Comments on: Video of Disruption by Single-Payer Advocates at Senate Roundatable on Health Reform

By: Vibeke Lee

Vibeke Lee — Sat, 09 May 2009 02:18:05 +0000

People said a black man can never be elected president – they were wrong! People say Single Payer will never happen – they are wrong ! It is the only plan that can guarantie healthcare for all, effectively hold down cost, and improve health statistics through prevention and early intervention. Insurance companies simply suck money out of the system without contributing anything positive. We do not need AIG style control of our healthcare – we need Single Payer. Thank you all for your fearless action – this is exactly what we all need to do. We have been nice for years and have been ignored. The other day they laughed at us and called for more police – now we need to make them fight us now so we can win.

By: Captain Lionel Mandrake

Captain Lionel Mandrake — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:20:23 +0000

I think our so-called “representatives” will not listen so long as we are being nice and polite, sitting at our computers, and talking only to one another. Our so-called “representatives” nod their heads politely to us, then vote as Conglomko Corp. wants them to. Equally important as single payer healthcare (as Medicare is right now) is “campaign finance reform.” We need “campaign finance reform” so that corporations have no voice in our democracy. We need to outlaw gifts of any kind from lobbyists. It is because our so-called representatives receive campaign contributions and other perks from Conglomko and other corporations that we get those smiley faces and polite nods but a vote that goes in the opposite direction. Noisy, loud, obnoxious protests are what we should give our so-called representatives. (while we’re at it, deny those taser torture weapons to the coppers).

By: Captain Lionel Mandrake

Captain Lionel Mandrake — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:10:53 +0000

I’m sick of hearing these lame arguments about the unworthiness of a single payer plan. Ever been to France? People are healthy and slender. I am 5’7″ and weigh 193 and was the fattest man in Paris. That’s because they have a marvelous single payer, government run, healthcare plan for all people and good preventive care as we don’t. We expect people to get sick then go to the ER. Why don’t you go some place other than your living room and see for yourself? Or go to England, Canada, Japan, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc. etc. Only people who never traveled to other countries buy these lame arguments of yours–those who never traveled and who watch telly 24/7. Take a bath.

By: Lynn Ely RN

Lynn Ely RN — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:22:51 +0000

My gratitude goes out to the 8 that had the courage to stand and tell the truth. As an RN in the medical field for 28yrs, I know well that Single Payer is the most humane, cost effective, life saving, stress reducing answer to our healthcare dilemma.

I am so encouraged to finally see the growing outrage and mobilization of attention that this deserves. Even though this has seemed like a no brainer to me for many years, I have had to remind myself many times that we have had our current system of private insurance in place for 60 yrs. It will take alot of education to bring our nation up to speed on this issue.

I hope that local action groups are looking at ways to utilize the media as we go forward. We are facing very lucrative industries that have millions to campaign with. This is a true grassroots effort. Power to the people….let’s prove that our precious democracy does work!

Our elected officials cannot forever ignore the wishes of the majority. Now is the time to gather that majority and move forward with conviction, certainty, power and authority. This is OUR healthcare system!!

Blessing to you all that are behind this movement!!

By: Michael Matalucci

Michael Matalucci — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:20:59 +0000

Here is an email i received from Ralph Nader:

Yesterday morning, eight doctors, lawyers and other activists stood up to Senator Max Baucus. And the private health insurance industry. And the corporate liberals in Congress. The eight activists demanded that single payer – everybody in, nobody out, free choice of doctor and hospital – be put on the table. And as a result they were arrested. And charged with a so-called “disruption of Congress.”

The Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Politico, Democracy Now and National Public Radio all carried stories about the protest. C-Span carried it live. And it was widely disseminated on the Internet.

Baucus crafted a hearing to kick off the health care debate in the Senate yesterday where 15 witnesses would be at the table to discuss health care reform.10 Excellent Reasons for National Health Care

* The insurance industry was at the table.
* The Business Roundtable was at the table.
* The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was at the table.
* Blue Cross Blue Shield was at the table.
* The Heritage Foundation was at the table.

And corporate liberals like Andy Stern, Ron Pollack, and AARP were at the table. But not one person who stood for what the majority of Americans, doctors, nurses, and health economists want (single payer) was at the table. Not one.

