K&R if you want the Obama/Daschle health plan to be single-payer

[lwcon]

Physicians for a National Health Program say that "The scripted discussions for Sen. Daschle's community meetings exclude any consideration of a single payer national health program."

To make matters worse, health-insurance shills are infiltrating the meetings, to steer the discussion away from the kind of affordable healthcare that every other industrialized nation has.

Please K&R if you'd like to send the message that the time is right for true single-payer, universal health care, not a program that props up the death-by-spreadsheet health insurance companies.

[leftstreet]

1. K&R

I'm afraid it's too late, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't mobilize massive resistance.

[cyclezealot]

145. k adn r..

Massive it would have to be... I am afraid the decision has already been made. The insurance lobby is too powerful.

[KitchenWitch]

2. K & R

absotively posilutely.

[Yavapai]

3. K&R

[girl gone mad]

4. K & R. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Keep the damn insurance companies out of this!!!!! Big Pharma too!!

[immoderate]

6. K&R That's an easy one.

--IMM

[Jim Lane]

7. Not much chance of it, given Obama's opposition during the campaign, but there's no harm in asking

Some ruckus from the left about single-payer might slightly tilt the discussion, and cause the eventual compromise plan to be a little more progressive than it otherwise would be.

[Ken Burch]

60. FDR ended up doing a lot of stuff he was stone-opposed to in '32

And he was reelected in a landslide passionately defending all of it in '36(so he did win that second term as a progressive, whether the DLC'ers want to admit it or not).

[avaistheone1]

77. That is all very true.

I hope that Obama has the cojones to make single-payer universal health care happen.

I do not think this issue can wait for a second-term. The need is very desperate.

[Ken Burch]

79. We can GIVE HIM THE BALLS!

This needs to be an era in which we establish the right to influence from below and outside.

We can say "Mr President, Tear Down This Beltway!"

[avaistheone1]

82. Absolutely.

It is incumbent on us to put the pressure on Obama to make it a reality. Politicians find it much easier if we start the parade and they can jump in and then lead when it is then safe for them to do so.

If Obama wants to be a president of the people he must listen, but he also must do what is difficult to do that is - create real and meaningful change like SINGLE PAYER universal health care coverage. So let's start the ruckus so Obama can lead us there.

[DCBob]

8. Could you post a link that describes the pros and cons of single payer.

I am open to all options but I am still not clear on exactly how it would work. Thanks.

[Cleita]

10. There are two links on my signature.

If you go to those websites and read the plethora of information especially on the Physicians for a National Health Plan website, you will be very well informed on this matter when you are done.

[lwcon]

17. Here's a nice round-up

http://www.healthcare-now.org/hr-676/whats-single-payer/

To hear the anti- point of view, just look for any site that's paid for by the health-insurance industry. They'll tell you why we should continue to have the worst cost/benefit ratio of any modern nation.

[DCBob]

20. Thanks. That was as good link.

There should be a national debate on this issue. It is complicated and I would like to hear all sides.

[lwcon]

22. Have you seen "Sicko"?

It's amazing the effect it's had even on many conservatives.

I've yet to hear a respectable argument to keep doing what we're doing or to go to a different program that keeps feeding the inefficient and heartless beast that is the health-insurance industry.

[defendandprotect]

93. "SICKO" great movie -- that's why they're not playing it on TV ...!!!

Dachle, obviously, was appointed to keep the single payer option out --

We should just remove age restrictions on Medicare ....

[avaistheone1]

119. If SICKO was on TV. SINGLE PAYER universal health care would be on just about everyone's lips.

The powers that be would not like that.

[defendandprotect]

124. Love Michael Moore--!!

[TBF]

136. Removing age restrictions on Medicare would be a good start.

Obama should do that on day one and then move on from there.

[defendandprotect]

152. Absolutely ... keep talking it up ....

[avaistheone1]

158. K&R

[bread_and_roses]

133. truely, it is not complicated and there is only one side

There has been an ongoing debate for years. On one side are the Insurers and big Pharma. On the other is everyone else - including the rest of the industrialized world. The only questions from ordinary people are those raised by the misinformation spread by the vested interests.

