[lbo-talk] Nader on Single Payer Struggle

Shane Mage shmage at pipeline.com
Wed May 6 07:16:56 PDT 2009


On May 6, 2009, at 9:50 AM, Ralph Nader wrote:


> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> So, donate now -- $8, $18, $80, or $800.
>
> 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
>
> PS: Remember, if you donate $100 or more by May 14, 2009, we will
> send you two galvanizing books that concisely detail the case for
> single payer in America.
>
>
>
> Health Care Meltdown by Robert LeBow, MD, revised and updated by Dr.
> C. Rocky White - a Republican doctor so fed up with the needless
> suffering caused by the insurance industry that he become a leading
> advocate for single payer.
>
> and
>
> Ten Excellent Reasons for National Health Care, Edited by Mary
> O'Brien and Martha Livingston.
>
> This two-book offer ends 11:59 p.m. May 14, 2009.
>
> So don't miss out. Donate now.
>
> We're building one million Americans strong for single payer.
>
> Please share this e-mail with friends and family.
>
> Urge them to sign up and donate at singlepayeraction.org.
>
>
>
>

Shane Mage


> This cosmos did none of gods or men make, but it
> always was and is and shall be: an everlasting fire,
> kindling in measures and going out in measures."
>
> Herakleitos of Ephesos



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