and stock dividends to a miniscule percentage of our population.

Like I wrote in another essay. The cops DO NOT care who the backseat driver was who told the driver to ______ that led to the accident. They only care about the person in control. And you are in control. (At least 1/3 of it.) But you are the "head," so you need to stick your neck out every once in a while. Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say.

Tips on who to contact:

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition for lots of statistics on this failed Drug War.

http://LEAP.cc/

MPP - The hosts of one of the groups to which I will post this essay. A source of more information.

http://MPP.org/

Bill Moyers and Wendell Potter - at least watch the interview Bill conducted; but invite them both over for huge insight in to the healthcare issue.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/watch2.html

Respectfully,

Andrew Bairnsfather

P.S. As usual you are welcome to contact me directly, however, I am sure I will just point you at others who know more than I do.

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As Obama Continues Push for Healthcare Reform, House Committee Approves Kucinich-Sponsored Measure to Keep Single-Payer Option Alive

By Jason M. Christos - Jul 23rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm EDT

As Obama Continues Push for Healthcare Reform, House Committee Approves Kucinich-Sponsored Measure to Keep Single-Payer Option Alive Kucinich-web

On Capitol Hill, Democratic leaders say they’re open to paring down a healthcare reform bill in order to sway “conservative” Democrats who’ve threatened to oppose the measure that would create a government-run public insurance option. We speak with progressive Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). A House committee recently approved his amendment that would allow individual states to adopt a single-payer system. [includes rush transcript]... http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/21/as_obama_continues_push_for_healthcare

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The case for universal health care in the United States

By No longer active - Jun 26th, 2009 at 8:53 pm EDT

Also listed in: Citizens Concerned about Healthcare | SiCKO (Universal Health Care - HR 676)

The Case For Single Payer,

Universal Health Care For The United States

Outline of Talk Given To The Association of State Green Parties,

Moodus, Connecticut on June 4, 1999

By John R. Battista, M.D. and Justine McCabe, Ph.D.

Why doesn’t the United States have universal health care as a right of citizenship? The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. 28 industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems, while 1 (Germany) has a multipayer universal health care system like President Clinton proposed for the United States.
Myth One: The United States has the best health care system in the world.

Fact One: The United States ranks 23rd in infant mortality, down from 12th in 1960 and 21st in 1990
Fact Two: The United States ranks 20th in life expectancy for women down from 1st in 1945 and 13th in 1960
Fact Three: The United States ranks 21st in life expectancy for men down from 1st in 1945 and 17th in 1960.
Fact Four: The United States ranks between 50th and 100th in immunizations depending on the immunization. Overall US is 67th, right behind Botswana
Fact Five: Outcome studies on a variety of diseases, such as coronary artery disease, and renal failure show the United States to rank below Canada and a wide variety of industrialized nations.
Conclusion: The United States ranks poorly relative to other industrialized nations in health care despite having the best trained health care providers and the best medical infrastructure of any industrialized nation

Myth Two: Universal Health Care Would Be Too Expensive

Fact One: The United States spends at least 40% more per capita on health care than any other industrialized country with universal health care
Fact Two: Federal studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting office show that single payer universal health care would save 100 to 200 Billion dollars per year despite covering all the uninsured and increasing health care benefits.
Fact Three: State studies by Massachusetts and Connecticut have shown that single payer universal health care would save 1 to 2 Billion dollars per year from the total medical expenses in those states despite covering all the uninsured and increasing health care benefits
Fact Four: The costs of health care in Canada as a % of GNP, which were identical to the United States when Canada changed to a single payer, universal health care system in 1971, have increased at a rate much lower than the United States, despite the US economy being much stronger than Canada’s.
Conclusion: Single payer universal health care costs would be lower than the current US system due to lower administrative costs. The United States spends 50 to 100% more on administration than single payer systems. By lowering these administrative costs the United States would have the ability to provide universal health care, without managed care, increase benefits and still save money

Myth Three: Universal Health Care Would Deprive Citizens of Needed Services

Fact One: Studies reveal that citizens in universal health care systems have more doctor visits and more hospital days than in the US
Fact Two: Around 30% of Americans have problem accessing health care due to payment problems or access to care, far more than any other industrialized country. About 17% of our population is without health insurance. About 75% of ill uninsured people have trouble accessing/paying for health care.
Fact Three: Comparisons of Difficulties Accessing Care Are Shown To Be Greater In The US Than Canada (see graph)
Fact Four: Access to health care is directly related to income and race in the United States. As a result the poor and minorities have poorer health than the wealthy and the whites.
Fact Five: There would be no lines under a universal health care system in the United States because we have about a 30% oversupply of medical equipment and surgeons, whereas demand would increase about 15%
Conclusion: The US denies access to health care based on the ability to pay. Under a universal health care system all would access care. There would be no lines as in other industrialized countries due to the oversupply in our providers and infrastructure, and the willingness/ability of the United States to spend more on health care than other industrialized nations.