So the "sides" are the Profiteers who stand to lose the obscene profits they make on the illness and death of the rest of us by giving us the worst general level of health and health care in the "First" world at the greatest expense, versus the sane intersts of the rest of us, which are to simply get the care we need when we need it. One side is after money, the other is after necessary health care. There is no parity between these "sides." No "but on the other hand."

When we keep it simple, it is as plain as day. "Complication" is the methodology of the Profiteers, who seek to create fear, disinformation, and division in their own self-interest.

[cynthia]

44. I have heard it referred to as "Medicare for all"

I would gladly pay an 3.3% increased tax on my income to pay for this, as my current health care costs are outrageous and actually discourage using preventative measures to stay healthy.

[defendandprotect]

94. no insurance companies -- no corporations ...

[avaistheone1]

121. Although those who wish to could still purchase themselves a gold-plated plan

to take care of their face lifts and cosmetic surgery.

[defendandprotect]

123. Neither is alternative medicine covered, in general --dental nor glasses ...

[Cleita]

9. Without a doubt.

Time for torches and pitchforks on this one.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. Yes, we declined to hold one of those events when we saw the agenda.

Bait & switch.

[lwcon]

23. Please elaborate!

This story isn't well-understood.

The idea of these events is so captivating -- getting citizens' opinions on this vital issue. But if the discussion is constrained to industry-acceptable options, that's not a proper use of grassroots activism.

[Jackpine Radical]

27. We trashed the email with the agenda, but basically you hit it on the head:

"the discussion is constrained to industry-acceptable options." It just didn't permit any fundamental discussion of options such as single-payer, etc.

[me b zola]

12. K&R

[DevonRex]

13. K&R. I'm hoping that the auto bailout situation will be what turns the tide.

Health insurance should NOT be through our employers.

[snappyturtle]

146. Wish I could K&R the OP and your reply! I, too, think the auto industry

dilema may help bring healthcare, single payer, to the forefront! Unfortunately, I have had two conversations about this with one relative and one stranger and both used the word socialized medicine and thank you very much, they'd keep their programs. Glad they have healthcare; we no longer do. I asked both if they were planning on using our socialized postal system this holiday season and they shut up but.............

[mmonk]

14. I've given up on a reasonably affordable healthcare system.

The insurance companies and their money mean more to the politicians.

[NorthCarolina]

15. K&R n/t

[polichick]

16. K&R

[jenmarie]

18. K&R

:kick:

[avaistheone1]

118. k&r

[Lugnut]

19. K&R n/t

[Laelth]

21. k&r n/t

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Madeleine]

24. K&R

nt

[auntAgonist]

25. K&R for true single-payer, universal health care

[eridani]

26. We can't afford Obama's plan

We need the money for a green jobs stimulus program. There is none to spare for subsidising private insurance bloodsuckers.

[tbyg52]

28. Of course. nt

[undeterred]

29. K and R!

:kick:

[midnight armadillo]

30. Obama DOES NOT SUPPORT SINGLE-PAYER

If it was something he was interested in, he would have campaigned on it.

If we want HR676 or a similar solution to pass, it is up to us (i.e. all Americans) to organize and force our politicians to pass such a bill.

[Cleita]

33. Hopefully having a majority in both houses might pave the way.

Even if Obama is against it, if they can get a veto proof majority, it will pass.

[Ken Burch]

71. That's true. Still, as we work to get him to sign it, we have to be willing, in the end

To let him at least share credit for it.

How about...a MILLION GURNEY MARCH in D.C. this year.

Fill the Mall with people on gurneys and stretchers, in hospital beds...block the streets with them if you have people with CD training who are willing to get arrested(at this point, there've got to be a fair number of them).

(Of course, you would need to make sure actual emergency patients weren't blocked from reaching hospitals, but ways could be worked out for that.)

[midnight armadillo]

108. A march is a great idea

Put a million people on the Mall when HR676 is coming up for a vote would do wonders for it, so long as there's a sustained campaign to lobby congress on top of the march.

[Ken Burch]

110. If there was a way for as many of the "marchers" as possible to be people with health problems

(maybe they could be carried)

Alternately, perhaps a huge display of photographs of those who died because they didn't have health insurance(attached, perhaps, to a hospital gown for each)could also be used.

