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Saying Goodbye to Another Single-Payer Warrior, a Shooting Star
For those of us who advocate for a single-payer healthcare system, publicly funded and privately delivered care for everyone, the past few weeks have included tremendous gains and two devastating losses. The gains came in our shared victories as single-payer advocates in Congress secured legislative opportunities for real progress. In the fall, single-payer arguments will be heard in Congress, and in large part due to the work of hundreds of thousands of people who have refused to have ethical and economic sanity shut out of the health reform debate.
But as we celebrated our successes and planned for our future actions, we first mourned the loss of Marilyn Clement, the leader of Healthcare-NOW, who died on August 3, 2009, and who helped shape the single-payer grassroots movement and so very much more. Marilyn learned her earliest advocacy skills alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and throughout her 74 years, she stood for justice, for compassion and for peace. Her love and life were beacons of hope in some of the darkest places of our struggle.
Then we learned this week of yet another devastating loss. On Sunday, August 9, 2009, Nicholas Skala died in his sleep in Chicago. Nick was only 27 years old, but as a third year law student at Northwestern University and as a researcher for Physicians for a National Health Program, Nick's influence reached far beyond what most of us will ever achieve. His death was not only shocking and unexpected, it was an absolute reminder of the finite nature of our time on this earth and of our responsibility to one another to leave this a better place than we found it.
For those of us who knew Nick (and I can say this as someone who loved him and shared this very conversation with him in DC just 10 days ago), he could be brash and even a tad pompous at times--in a way that young and brilliant people can be when the world in theirs yet to conquer and the rest of us seem to move and think too slowly. He was ready to change the world and equipped with an intellect and drive that moved from thought to action in an instant.
In his work for PNHP, Nick found a glorious niche--a place where other intelligent people wanted change and a place where his mind could work to its fullest capabilities. He helped write the Illinois single-payer legislation before he was 25 years old--and he was well able to explain and defend it passionately even to the most unlikely audiences.
Early in his interactions with other single-payer advocates, he could ruffle feathers by dispensing with lengthy personal, friendly discourse in favor of detailed displays of his knowledge of single-payer reform policy and economics and taxation and other legal issues. Few would have suspected that under all that bravado and raw intelligence was a giant and kind spirit yet to be unleashed.
I first met Nick as I returned to my native Chicago to live and work with the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee. About the same time, I was meeting and growing to know scores of PNHP doctors from venues all over the country where I traveled to speak about single-payer reform. It was clear to me that the doctors I met who are a part of PNHP share a special sort of passion for humanity along with the intelligence required to be physicians--they carried a concern for healthcare as a human right just like so many nurses do that goes well beyond the nuts and bolts policy issues Nick could articulate so well. And that was exactly the sort of mentoring Nick needed and welcomed from those he considered intellectual equals.
But the incredible capacity for love and the deepening humanistic quality Nick was beginning to absorb and develop came about in a fascinating way over the past several months. Over and over again I watched him travel to events with his beloved Dr. Quentin Young, and I watched Nick study the interactions and the reactions among participants at the events--he was learning all the while. Whether at a formal hearing on single-payer legislation or at a protest action, it was an opportunity to take it all in and take from it a lesson about personal effectiveness and potential.
What began for him as a way to teach others about single-payer from a position of intellectual superiority became a living, breathing evolution from young, invincible policy genius into rich human interactions flavored with kindness, appreciation and true concern for others.
Nick came to Washington, DC, this summer to work for John Conyers in the House Judiciary. I remember he shared with me that he had been "air-lifted" into DC to see if he could help with healthcare reform. I chuckled a bit to myself at how much "like Nick" that sounded. But I also did the mental gymnastics I had done many times before when Nick said something that seemed self-congratulatory, I acknowledged to myself that perhaps we needed a little air-lifted and dynamic energy inside the Congressional offices where other advocates rarely are allowed to linger. Perhaps a, little Nick in the mix for the summer would be exactly the right thing, I had to admit to myself.
And so it was. In a few short weeks, Nick ensconced himself with staff members and in situations where he could help move the single-payer agenda forward. Perhaps we'd still be looking at a state-based single-payer amendment and a floor vote on single-payer in the House in September. I think the incredible efforts of nurses and doctors and patients and advocates all over the nation have moved single-payer forward as never before. But I also think we've had some amazing effort right here in DC, and Nick certainly was an incredibly gifted and committed part of that DC effort.
A shooting star in our movement has streaked across our lives and vanished too soon.