Myth Four: Universal Health Care Would Result In Government Control And Intrusion Into Health Care Resulting In Loss Of Freedom Of Choice

Fact One: There would be free choice of health care providers under a single payer universal health care system, unlike our current managed care system in which people are forced to see providers on the insurer’s panel to obtain medical benefits
Fact Two: There would be no management of care under a single payer, universal health care system unlike the current managed care system which mandates insurer preapproval for services thus undercutting patient confidentiality and taking health care decisions away from the health care provider and consumer
Fact Three: Although health care providers fees would be set as they are currently in 90% of cases, providers would have a means of negotiating fees unlike the current managed care system in which they are set in corporate board rooms with profits, not patient care, in mind
Fact Four: Taxes, fees and benefits would be decided by the insurer which would be under the control of a diverse board representing consumers, providers, business and government. It would not be a government controlled system, although the government would have to approve the taxes. The system would be run by a public trust, not the government.
Conclusion: Single payer, universal health care administered by a state public health system would be much more democratic and much less intrusive than our current system. Consumers and providers would have a voice in determining benefits, rates and taxes. Problems with free choice, confidentiality and medical decision making would be resolved

Myth Five: Universal Health Care Is Socialized Medicine And Would Be Unacceptable To The Public

Fact One: Single payer universal health care is not socialized medicine. It is health care payment system, not a health care delivery system. Health care providers would be in fee for service practice, and would not be employees of the government, which would be socialized medicine. Single payer health care is not socialized medicine, any more than the public funding of education is socialized education, or the public funding of the defense industry is socialized defense.
Fact Two: Repeated national and state polls have shown that between 60 and 75% of Americans would like a universal health care system (see The Harris Poll #78, October 20, 2005)
Conclusion: Single payer, universal health care is not socialized medicine and would be preferred by the majority of the citizens of this country

Myth Six: The Problems With The US Health Care System Are Being Solved and Are Best Solved By Private Corporate Managed Care Medicine because they are the most efficient

Fact One: Private for profit corporation are the lease efficient deliverer of health care. They spend between 20 and 30% of premiums on administration and profits. The public sector is the most efficient. Medicare spends 3% on administration.
Fact Two: The same procedure in the same hospital the year after conversion from not-for profit to for-profit costs in between 20 to 35% more
Fact Three: Health care costs in the United States grew more in the United States under managed care in 1990 to 1996 than any other industrialized nation with single payer universal health care
Fact Four: The quality of health care in the US has deteriorated under managed care. Access problems have increased. The number of uninsured has dramatically increased (increase of 10 million to 43.4 million from 1989 to 1996, increase of 2.4% from 1989 to 1996- 16% in 1996 and increasing each year).
Fact Five: The level of satisfaction with the US health care system is the lowest of any industrialized nation.
Fact Six: 80% of citizens and 71% of doctors believe that managed care has caused quality of care to be compromised
Conclusion: For profit, managed care can not solve the US health care problems because health care is not a commodity that people shop for, and quality of care must always be compromised when the motivating factor for corporations is to save money through denial of care and decreasing provider costs. In addition managed care has introduced problems of patient confidentiality and disrupted the continuity of care through having limited provider networks.

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No to a co-op

By Chris - Jun 15th, 2009 at 11:26 am EDT

I'm very unhappy to hear that the Obama administration may support a compromise, with a co-op in place of a government option. I support co-ops, but in this case it is not an acceptable substitute. Only a publicy-funded and controlled option can bring down costs to make it affordable, to individuals and the government. Check the polls. Americans, including doctors, support single-payer health care. It's the insurance companies, not the people, who oppose it. Non-partisanship is nice, but not when it means a program that will protect profits, not health care.

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Why not "single payer"?