Especially children.

Especially the elderly.

Especially veterans.

Maybe do it in groups like that.

Make it a visual thing like the "AIDS QUILT" or the domestic violence victim homemade t-shirts or the boots for the Iraq War dead.

Perhaps the Congressional steps could have "quarantine" signs put on it.

Anything to establish that this is real and this is people like all of us dying because someone can't make enough money on saving our lives.

The slogan could be "We're SICK of this shit".

[defendandprotect]

153. Obama did at one time support single payer ... but turned from it --

[grantcart]

31. I hate threads that request K and R but will make an exception for this one issue

Personally I support the German program but I am not an expert on them and there maybe others that are better.

[Ken Burch]

111. One bad thing is, the Germans(and this was the old SPD government doing this

so the SPD-Christian Democrat coalition is now doing worse, probably)were about to follow our vicious Medicare model and force those who get their benefits to sell their homes and cars.

It's the "we'll help you now if you agree to make yourself helpless" later approach, since no one recovers from being forced to lose everything by bureaucrats.

[area51]

32. Kick.

100,000 dead each year due to lack of a right to healthcare in the 3rd world country known as the U.S.

Single-payer healthcare NOW.

[memory]

34. K&R

[Sunnyshine]

35. K&R for certain. n/t

[Lilith Velkor]

36. kicky wicky

reccy weccy

[splashy]

37. Tried to recommend, but couldn't

So will kick it instead.

[AllyCat]

38. I was gonna try to host one of these, but it had to be done by 12/31

There was just no way I could do it with work and holidays. Now I wish I could have to pull the discussion back from any of the insurance companies. Universal, single-payer is the ONLY way. No insurance. Ever. They need to go the way of the dinosaurs. Maybe I'll see if I can get something to work before then, but New Years Eve is about all I have open. No one is going to come to that.

[lwcon]

39. I really tried to be optimistic about these meetings

I encouraged several people I know who are more expert on the subject to attend, but it's increasingly sounding like -- rather than genuine citizen-outreach -- that these are bag jobs to make people feel good about a pre-determined and lousy corporatist "solution." And, indeed, the scheduling hasn't helped.

There's still that hope that Obama will seize on the political opportunities afforded by the complete collapse of GOP "conservatism" and do the right thing, but you'd think that in advance of that he'd want to encourage progressives be progressive about this issue and snowball support for real change. We'll see... but it looks like we won't be heard and will just have to passively hope for the best.

The K&R's here, though, are a nice statement that some folks here don't think it's too gauche to tell the PE that we need true progressive reform, and true single-payer is at or near the very front of the list of things we need. In fact, UHC was the #1 most requested change in a MoveOn survey whose results were announced yesterday.

[Karmadillo]

40. K&R. At some point, we have an obligation not to continue to eat

the shit these people are so intent on feeding us.

[lwcon]

42. And now, while we're rethinking the financial foundations of the country

Is the perfect "some point" to show some leadership and git 'er done, doncha think?

[Kdillard]

41. K and R

[kath]

43. Single-payer is the only way to go. Anything else would just be a half-assed approach, like putting

a bandaid on a mortal wound.

The bloodsucking slimeball insurance companies have got to be eliminated from our health care system.

[avaistheone1]

53. SINGLE-PAYER universal coverage is the only way to go if there

is going to be real change in our health care delivery system.

Health care coverage is becoming more unattainable for the middle class of this country. I recently heard a statistic that more than 25% of the working class in this country receive a cancer diagnosis do not seek treatment due to no insurance or inadequate insurance coverage. Most bankruptcies are due to medical expenses. This country's current health care system is a disagrace.

[kenny blankenship]

45. K&R

[mrreowwr_kittty]

46. Get the gambling industry out of health care.

Insurance is a perfectly fine way to protect the value of property and to provide income to surviving family members after a death. But when it comes to health care it is incredibly inconsistent to have an industry that manages risk primarily by DENYING benefits put in charge of it. It makes absolutely no sense and ultimately makes the community less healthy.