When I opened the email that announced Nick's death, I felt like I am sure many others did. It hurt to even see the words. When I woke up this morning I had to do one of those shaking-the-head, wake-up moments I hate so in life when the reality has to be acknowledged once again in the light of a new day--Nick is indeed dead. At 27. I also know he died at home-in Chicago with Quentin--where his mind and his soul were most at peace.
And just 10 days ago, I sat next to him at a restaurant here in DC listening to his aspirations to use his law degree and the deepening love he was learning to give and receive to build a meaningful life not just for himself but for many. We will carry on the fight. For Marilyn, for Nick and for each other.
On June 16, 2009 Nicholas Skala wrote "'Public Option' Pales Next to Single Payer" for CommonDreams.org.
26 Comments so far
Show AllHow did this talented young man die? "In his sleep" is not a cause. Is foul play suspected in any way? At this stage of the game, with town hall meetings turning violent and swastikas being painted on pro-single payer Congressmen's office signs, nothing seems out the realm of possibility. Are authorities looking into his death at all? This just sounds too strange to me.
Agreed. We need a full autopsy. Unfortunately, the forces against the single payer option are everywhere, heavily financed, ruthless, and not above inciting the sheep into acts of violence against the 'marxism' they say we are all falling into through our advocacy of sanity.
sorry again donna. it just underscores how fleeting
and senseless life can be.also cruel. strum thurmond
lives to 98? miserable mean and human by a vague
definition of what human is not by what we can be.
here at the opposite end of this spectrum we have
nick whose dream is to make the world a better place
without suffering. maybe in his next life he comes back
to become president and lead us out of the cluster f
this country will be by then!this proves once again
the good die young and the bad as old as beezelbub
can make them before he would have to take them.
I am truly saddened to hear of Nicholas Skala's untimely death. I had previously watched his interview(on the website Singlepayeraction.org) and was so impressed to see that he was continuing to fight for single payer health care, even after some of the democrats in Congress had tried to silence him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Hopefully we will achieve his goal of a single payer health care system.
27 is a very young age for a brave warrior like Skala to die. I suspect somebody tried to kill him. Will Obama offer him his condolences? I would be surprised if he did.
Damn.
Not so strange--if one considers how many people are killed by the lack of medical care--denied by the ins. companies--Let us shout out this young hero's name as we demand single-payer-health care for all citizens. And please don't be afraid to do what's right even in the face of danger--we have nothing to fear, except our own gov. and the morons that enable it
This is just so tragic. I clicked on the article because I thought I would find out what was the cause of death. What happened here? Then I'm listening to this interview and I am thinking along the lines of other comments here.
In conjunction with this, I listened to a bit of Obama's town hall meeting yesterday on NPR this morning, and I just felt myself getting so angry. Once again he proclaimed loudly that single-payer was not going to happen, and then he went on to blather about insurance exchanges once again. I don't know if he even mentioned the crappy public option. I was feeling too sick to listen to more from "Advertising Age's Candidate of the Year."
I was thinking on my walk this morning that as sick as felt over Bush, especially in 2004, I never voted for him and I never expected anything good from him. I think it's true what they say -- better the devil you know.
I am now sick over this young man's death. He was working so hard for people like me. What an amazing human being. We have to know what caused his death.
The idea of foul play seem absurdly implusable to me. Please, retirn to reality! There are a number of hidden or not-hidden heart disorders that can cause this.
I could only wish that the single-payer movement had a tenth of the visibility and influence needed for it's enemies to contemplate such. The forces arayed against it have been stunningly successful at keeping the overwhelming majority of USAns completely ignorant about the movement.
The big day of rallying and lobbying on July 30 came and went - was there SINGLE article in the corporate media about it?
When the left gets as loud and ugly proclaiming the truth as the right wing loonies do proclaiming their fabricated paranoid-psychotic delusions, we may someday start to win.
Please remember what finally delivered some justice for Oscar Grant in Oakland this last winter. It wasn't done by hugging and singing kumbaya.
If I were the county coroner, I would be looking at foul play - this guy was threatened numerous times.
No one is aware of any foul play in Nick's death. And I think I would have heard about it if there were any news of that sort.
Peace,
Donna Smith, American SiCKO
Nick was "air lifted" to the front lines. Before he died it seems that he had chosen to challenge the status quo, not just in thought, but in deed. No matter what actually caused his death, he was a casualty of war.
Many young progressives enter the fray not fully understanding the size and strength of the enemy, and that they play for keeps.
One life is nothing to these people, who can sleep well after killing thousands. We live in a era of Great Repression, and to maintain the status quo there are enough operatives and money to do "what ever it takes" to keep a young person like Nick from becoming a powerful force for change.
Like the Gore campaign, health care reform is taking a pounding because the progressives are unwilling and unable to pay special operatives to secure a victory, and I do not disagree.