By Amy from New River, AZ - Jun 8th, 2009 at 8:18 pm EDT

Most of the country wants "single payer" health care. I think if you conducted a poll, you would find that out. All the other industrialized countries in the world have it. Many people have been exposed to it in their travels. Now I understand that there are tales of "poorer quality doctors", "waiting lists for elective surgery", etc., but it is my presumption that we could take advantage of knowing about those glitches, and take measures to circumvent them. I am over 65, and I have medicare, but along with another coverage to make up the difference. However, if everyone was paying into it like they do anyway for medicare and social security, it would certainly work.

There is also some talk that we wouldn't get the best doctors. I will bet most of the good doctors would gladly give up their group practices which they have been forced into because of the huge overhead, and malpractice insurance, and work for the government. I daresay it would also allow them time to get into some research if they would so choose.

But we all know why Obama is trying to look away from single payer. It would upset too many of the big health care providers who need to make a profit. I heard that he had commented that it is too drastic a change. However, he also said during his campaign that he wanted to allow the people to decide. And it is my suspicion that he intends to do just that--in good time. When the committee comes up with some half baked plan that the people reject, they will have to change directions. Taxing people on their payments won't work either. That will leave them right where they are now--no worse.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE IS LOOKING FOR MORE OF THE SAME!!! I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT. HE IS GOING TO LET IT WORK ITSELF OUT AND END UP WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT AND PUT A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS OUT OF BUSINESS!

So by the end of his second term, it will happen. He won't have anything to lose then.

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Single payer?

By Ted Vaill - Jun 7th, 2009 at 2:05 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

It is unclear to me where President Obama is going with his health care strategy. Does he believe that it is impossible to get single payer health care passed by Congress, so he does not even want it "on the table" like Sen. Max Baucus? Is he willing to have it considered along with the other options? If his strategy is to get a single payer option existing side by side with the private healthcare companies, what is to prevent the healthcare companies from pushing sick people into the single payer system, leaving only healthy people as their insureds?

Ted Vaill

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No Mandated "Insurance", NO!!!

By L J Laubenheimer - Jun 5th, 2009 at 3:24 pm EDT

Also listed in: Health Care for All - with Single-Payer - Discussion | Health Care for All - California for Single-Payer

“I understand the Committees are moving towards a principle of shared responsibility — making every American responsible for having health insurance coverage, and asking that employers share in the cost,” Obama wrote.

No, no, no, No, NO!!! The idea of requiring, by law, that we buy "insurance" from the very companies that are the primary cause of our current disaster of a health care system is utterly abhorent!

If Obama signs this shit, he'll be a one term president. This is the kind of excrement that I expect out of Republicans - forcing people into economic servitude to rapacious corporations that field armies of lobbyists!

Oh, gee, he wants a "waiver" if you can't afford to pay the scumbags (read "A ton of humiliating paperwork."), and if you work for a small company that can't afford the toll, too bad, you have to pay it yourself. So much for small business competitiveness.

Seriously, they've tried this "Government Requires Purchase of Overpriced Crap Product" in Massachussetts. It has not worked there at all!

No, no, no, no, no!

No goddamn "mandate" of profits for the blood-sucking health insurance leeches that have helped drive our economy into the ground and drive 62% of all bankruptcies.

Just Say No!

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Great Expose On Healthcare Insurance

By PanamaCaZo - May 24th, 2009 at 4:03 pm EDT

Also listed in: Kingwood Businesses/Entrepreneurs for Obama | Texas Action Team

Bill Moyers Journal had a great expose on Single Payer Healthcare Insurance. I did some video clips on it at iReports at http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-262091. It is very informative.

http://SinglePayerHealthcareNow.com

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Why We Need Single Payer NOW!!

By Kate Loving Shenk - May 20th, 2009 at 1:49 am EDT

I thought I'd make a lens to highlight all the many reasons why Single Payer is NOT off the table!!

It is insulting to all of us who work tirelessly to make Single Payer a reality, to say that it is off the table, especially when we all voted for Barak thinking he was a different sort of politician.

Please look at this lens:

http://www.squidoo.com/Why-We-Need-Single-Payer-NOW

Thank you!!

Kate Loving Shenk

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Let's put medical decisions back in the hands of trained professionals.

By Tom Hayes, working for change - Apr 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 am EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Single-payer national health insurance isn’t socialized medicine (and if it was you can bet most doctors in the U.S. wouldn’t support it.) Single-payer is simply a streamlined system in which a single agency organizes health-care financing and payments: delivery of medical care remains essentially as it in in the U.S. today - largely private End red tape! . All that’s lost is the red-tape and restrictions.

