Archive for September 2009
Leo Gerard’s tribute to Marilyn Clement
All of us in the labor movement who have battled for decades to secure healthcare for all Americans deeply mourn the passing of one of our dearest colleagues, Marilyn Clement. She will be sorely missed, not only because of her leadership in our struggle for healthcare justice, but also because of her warm, personal demeanor…
Read MoreData Reveals California’s Private Insurers Deny 21% of Claims
From Democracy NOW! – President Obama begins his final drive for healthcare reform tonight with a nationally televised prime-time address to a joint session of Congress. His speech comes after an explosive August recess consumed by raucous town halls and talk of government-run “death panels.” We take a look at California’s “real death panels.” That’s…
Read MoreThe Lion Sleeps Tonight
By Helen Redmond for Counter Punch – Spoiler alert: this is not a fawning, gushing, lie-filled eulogy of Saint Edward Kennedy. Read no further if you believe the “Liberal Lion” or as I prefer to call him, the “Lion King,” actually made this country a healthier, more equitable place to live in. You have been…
Read MoreA puzzled Canadian ponders surreal U.S. health-care debate
Why are Americans distorting the reality of Canada’s most prized social program? By Alastair Rickard for the Toronto Star – Earlier this year, before the political battle over health-care reform in the U.S. reached its current fever pitch, I was in Tuscaloosa answering questions from University of Alabama business students. They were interested in my…
Read MoreSick and Wrong
How Washington is screwing up health care reform – and why it may take a revolt to fix it By Matt Taibbi for Rolling Stone – Let’s start with the obvious: America has not only the worst but the dumbest health care system in the developed world. It’s become a black leprosy eating away at…
Read MoreBill Moyers on Obama’s Moment
From PBS.org – Video of Bill Moyers’ thoughts on President Obama and his plan for health reform.
Read MoreLabor Councils in Tennessee, Texas and Minnesota Endorse HR 676
Four central labor councils in Tennessee, Texas and Minnesota have endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). One hundred and thirty four central labor councils and area labor federations have now endorsed HR 676. In Tennessee, the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee has endorsed HR 676,…
Read MoreGiving Single-Payer a Second Look
By Rep. Anthony Weiner – As President Obama prepares to address the nation about his vision for health care reform, we should not overlook the last, best truly transformative change to our health care system: Medicare. We have been staring so intently at the lessons of 1993 that we may have forgotten the universal rule…
Read MoreWhite House Overwhelmed with Requests for Obama to Meet with “Mad as Hell Doctors” about Single Payer
The “Mad As Hell Doctors” from Oregon are making themselves heard at the Obama Administration with an email campaign that threatened to shut down the White House inbox. The road-tripping, physician-activists from Oregon known as the “Mad As Hell Doctors” received a pressing call from the White House this week to demand they remove a…
Read MoreThe health care wars Pt.2
From the Real News Network – From pro-single payer to anti-government plans, a discussion after a town hall meeting in Virginia.
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