Several single payer health supporters rallied at the Spokane County Courthouse in Spokane Washington. We bought a birthday banner at a party store, rented helium tank and bought balloons, crafting “Happy 44th birthday, Medicare” on the balloons. One of us wore a shorty hospital gown over tshirt and shorts with the plastic bare buns tied on to demonstrate the need for adequate health care coveraqe for all.

Using a list of media contacts purchased from http://www.easymedialist.com for Eastern Washington, press releases were sent out last night and early this morning, resulting in a rally announcement by Spokane’s ABC affiliate morning news reporter (KXLY-TV), a visit by the Spokane Public Radio reporter, and an interview by the Spokane CBS affilliate news reporer from KREM-TV.

The former local Republican party chairman also visited to add to the reported dialogue for the ABC news reporter that out-of-control health care is costing all of us a lot of money, but that healthcare for all without responsible participation would just be worse!

The goal was to educate the general public about the shared knowledge that health care in the USA is inadequate, that single payer health care is the appropriate health care plan, and that a national and/or state public option must be provided in health care service delivery.

Celebrating Medicare’s 44th birthday gave some of us the opportunity to tell of deaths of grandparents before Medicare: at home dying for several days in pain.

Medicare for All with HR 676 modified by HR 777 is the best care for all of us with responsible appropriate participation, with a future nation healthier and stronger.