Who’s against it then? Insurance companies, because they profit enormously from the current system - even though they add no value. In fact, many people will tell you that insurance companies make it hard to get what they deserve and pay for with the premiums. That’s why it was such a major focus of Obama’s campaign in 2008: he proposed that modern health care should include giving everybody in the U.S. coverage.

To get there we need the freedom to choose between keeping private insurance—for those lucky enough to have any—and opting into a universally available public health insurance option (something like Medicare.) Ultimately, by reducing the number of agencies handling the payments we simplify the task for hospitals and clinics - less of the time and money goes to red tape, and more goes to actual medical services.

Ultimately that also means diminishing the power and profits of the private insurance companies currently siphoning their lavish earnings off your health care payemnts. They make money off the red tape, and by letting non-medical personnel decide what should and should not be prescribed to treat patients, and that’s a large part of what has caused costs to soar while coverage just shrinks.

It’s time for a reality check. Insurance companies profit from the current system, so naturally they’re opposed to changes that hurt their bottom line and their corporate bonuses. What value do they add to the process?

Digg this article…

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Remember the Health of the American Worker

By Rick - Jan 30th, 2009 at 9:45 am EST

Also listed in: Hobe Sound democrats for Obama

The Economy depends on the Health Care of the American Worker

Yes the economy has been driven into a ditch, and those BONUS BURDENED BANKERS will suffer. Americans in increasing numbers are not only unemployed and increasingly homeless, but they are without any medical care whatsoever.

The auto industry, the farmers, manufacturers and the GOLD PLATED BONUS ENCRUSTED credit and investment community needs help lest their interior decorators go without. Sir the Americans even those few fortunate enough to still have any kind of job, are without insurance, without healthcare and the emergency rooms are already overwhelmed. The hospitals upon whom this unfunded mandate falls, on are increasingly incapable of providing even minimum timely care.

We cannot abandon American Health care needs. Do not, push it off, it is the ultimate component of the American Economy, is the American worker. Every American, white collar, blue collar and the shirtless need access to real Healthcare. Long waits in emergency rooms are no longer common, they are epidemic.

President Obama you sat at a desk face to face with unemployed Americans when you worked as a COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. How long must they wait? America cannot afford to fund bankers, while working Americans go without National, Single Payer healthcare.

We must not be postponed, you must not abandon the sons and daughters of this great country to the bureaucrats in the Insurance Industry, who earn their daily bread by denying healthcare to Americans.

In what world does it make sense, that if you have had a previous healthcare problem, that you are automatically precluded from help with ongoing medical problems. "Pre-Existing Condition is a reason not to help?"

A dedicated Obama Campaign Worker
and lifelong democrat.

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Notes from our first Change is Coming meeting

By Albie from Thomaston, ME - Dec 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pm EST

Thomaston is a small town of 4,000 in the midcoast area of Maine. We had a gathering of neighbors and talked discussed three simple questions: What was the most striking aspect of the presidential campaign for you? What are your hopes and concerns for the six months ahead? What might we do singly or together to foster the change we seek?

These notes are long, but you are welcome to join in, let us know your thoughts.

Albie Davis (207-465-8562)

Change is coming! 12/13/08,
home of Albie Davis and John Chandler, Thomaston, Maine

Please look at page eight for a possible next meeting.

1. Warm up: What was the most striking aspect of the presidential campaign for you?

•   Election night! John is working a night shift. I'm sitting on the couch with my dog Gromit. I was so anxious. Then, right at eleven, when the California polls closed, the commentators called California, Oregon and Washington for Obama. I phoned my grown sons in San Francisco, and they were with their families and friends and in tears!

•   Obama appeals to the better part of us. I’m very hopeful even though there are difficult times ahead of us.

•   Obama looks at things holistically; he is seeing the connection between things. It shows in the way he is choosing his cabinet. He’s developing a team that includes all points of view.

•   I was amazed, with all the dirt that was thrown at Obama, he could stay on the high road, keep his eye on the goal, not be distracted.

*   When the election was called for Obama, immediately our phone rang. It was our daughter in Singapore cheering. Then, the phone rang again; it was our daughter in New Delhi. What an exciting night.

*   We have American friends who live in France. They made us aware of the bridge project, with Americans Abroad all over the world meeting at bridges to support Obama, have photos taken. Then, they were so excited as the general election neared; they came to Chicago to be at Grant Park.