[JVS]

47. K&R

[Joe Chi Minh]

48. K&R

[PresidentObama]

49. Yes, but it's not going to happen. n/t

[kaygore]

50. PUT PRESSURE ON CONGRESS FOR SINGLE PAYER PLAN

I noticed that even MoveOn did not couch the options so that we could choose single payer health care. We must get the insurance companies out of health care and limit the power of the drug companies to set prices. Anything less is nothing at all!

[Number9Dream]

51. Our present system is a disaster...

This past Wednesday, my wife & I received a bill from St. Luke's Hospital, Bethlehem, PA for $16,433. The bill said that we had to pay the difference that the insurance hadn't covered for my wife's surgery in Oct. We both almost had heart attacks. I told my wife that it had to be a mistake, but she didn't sleep much that night.
The next day I phoned our health insurance provider and they told me it should have been fully covered and I should phone the hospital. I spoke to a guy in the hospital billing dept., and he informed that they had "missed the adjustment", and he would fix it. No apology, no nothing!
I spend hours & hours on the phone every year fighting these assholes at the hospitals or insurance companies.
We long for the day of national one-payer. It can't be worse than this disaster of a system.

[lwcon]

58. Even when we do win, and I'm glad you and your wife did...

There's such a cost of time and demoralization that dealing with the sharks causes. How can we pretend to be "the greatest nation on earth" while we let these jerks have their way with us... if we're lucky enough to be able afford their "insurance" at all.

[colsohlibgal]

52. Yes Indeed!

Affordable to the max, universal, single payer is a must, it's going to take a lot of unrelenting pressure from we the people to get it done though.

Profit must be eliminated from the equation. It's way past time for the United States to join every other civilized nation and get this done. Our system has imploded over the past 20-25 years. The difference from when I was a young girl to now is unbelievable.

[JimWis]

54. K & R. Based on past experience, I have no use for health

insurance companies.

[FloridaJudy]

55. The country's ready for it.

We need to push hard for single-payer!

[lwcon]

57. Yes, yes, triple-yes

It's really refreshing to hear progressives talk that way!

I'm soooo tired of hearing people act like we need to wait forever and be grateful if our politicians deign to approve a fraction of the services that every other modern country has had for years.

[avaistheone1]

150. I've made up my mind.

[rndmprsn]

56. K+R BIG TIME

[Ken Burch]

59. K&R

Anything short of single-payer will end up being sabotaged by the GOP.

[lwcon]

62. IMHO, Dems settling for less than single-payer...

... is friendly sabotage, as it were.

[avaistheone1]

What a difficult decision it must be for the Dems to sell us out. NOT!

I am sure the lobbyists will love a system where Americans are forced to buy health care insurance from them. Heck of a job Democrats!!


Let's cut out all the money-grubbing special interests and give ourselves single-payer universal health care coverage instead.

[avaistheone1]

68. "

[Ken Burch]

69. true dat.

In fact, one of our party's greatest problems has always been the tendency to start with the bidding low. We have to try for all the marbles if we even hope to end up with half of them. Ambitious plans have never been our enemy.

[avaistheone1]

86. I like that.

"Ambitious plans have never been our enemy." I'll be borrowing that if you don't mind.

; )

[Ken Burch]

88. Spread it around as far as you like.

I'm glad you find it of use. Thanks.

Make of poster of it if you want to, with whatever graphics you find most evocative.

[lwcon]

87. Back at you. So true!

If we ask for the most meager and rational things imaginable, things any other country has had for years, many so-called progressives will pounce on you for being an extremist lefty that's dividing the party.

[Joe Bacon]

61. I'll kick for single payer

I've been fucked enough by the "murder by Spreadsheet" beancounting pimps who run the health insurance rackets!

[Mithreal]

63. Hearty K & R nt

[ecstatic]

64. I don't know what the pros and cons are. I'll read up on it

and get back to ya!

[PATRICK]

65. K&R and

and that goes for total reform and public financing of elections everywhere, the chief cause remora lobbyists always have their host sharks running DC. This will come up again and again and again. No brainer reforms desired by the entire populace(despite constant cultural propaganda also owned and orchestrated by vampire leeches) keep running against the vicious circle of not having true populist representation as a direct result of the gatekeeper money crowd who produce nothing except misery and tyranny to save their non-=-essential, poisonous profit schemes.