Many of us have paid a high price for our activism, but we have also learned much in the process. Every bit of ground that has been taken from the elite as been done so at a high cost. Winning a national health care system will not be easy, but we can do it - Slaves have been freed, and women can vote. Nick understood what the mission was, and died fighting the good fight, for all of us.
Marvelous comment. I agree completely. Thank you.
Donna Smith, American SiCKO
It seems that the only people that have are not subject to repression are the "crazies." They get full rein and full attention of the MSM and the WH. Meanwhile, in NH yesterday Obama emphasized his commitment to no single-payer and spoke about health-insurance exchanges, at least from the portions of his pre-canned speech I heard on NPR at his latest "town hall" meeting.
I've known several people who've suddenly died in their mid/late 20s. From aneurysms, every one. A woman I worked with ages ago, generally healthy, full of life, was one. She rubbed her forehead just before lunch and said "damn, I can't seem to shake this headache" and then fell over dead. No warning at all, apart from the relatively mild headache. 28 years old.
I am so sorry for the loss of Marilyn Clement and Nick Skala. I am sorry for their families and friends but also for my children and grandchildren. How much they will be missed by a society that is losing it's soul and needs compassionate activist who care enough to do their best to help inform Americans who need to know the truth. Young people like Nick are not seen much at our Peace and Justice meetings and I worry and hope the youth will follow in the footsteps Of great young adults like Nick . I appreciate CD coverage of this tragic story of human love. Single-payer Health Care is, I believe, the best policy for all Americans.
Died in his sleep at 27?? Sorry, I'm not buying it, not until I see a full investigation and an independent autopsy report.
Died in his sleep at 27?? I smell a big, stinking rat.
With all due respect for Nick's death, foul play has to be suspected here. He was fighting people who routinely make decisions that commit thousands, if not millions, of people to slow painful deaths. Just so they can continue on with their fat cat lifestyles. People get killed over $5 on the street by drug addicts, etc. It is no different if the addict is hooked on money and power. As the stakes are higher it is even more likely that they will resort to foul play.
The health care reform is Obama's Waterloo. Only not in the way that the Corporatists think. It is his Waterloo because he campaigned on a promise for Single Payer. He has caved in to the Corporatists already. His reforms are merely concessions to them while he tries to save face. Of course when one allows that Nick's death may have been murder one can hardly blame Obama for caving in. Nick's death is sad news in a sad world.
Obama never campaigned for single payer nor did he promise it. He has opposed it since being senator.
You won't learn that listening the the conservative media. They'll play Obama's 2003 comments as a state senator favoring single-payer in a loop until the record breaks, then scream that the healthcare bill is socialism/fascism/Nazism/reparations/slavery. And no, I'm not exaggerating...except with the record breaking.
Nick Skala? Paul Wellingstone, How many people get murdered over there beliefs? Character assasination is bad enough by the republicans, what is next?
Donna,
Thank you for your moving eulogy for my friend Nick Skala. It took me a couple times to get through this because I would burst into tears after a few sentances. We had grown up together and had many crazy youthful adventures (if you knew nick you knew that he was the central figure in many of the greatest stories ever told). At his core Nick was a brilliant and caring person. Although our lives had taken us in different directions, he was never far from my thoughts and heart. So many people knew of Nick because how could you not tell people about him? I was so proud of what he had become.
It's hard to adequately express the grief of those who knew and loved this man, but I think you summed him up very well. The past days have been spent in tears but as we mourned Nick but filled with laughter as we celebrated the times we had with him.
I am a better person for knowing Nick.
This world is poorer for losing him.
Maybe the pain will fade but it will never go away.
One of the biggest honors in my life was calling Nick my friend.
Assassins have undetectable ways of killing you
It is not only the conservative media who remember what Obama said regarding single payer. I am pretty far to the left and network with the Single Payer advocates. They all remember it.
Here is a refresher:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/05/16/sirota/
Listening to a 2003 Obama speech, it's hard to believe he has become such an enigma. Back then, he declared himself "a proponent of a single-payer universal healthcare program" -- that is, one eliminating private insurers and their overhead costs by having government finance healthcare. Obama’s position was as controversial then as it is today -- which is to say, controversial among political elites, but not among the general public. ABC's 2003 poll showed almost two-thirds of Americans desiring a single-payer system "run by the government and financed by taxpayers," just as CBS's 2009 poll shows roughly the same percentage today.
In that speech six years ago, Obama said the only reason single-payer proponents should tolerate delay is "because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House."
And we have...unless by 'we' he meant progressives, rather than Democrats.