*   I started backing Kucinich, later, when he dropped out, Edwards, because he seemed the most liberal. Then, when I watched Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy come out for Obama; that did it.

•   I haven’t campaigned like this since Eugene McCarthy ran. I began as a Hillary supporter. Much to my surprise, I was disappointed when she did well in some states on Super Tuesday. I said to myself, I better find out more about this guy that I should feel this way. I read Dreams of my Father and realized why!

•   The internet was a quantum leap in my sense of feeling connected. There was absolute genius in the way it was run. The information was available, yet we were crucial. We were the “boots on the ground.”

•   The night he won the primary, and come out on stage with his wife and children, I was so profoundly pleased at how far the country has come.   We’ve moved beyond our past; we’re no longer chained to it. I’m so proud of America to have nominated and elected Obama.

•   And, I’m so hopeful internationally!

•   I’ve been a close observer of politics for 40 years. There are things you do not say, you do not touch, you don’t go near them. There’s a subterfuge, a denial. His speech on race was the point where he showed that we can speak about these untouchable subjects. There are a lot of things he could do if he has us with us. When he says, “We want you involved,” he is speaking to me because for some years I have felt that I could not make a difference.

*   The transformative effect was so wonderful. I read his book. Got 5-6 copies to give to friends, who also loved it. There were exceptions. A young man, around 50, said he’s not going to vote. There is no difference between the parties. His wife was excited, however. Another friend had supported Hillary, and she was bitter, felt the media had abused her. These were difficult conversations, but they came to be for Obama.

•   This young man is a transformative figure. He’s smart. His political savvy cannot be denied.   He is going to elevate our discussion; he’s an educator; a listener.

•   We’ve been through 8 years of cronyism; of seeing everything in black and white, good or bad. Obama sees the many nuances.

•   Even the media was educated.

•   Obama has a quality of receiving—he’s open; he will hear you. That’s how he can access the big picture.

•   On election night I heard his speech, and, of course, it was wonderful. But, what I remember most was when the camera panned out in the audience and I saw Jessie Jackson in tears. That got to me. I have not been a fan of Jackson’s, but I could see what this meant to him--all the years of struggle. That was a defining moment.

*   I’m a college teacher; I’ve taught for over 37 years. The last time I’ve seen young people involved in politics was when Bobby Kennedy ran. After that, years of apathy. Now, young people are enthusiastic and active again.
•   Personally, I’ve been a critic of government for many years; I still am. Yet, I recently ran for public office. I was one of the few Dems who didn’t make it. Barack Obama inspired me to get involved, to make this run.

•   My first memory of Obama was when he made his 2004 speech at the Democratic convention. I said to myself, “That guy is going to be president.” I had no idea it would be so soon!

*   The impact of the internet has been great. It’s a medium young people understand. They caught on immediately.

*   The last campaign I recall that had this much interest was in 1932, when FDR ran for president. I was eight. The first time I saw Obama at the beginning of the primaries I immediately had the feeling he would win.

•   The way Obama looks at the world; his interest in diversity is powerful.

*     It would have been great enough if he had only won the primary, but it was even better that he won the election. He fulfilled Martin Luther King’s dream. His win was inspiring for all minorities who have been oppressed. (And the group adds, “and for all of us as well.)

•   We’ve heard a lot of “God bless America,” but now it is, “God bless the whole world.”

•   I started out with Kucinich; I had a hard time when he was shut out of the debates. I couldn’t support Hilliary because she was for mandatory health insurance, and I’m actively supporting the single-payer approach. That left Obama. The more I learned about him, the better I felt.   Eventually, when I heard him speak, I was totally blown away. I still would like him to support the single payer approach to health care and hope he won’t announce his health care plans until June so we will have one more chance to pass 676. (More information on this in future emails.)

•   I hate watching anything competitive—sports, you name it; so I was miserable watching election night. The best moment came when CNN declared Obama winner. Now I didn’t have to move to Greece, for if McCain had won, I was ready to do that.

2.   Your priorities: What are your hopes and concerns for the six months ahead?

•   Health care. The single-payer approach is the answer. We got 3,000 signatures on our single-payer petition in Knox County. We’ve got to get the insurers, who are strictly in it for the money, out the health care business. They even give doctors a bonus for not approving procedures for their patients.

•   Ed Mazuerk has submitted a statement in support of the single payer plan.

•   Chuck Kruger initially supported the single payer plan, but is expressing second thoughts. We need him to support the resolution in the Legislature.