The times mean we don't have to settle for incremental compromises with leeches and in fact have MORE opportunity to skip to the inevitable best result.

[rainy]

66. k&r

[valerief]

67. Oh, yeah, baby! K&R.

:kick:

[Overseas]

70. K&R for single payer!

We need national health insurance now as an economic emergency measure. Take 300 billion back from Hank Paulson's crowd and use it to bail out any insurance companies too big to fail, while they retool to serve the ultra-rich who want insurance for extra-special care in exclusive hospitals. And help the millions of us survive by not having to pay huge COBRA bills every month or to declare bankruptcy when beset with huge medical bills.

[localroger]

72. K&R $

[tosh]

73. Yes, yes, yes! K&R.

[salguine]

74. Let's face it—we will never, NEVER have single-payer health care in this country until

the People rise up as one and remove most of Congress from office in one fell swoop. They simply are not going to give it to us. The People will have to do something so drastic as to cause Congress to shit their collective pants before any progress is ever made. Electing new people won't help; it never does.

I truly believe that the only way to get results (and this is no guarantee, since it hasn't been tried, but i think it's worth a shot) is to actually begin removing from office, via recall or other Constitutional means, Senators and Congressmen who thwart single-payer national health care, and it must be made explicitly clear that their removal is directly tied to their failure to act on the behalf of the People on this issue. Start with a handful of targeted lawmakers; who knows, it may only take a few successes before the message starts to sink in.

Congress will NEVER give the People single-payer national health care of the kind enjoyed by every other industrialized Western nation. It's up to the People to take it.

[Better Believe It]

80. We Demand It!

[salguine]

91. But see, if you just say "we demand it", your Congressperson just says

"What? I wasn't listening; one of my big donors from the insurance industry was talking. Now go away, little person."

I say again: Your Congressperson must be removed from office.

[trickyguy]

75. K&R for good health and good health coverage.

[bertman]

76. Rec and kick. We all need to be vocal about this with our Senators and Reps and the

Obama transition team.

[BlooInBloo]

78. You mean like snap-my-fingers-magic-pony want it? Or actually have a chance...

of getting through Congress want it?

[lwcon]

81. How about...

censor it from the grassroots house-party want it? That's the status quo.

The alternative is to cowboy up for HR 676:
http://www.pnhp.org/publications/the_national_health_insurance_bill_hr_676.php

Monday is call-your Reps day:
http://www.correntewire.com/reminder_monday_national_call_day_medicare_all

[terrya]

83. K&R

[Douglas Carpenter]

84. Kick and recommended.

[lwcon]

85. Monday is Call-Your-Reps day for Single Payer!

Monday, December 22: NATIONAL CALL-IN DAY FOR HR 676, Single-Payer Healthcare:
http://www.correntewire.com/reminder_monday_national_call_day_medicare_all

See here for info on HR 676:
http://www.pnhp.org/publications/the_national_health_insurance_bill_hr_676.php
http://www.healthcare-now.org/hr-676/whats-single-payer/

Thanks to all who have K&Red and put in their two cents on this. Together, we can make a difference!

[Vroomfondel]

89. Single payer ONLY!

We have a huge selection of single payer examples from which to model ours. We can choose the best attributes from all of them. The time for excuses is over.

[avaistheone1]

90. Yes, yes!

We are at the tipping point as far as health care in this country. Our politicians will only take us into a deeper hole if they don't produce a viable SINGLE PAYER universal health care coverage plan at critical point and time in our economy.

Money is no longer an excuse given we have trillions for war in Iraq, even for a new war in Afghanistan and we can always come up with another trillion dollars for Wall Street and the banksters whenever they holler.

Accept no excuses. Now is the time for SINGLE PAYER universal health coverage.

[defendandprotect]

92. late ,,, but K&R for single payer --

[Career Prole]

95. Too late to rec it?

Fine...I'll kick it!
:kick:

[lwcon]

96. Thanks

Continuing to kick gives more visibility to this critical issue... and to call-your-reps day on Monday.

I'm really impressed by this show of support for pushing the new administration to do better than its campaign promises. It's the right thing, and it's achievable. It just takes the political will.

We've spent a lot of time and money electing more Democrats. Now, will they be better Democrats?