When I heard about this corporate line-up last week, I called the office of Senator Baucus. And politely asked that, as a matter of fairness, a single payer doctor be allowed to testify. I was told – no way, Ralph. The deal is done.

So, yesterday, at 10 a.m., the Baucus Eight, led by Single Payer Action and other single payer groups, took to the Senate Finance Committee. And directly and respectfully confronted a room full of corporate lobbyists. And corporate controlled Senators. And again asked that a group of doctors who were in the room to support Medicare for all be allowed to testify.

The answer again – no, no, and no. Remember what Senator Richard Durbin said last week? Durbin said that the banks “own” the Congress. To which we might add – the health insurance industry and the drug industry own the Senate.

Faxing, writing, and e-mailing is not getting it done. Enough is enough. Time for action. This is a winnable issue. But the American people need to focus on 535 members of Congress. And get mobilized. Single Payer Action is at your service to get the job done.

To honor the Baucus Eight – who all wore black yesterday in memory of the more than 20,000 Americans who – according to the Institute of Medicine – die every year from lack of health insurance. And to fuel a citizen action movement that will deliver single payer to the American people – sooner not later. Together, we can break the corporate stranglehold on Congress. And deliver health care for all. Single payer. More comprehensive. More efficient. More humane. More peace of mind. Let’s get it done. Onward to single payer,

Ralph Nader

By: Emily Maloney

Emily Maloney — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:32:49 +0000

Talk about greedy profiteering insurance companies who have “bought” Baucus and his friends
with huge contributions to try to put in place a ridiculous insurance company health care plan
that everyone with any sense knows is a failure and has caused millions of people to go into
bankruptcy.
H..R. 676 – Enhanced and Improved Medicare for All is the single-payer universal health care
plan we need!

By: Wilma Ralls

Wilma Ralls — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:07:06 +0000

your fear mongering will not work. You are very wrong about your assumptions. I am quite sure that specialists who make a lot of money will try to one-up any system that tries to control their costs, however, I happen to know a lot of the doctors who are in the Single-Payer campaign. They are mostly general practitioners who are the ones who bear the brunt of the dis-abling tactics of the insurance companies. On top of that, most of the doctors who have left the actual delivery of healthcare are general practitioners. Having a viable Single-Payer system will bring a lot of them back into actual delivery activities. Join that with the unbelievable savings we get by getting rid of the insurance companies (i.e., 30 cents out of every dollar comes back to pay for actual delivery!), we already have a system bought and paid for which has enough dollars to pay for coverage of every single person in this country today AND it will provide with eye, dental, prescriptions, and mental health that today is not covered at all, or minimaly! This is the healthcare the American people deserve and that 82% of them want. The Media, the Pundits, the Senators and Congressmen pushing back against this are bought and paid for by the insurance and pharmaceutical lobby! Everything out of their mouths about Single-Payer IS A LIE! Why don’t you nay-sayers actually read the evidence. The California Nurses Association has study after study on their website that PROVES all the things we are saying about Single-Payer. The truth is there in black and white for all to see, if only people would listen to the lies being told they would realize they are lies. But most people, including YOU, don’t listen… they just start screaming off their own biases! Cut the biases and the clear truth will prevail… SINGLE-PAYER IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO GET A HANDLE ON COSTS AND BE ABLE TO COVER EVERYBODY WITH COMPREHENSIVE CARE NOT PLATITUDES!

By: Hether

Hether — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:09:10 +0000

A big thank you to these doctors for standing up for the people. In Colorado, we were only 1 vote short of passing legislation towards single payer in the House of Representatives. We had 6 Democrats would not support the legislation.

By: M. Darnit

M. Darnit — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:44:25 +0000

Thank you Thank you Thank you! Please keep up the good work, I donate when I can, but I really appreciate the sacrifice that those individuals made at the hearing. I know they were arrested and I’m sure there will be charges, bail, etc. God Bless them, they are doing the work that will make a difference.
Sen. Max Baucus has forgotten one very important fact. That ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ run the government, not the other way around. Just as they were voted in, they can be voted out.
I will make sure the laughing hyenas are reminded of this come election time, and that this footage re-surfaces of them laughing their asses off at the expense of dying Americans.

By: arlys mills

arlys mills — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:44:08 +0000

I noticed with all his nice words about respect, Senator Baucas never explained why no seat was available for a representative of our group. Lets keep asking this question.