•   Climate change. I’ve just finished reading Tom Friedman’s Hot, Flat and Crowded. You must read it. He talks of global weirdness! We can’t do a little here a little there. We’ve got to do big things; we need to bet the farm on this. If we fail, we are gone! I know Obama and his team are working on this. I want to put my shoulder to that wheel.

A   I wanted to know more about Thomas Friedman's book "Hot Flat and Crowded” and went to Amazon to check it out. There is a great question and answer piece on the page if you scroll down. Thought you'd like to see it, Davene   (Copy and paste entire URL below.)

        http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Flat-Crowded-RevolutionAmerica/dp/0374166854/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229348273&sr=1-1

•   I’m nervous about Obama talking about clean coal. Coal is carbon. We are constantly fooling ourselves that we don’t need to change the way we do things.

•   I think that Obama is really serious about doing something big!

•   Obama is capable of seeing and understanding all the issues as well as their interconnectedness, and acting on them according to his vision. But priority should and must be given to Global Warming as the very foundation of his actions. Further, he must bring to our awareness our responsibility on a global scale. Atmosphere recognizes no boundaries!

•   Environment. In order to do things we need widespread support. We need to build bridges to those who have a different view, fundamental Christians, for example. How does a humanist liberal approach a fundamental Christian?

•   I’m an Episcopal Priest. When it comes to protecting the environment, liberal Christians like me are mostly on board. Yet I know a lot of conservative Christians who are becoming concerned about the environment because the Bible gives human beings stewardship of the earth. There is a lot more room for dialogue than many secular people think.

•   I’m concerned about all the talk about “alternative energy,” as though the goal was to maintain our current way of living. I think we need to simplify. Obama isn’t a rural guy; maybe he doesn’t understand this. E. O. Wilson says that the biological side needs to be solved first, especially species extinction and food.

•   Militarism. I think Robert Gates is a good choice. He sees the need for more diplomacy. I have some reservations about Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, but sometimes dramatic changes can only be made by those who are more conservative. Like Nixon going to China. Or LBJ leading the charge on Civil Rights. We must understand the connection between our financial plight and the military budget. I hope the Obama team will look closely at the Military’s five-year plans, not just the immediate requests. These also impact on international relations.

•   Flaws in our basic electoral system. It’s great to have a leader we can look up to, but, let’s remember that Obama is human. Hey, he smokes cigarettes! Furthermore, the system whereby politicians must always be campaigning for their next election, be it 2, 4 or 6 years away, makes it hard to do unpopular things that need a long-term commitment.

•   Human Rights. I know Obama’s election seems a victory for human rights, but we still have a long way to go.   Would the country have elected a Jew? A Gay? A Native American? Right after Obama’s election was announced, California banned gay marriage.

•   Moral issues. I know that people want to “move on,” but isn’t there something we can do about those who have abused the constitution? Why aren’t we going after them! Yes, Bush and Cheney! Maybe we could do something like they did in South Africa after Apartheid, a commission on reconciliation that gave people amnesty, but in return that had to spill the beans, tell what really happened, or they would go to the clinker!

•   I’m surprised I’m saying this, but maybe we ought to move on. Or, why couldn’t we have some international body (like at the Hague) try them?

•   If Obama does what he has said he would do; if he comes on strong and undoes the things that Bush and Cheney have done, that will be what we need.

•   Must we stand by and watch in these final days, while Congress is out and before Obama is in, Bush and his team change thousands of regulations thereby allowing the environment to be further endangered, more arsenic allowed in our water, every kind of health care professional allowed to refuse to give care based upon “moral” grounds, and so on. And, so I hear, because the law for making regulations is very complex and requires the sign off by many groups, these regulations will be in effect for years. Cannot the public let Congress know this must not be allowed to happen?

•   Typically, each administration has done the same thing when leaving office.

•   What could we do to prevent the implementation of these new regulations which seem contrary to what the public has said it wants by electing Obama? This is something I’d like to work on.

•   And, what of all the ways that Bush signed, but altered laws, sometimes saying that he would not implement them?

3.     Actions? What might we do singly or together to foster the change we seek?

•   We’re stronger collectively than singly to deal with our U.S. Senators Snow and Collins. I’ve written letters, but get no satisfaction.