[radhika]

97. Loud and Clear at my local groups

Thursday, I Moderated a change.gov discussion group on healthcare mostly of seniors. Today I was a participant in another discussion - a more diverse group demographically. Good news! Even though the discussion materials provided through Obama's website all stressed buying insurance through for-profit healthplans and insurance companies, the folks are having none of that. They are speaking up Loud and Clear for Single Payer.

This comes from young, old, healthy, sick, patients, hospital administrators and physicians. We recognize that WE have to do the advocacy and MARKETING TO SELL THIS IDEA TO THE MASSES enough to force congress' hand. Agreed: this is one time that Shock and Awe could work for progressives if we grab onto it and don't let go.

[lwcon]

98. Awesome! n/t

[rockymountaindem]

129. How does one get invited to one of these discussions? n/t

[BlueMTexpat]

99. I tried to K & R, but was told that I was too late.

Virtual K & R here! :kick:

[supernova]

100. KnR!

I think SPHC will be my new mission in life.

Thanks for the thread lwcon. :thumbsup:

[lwcon]

102. You rock! n/t

[burrowowl]

101. Single-payer like in Europe

is the only way to go!

[avaistheone1]

103. K&R yeah!

[Kitty Herder]

104. Kick!!!

Sorry. Didn't see it in time to rec it.

[Thrill]

105. There aren't even enough Dem votes for it.

Max Baucus would lead the charge against it

[lwcon]

109. If only...

We'd elected a president who is a commanding speaker, someone who can rouse passions for social justice and change. ;)

[Thrill]

113. Makes no difference. There are still too many Senators

in there that continue to block stuff like this. Dem Senators like Baucus. Baucus won't allow Single Payer. And he'll pull guys like Bayh with him to stop it. THis is pretty much why Obama and Daschle aren't even going to try for it

[lwcon]

126. The Democratic Party

Home of the Dry Powder.

[lostnotforgotten]

106. Single Payer - Only Way To Go

eom

[fadedrose]

107. K & R (Isn't the reason Dean was not appointed anything..

was because he might not cooperate on or approve of a shabby health plan?) Daschle's wife was a lobbyist. Wonder if she still is and for what companies. Not accusing, just curious.

[avaistheone1]

112. I can't imagine Howard Dean going for anything but the real deal

SINGLE-PAYER universal coverage. I don't think he would compromise himself and settle for anything less.

[kath]

114. single payer NOW. It's way past time to kick the bloodsucking insurance companies to the curb.

[avaistheone1]

115. From your lips to God's ears.

[mwooldri]

116. Oh yes, please - give us a National Health Service - definitely K&R!

I'm from the UK and I certainly know the difference. Yes it's not perfect. Yes there's waiting lists and the most cutting edge treatment may not be covered, but this I know: I'm convinced that if my grand-dad was living under US style healthcare he'd have been dead in 1984 rather in 2004. He was self employed as a contract gardener, hardly a person who makes lots of money. But probably someone who would have made too much money for Medicaid. He had two heart attacks, and had emphysema and some other health problems I was probably shielded from. The NHS took care of all his treatment, paid for all his medicines (well when he worked he was capped at #100 GBP a year or thereabouts). He wasn't bankrupted from medical bills. Similar story with my dad... he was self employed, no way could he afford private insurance. He had a major bowel surgery and a triple heart bypass all at once... never a cheap operation. Had he been in the US, I don't think he'd still be with us today.

Mark.

[lwcon]

125. Thank you for another great testimonial! n/t

[sureiachan]

117. Agreed!

Kicked, but too late to recommend ... sorry ^_^

[hay rick]

120. Finally- a good K&R thread.

Kick.

[avaistheone1]

122. Kicking it for Single Payer now not later.

[tavalon]

127. Get rid of the insurance companies

They are blood sucking creatures, every one, and it's our blood they're sucking.

[Granny M]

128. YES. K&R nt

[Riverman]

130. Get Greedy and Immoral Insurance Corporations out of the way

and keep them from being between my and my doctor. Universal - Single-Payer Medical Treatment NOW! Nothing Less. Get some Balls Obama - you're gonna need them because that is the Change We Need!

