Comments on: Doctors Challenge Exclusion of Single-Payer from Health Care Debate

By: Angela Oliver

Angela Oliver — Mon, 11 May 2009 08:08:39 +0000

I am Australian,I have lived in the US. Currently we are in Australia. Thank god that we are as my husband got cancer. He recived the best treatment chemo etc here in Australia completly FREE.
If we were in the US it would have cost us at least $500K.He would love to return to the US one day but because of his health he can’t.He has also had his own stem cells harvested just incase the cancer returns, This would have cost another $250K to be done in the US. It was FREE here. Americans that I spoke to in the US about the health system did not understand what they are missing. This would be the best stimulas package for all Americans. Who can afford the price of health cover and what about all the people that have pre-exsisting conditions that can get health cover like us. It is so very sad that Americans can’t have the quality of live that we do in Australia.
Australians can still buy health insurance if they want to go to a private hospital at about $2000 per year for a family.That way they can get elective surgery when thay want and a glass of wine with their meals. But if you are seriously ill you will get treatment through the public system like my husband did. They dont let you wait if its a matter of live and death.AMERICANS SOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM, THEY SHOULD BE AFRAID OF NOT HAVING ONE.IT IS THE BEST.May husband would not be here today if we were in the US.I would not like an insurane company deciding my heath needs.

By: Susan Sullivan RN PHN MSN

Susan Sullivan RN PHN MSN — Sun, 10 May 2009 05:53:20 +0000

…the operative phrase here is “when they actually get a chance to hear about it…” I think that is the key reason there is such resistance to Single payer advocates being heard.. the corporate interests (healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals) have worked hard and done a great job of equating Single Payer with “nationalized healthcare” a concept they have mischaracterized and maligned for years…and the last thing they want is knowledgeable speakers advocating and raising awareness of the advantages of Single payer that extends Medicare to all… and how it is NOT Socialized medicine or Nationalized healthcare…and why it would work efficiently and improve health outcomes. As a retired 3rd generation RN with more than 40 years of nursing experience… I am convinced more than ever that the worst thing that ever happened to healthcare in the US was the day it was decided that healthcare should become a “for profit” industry… and it was no longer viewed as a societal service. As someone who can remember when advertising by hospitals and doctors was considered unethical and unprofessional, I have witnessed tremedous decline in alturism and professionalism and a rise in profiteering… and the true cost to our society cannot be measured, it is not only a loss of lives, it is a loss of dignity and social justice.

By: Theodore

Theodore — Sat, 09 May 2009 06:20:58 +0000

Wonderful and encouraging to see the brave direction action taken by my colleagues. It reminds me of the work by ACT UP in the 1980s that got AIDS issues on the table as a real health issue. Exposing the hypocrisy and double-talk by the Senators, getting these clowns out of office will be important too.

By: Lib

Lib — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:33:18 +0000

THANK YOU for your TRUTH-TELLING BEHAVIOR!!!

By: Dr. Carol Paris

Dr. Carol Paris — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:16:45 +0000

Come to the March and Rally for Single Payer on May 13. For more information, go to http://www.healthcare-now.org/2009/04/national-lobby-day-and-rally-for-single-payer-in-dc/

By: Dr. Carol Paris

Dr. Carol Paris — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:06:53 +0000

I have seen 40 patients since being arrested on Tuesday. Some have laughed at the image of their grey-haired Doctor Paris, in her black suit, pearls and pumps, being arrested. Some have cried. All have been supportive and know that my actions were on their behalf. I love being a doctor.

By: Doug Gerash

Doug Gerash — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:21:19 +0000

Speaking “out of order” is what it will take to make the change. Let’s keep up the struggle, we will and must prevail.

By: Thomas DeMore

Thomas DeMore — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:54:25 +0000

I stand with those who had the courage to speak out for single payer health care!

By: Paul Roden

Paul Roden — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Hurray for the Baucus 8! It is about time people started “speaking truth to power.” We need more actions like this and expose the politicians and where there campaign money comes from. I too will join them one day, because this is a battle that has just started.
The nice ways don’t always work. We have to wake up the public and get thme to pay attention and bring more pressure on these so called “representatives of the people” to start representing us, “we, the people”, and not the pharmaceutical, healthcare industrial complex.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:58:33 +0000

They think this is a joke! Laughing like that and with the goon to the right whispering god knows what. How dare he say that this has to be decided in an open discussion when there are no single payer reps there? How is it fair if we don’t have a voice at the table?

Bravo to all that were there and spoke up, I admire you!