•   Single payer health care I feel strongly about. Environmental issues are certainly important, but they require the whole world to collaborate. As long as the rest of the world grows, what we do to solve environmental issues is nothing compared to what is needed. Single payer health coverage is important, one we could get behind to make a difference. It would be my issue.

•   People in Thomaston should call Chuck Kruger to express their support of single payer health care. Invite him to attend a meeting of this group.

•   Will the Obama office advise us of when legislation is coming up that we need to support?

•   I understand that the Obama administration will make the activities of public bodies “transparent,” even use the internet to carry information. Also, I heard that the transition team/Obama team feels that Maine is an important state because our two senators may be inclined to support some legislation in a non-partisan way. Two full-time workers may be assigned to the state.

•   We need to be informed of Congressional proposed bills, as well as those in the Maine Legislature. Groups that track national and state legislatures on progressive issues include:

   - Midcoast Health Care Reform
       (http://www.MidcoastHealthCareReform.org)
   - MoveOn.org
   - Maine Peoples Alliance (Maine Legislature, especially health insurance
       and fair trade)

   - Peace Action Maine (interested in militarism)
   - FCNL-- Friends Committee on National Legislation (especially militarism
       and human rights. FCNL.org)
   - Maine Power and Light. There is a huge and growing movement for the
       environment in almost all denominations now and Interfaith Power and
       Light is a good one in Maine working on wind energy.
      (http://www.meipl.org/index.html)

•   We need to reach beyond our individual interests. Obama’s message is everyone needs to be involved. As a group, our interests may remain diverse. We can share them via the internet.

•   We need to think of what we can do individually as well as collectively. For example, I want to work on school issues. Obama supports charter schools. Our one similar school in Maine, the Limestone, which specializes in Math and Science, was ranked the 12 best such school in the country. That’s remarkable. We need more schools like that.

•   As a person new to Thomaston, I’m just thrilled to meet you all. I would be happy to come to a meeting where we each shared some of our own experiences. We have a very rich pool to draw from. I’d be happy to hold a meeting in my own (after the holidays and inauguration.)

•   We got to know each other during the Big Box campaign. We didn’t get everything we wanted, but, we also prevented a 350,000 square foot WalMart from coming in. And, I recall, when we were starting to organize, I asked my son, Ben, for some advice, which he gave, and he ended with words to the effect, “And just remember, whether you win or lose this battle, you will never be the same; you will have made connections that will serve you in the future.”

•   So, we were able to elect people to the Board of Selectmen, and such. And, during the Obama campaign those big box connections came into play; we were working together again. During the big box campaign, when I plotted our supporters on our zoning map, 90 percent were on Main Street and downward toward the waterfront. So, we have what might be called “a class division.” However, during the Obama campaign, when I did door to door on “the other side of Main Street,” I found many people who thought Obama “awesome.” That was an important lesson for me. He was able to cross class lines.

•   I’ll write up the notes and send them to everyone. Also, as you have requested, I’ll send them to the Obama campaign so they know what is on our minds. I’ll send you copies of our participant list.

•   People can begin communicating with one another by the internet.

•   A few weeks ago, while remembering how often the metaphor of the family sitting at the kitchen table talking about their financial hardships was used, and at the same time being irritated that the Republican’s had co-opted “family values” to mean denying women access to legal abortions or denying gays the right to marry, I obtained a domain name from Network Solutions: KitchenTableOfAmerica.com for $9.99. I also bought: KitchenTableUSA.com. My thought was to encourage families to sit down at their kitchen tables and talk about what family values they might consider when thinking about how to spend, save, giveaway their money.

•   And, when we meet again, there is one thing I’d like to talk about. Just what is the American Way of Life?

•   The Strand Theater is holding a special inauguration day event and it might be fun to go to that event together.

       Tuesday, January 20 ~ 11:30 am Free and open to the public.
       Presidential Inauguration 2009
       The Strand Theatre invites you to witness the historic    inauguration of President- Elect Barack Obama LIVE on the    BIG SCREEN.

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An Epiphany towards Single Payer Health Care

By Shaun Hughes - Dec 18th, 2007 at 11:20 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Join my movement to convince Barack to support Single Payer Health Care! In your my.barackobama.com account, edit the profile section: " What is your motto or favorite quote?" to Display -- "Single Payer Health Care Now"!!! -- It's fast and easy, and if millions of volunteers echo this simple statement, we can make a difference.

If you feel particularly strong about my movement, please echo the sentiment on your own blog, or email to your MyBarackObama Groups. Cheers - Shaun

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