[Stevepol]

131. K&R!

[DailyGrind51]

132. K & R!

[avaistheone1]

151. K&R Let's kick through the roof for 3,000 hits tonight!

:kick:

[MsLeopard]

134. Yes - single payer now!

K&R

[EndElectoral]

135. Single Payer Univ. Health Care's only ethical way to go. That's why it'll never happen in America.

[lwcon]

137. Ouch.

But we're trying to change things, right?

[w4rma]

138. Health insurance companies are parasites that insert themselves inbetween doctors and patients and

then make life threatening decisions as if they were doctors, not accountants.

[lwcon]

139. Alas, it's they who are being protected by

the current buzzspeak: "An American-style solution."

[sueh]

140. Here's a kick!

[BEZERKO]

141. Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-

Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare. I won't recomend it unless it's called Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare. Nobody knows what single payer means, and it's a little late to start calling it universal healthcare because if you call it that, people immediately think of long lines and doctor strangers. So, just keep saying it over and over, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare. It's important to get the framing right. Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare,Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare, Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare.

[lwcon]

147. I'm not sure that will do it

It seems that leaves weasel room for "a uniquely American solution" that the "stakeholders" in health insurance can help "facilitate."

At some level, people need to understand that the insurers don't just not *run* things, they're out of the picture entirely. Since nobody likes their health insurers, that shouldn't be a very hard sell to the public that in survey after survey says it wants serious reform. It's the Beltway trough-feeders who are the problem. They know what single payer is, and they have multiple payers ... health insurance and pharma lobbyists.

[BEZERKO]

159. Single Payer is like SCHIP

and what was SCHIP about? SCHIP was about making sure working parents could take their kids to the doctor, but still the dumbasses ran around calling it SCHIP? They should have talked about how working parents should be able to take their kids to the doctor. Same thing with healthcare. If every Democrat on Capitol Hill talks about universal coverage, we're going to wind up with some shitty form of insurance based health care. Doctor-Patient Run Healthcare is the way to begin the conversation. BTW, there's some great stuff here:

http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/health.html

[Tumbulu]

142. K & R !

[quidam56]

143. East Tennessee's version of "acceptable health care"

Affordable health care isn't going to be any good http://www.wisecountyissues.com unless we have a higher standard of health care instead of Profit Care coming ahead of Patient Care.

[avaistheone1]

144. How Can a $124.8 Million a Year CEO Make Health Care More Affordable?

http://hcrenewal.blogspot.com/2005/05/how-can-1248-million-year-ceo-make.html

Answer: They can’t. So kick those greedy CEOs to curb and let's finally get decent health care in this country for all Americans. Support SINGLE PAYER universal health care. Accept no substitutions.

[WeDidIt]

148. I guarantee you, there will never be single payer health care under Obama

As with the gay marriage issue, Obama was clear during the primaries and the general election.

There will be NO single payer health care.

Get used to it.

[avaistheone1]

149. The AUDACITY of Single Payer Universal Health Care coverage~

Perhaps some need to be reminded of Obama's own words that the election and his presidency is not about him. It is about us and what kind of country we want this to be. Every American deserves to have decent, affordable health care coverage available. This country never needed it or wanted it more. Given the dollars keep flying to bail out insurance companies (AIG)and Wall Street, it is about time we make an investment in ourselves for Single-Payer universal health coverage.

Let's do the right thing. We need to align ourselves with the leading democracies of the world who provide single-payer universal coverage to their people. This is our time. YES, WE CAN!!

[defendandprotect]

154. The problem remains that ...

you have no where to go -- no leverage on Dems ...

You might give them a headache, but money and the power of money is

pulling them -- and THOSE people have constant pull on them ...

and are a real threat to them if they are targeted for mis-behavior.

The public gave Obama probably close to $1 BILLION via internet --

with no strings--!!

All individual contributions ....

I don't imagine DU'ers' contributions had any strings either ...???

LABOR seems to have squeaked in a last minute victory in appointment

to Labor Dept ... money comes thru ONE source which can give them a

considerable headache and they can reverse the flow -- and follow thru

when things aren't as sunny as they might like ...

We need ideas ...

[defendandprotect]

156. dupe

[Better Believe It]

157. Why?

[nxylas]

155. K

and indeed, R