So much for my email to my Senator, who serves on this committee, asking them to please include Single Payer supporters.

Solution: Make a wall map of countries that have universal health care (this now includes Rwanda). Get a set of darts. Throw a dart at the wall map and plan to ask for asylum in whatever country the dart lands on.

This will send your blood pressure to boiling.

Senator Charles Schumer-D, NY has set about to DESTROY the "Public" option from the pending Healthcare legislation.

From the NY Times:

Mr. Schumer said his goal was “a level playing field for competition” between public and private insurers...

The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, asked Mr. Schumer to seek a solution. In his response, Mr. Schumer set forth these principles:

* The public plan must be self-sustaining. It should pay claims with money raised from premiums and co-payments. It should not receive tax revenue or appropriations from the government.

* The public plan should pay doctors and hospitals more than what Medicare pays. Medicare rates, set by law and regulation, are often lower than what private insurers pay.

* The government should not compel doctors and hospitals to participate in a public plan just because they participate in Medicare.

*To prevent the government from serving as both “player and umpire,” the officials who manage a public plan should be different from those who regulate the insurance market.

The full and unedited story at:
http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/5142#more-39730

*** By the time the Senate gets finished the "Public" option of the bill will be absolute garbage worth less than a credit default swap.

Single payer advocates cannot sit back and let the insurance industry continue to push its agenda. I'm ready to get arrested for healthcare - where can I sign up?

I called Senator Baucus's office and expressed my disgust with his actions today and also voiced my displeasure that he is a whore for the big players against the public single payer plan. i must admit i am angry now and wish i lived in scandinavia. We must continue the fight for single-payer.

1-800-828-0498
1-800-459-1887
1-800-614-2803
1-866-340-2981

These are all FREE calls to the Capitol Switchboard.

Ask the operator to connect you to any member of congress.

Many congress members have voicemail so you can leave a message 24hrs a day.

Call as many times you as like.

Post these numbers on every messageboard you visit and include in all your outgoing e-mail.

Lets begin a discussion about when enough is enough. We have never had the ability to communicate as easily as today. For the time being, stay on the side of peaceful activities.
It is time to water the tree of liberty.
Jefferson

I suggest a day in October. Not too hot, not too cold.

Many years ago, Chicago activists were fighting for improved housing in Chicago. They were taking on Mayor Richard Daley, who refused to listen to any members of the community (sound familiar - single payers).

Saul Alinsky, noted activist and mentor of Obama, organized a piss-in at O'hare Airport - Daley's pride and joy. Men were to position themselves at urinals and take 30 minutes each. All stalls, male and female, were occupied by activists with reading material and lunch - sorry Larry Craig.

When you fly, you often rush from the plane to the toilet...and if they are all occupied....occupeed ?

Just the threat brought Daley to the table

A similar action almost took place in Rochester against Kodak. Activists bought front row tickets for the Rochester Symphony and found "volunteers" who were noted for their ability to pass wind. A new wind section...

Just the threat ....worked

We need similar action - a sick-in with projectile vomiters at the capital,
from the balcony - a true technicolor laugh...

Gastric disturbances at any number of public events ..."If only I had health care, I could take care of this little problem" teeshirts

We must show our disgust in creative ways ...

Power to the people !!!

Come now, had the California Nurses Association had paid baucus 1 million dollars they would have been allowed to speak to singlpe payer.

Remember.

You can have all the Free speech you want if you PAY for it.

Earlier this evening, I saw Russ Feingold on "Democracy Now" almost squirming at Amy Goodman's pointed questions about single-payer.

Feingold tersely said that it had no chance to get passed in this Congress.

Why not, if We the People clearly support the idea? Amy persisted.

Feingold offered an uncharacteristically lame response, to the effect that many politicians didn't want to risk supporting a major program that might backfire and anger their constituents.

He didn't address the merits, or offer any justification for his emphatic assertion that THIS CONGRESS WILL NEVER ENACT SINGLE-PAYER, PERIOD!

Feingold flatly claimed that he supported single-payer, which is commendable, as far as it goes. But when a supporter of single-payer earnestly declares it DOA, how far DOES it go, exactly?

I think he threw in a standard bogus silver-lining, to the effect that Congress would doubtless cough up health-care legislation-- like a cat coughing up a hairball-- containing features that would PAVE THE WAY for the beginning of the end of the beginning of coming to terms and conquering singlepayerphobia.

I'm paraphrasing broadly, of course. But he did slip in the curious hope that our elected officials failing to grasp the health-care nettle is not only the best We the People can expect, but will ultimately have a win-win outcome.

Thus, he all but admitted that the only, or real, reason single-payer wasn't happening is because Congress is so self-serving and pusillanimous that they'd rather stamp their feet and just say "no", regardless of popular sentiment AND especially the obvious MERITS of that approach.

In short: WE can't have it because THEY don't want it!

And, as Baucus demonstrated, the politicians do not scruple to stick their fingers in their ears and yell, "La, la, la, la! I can't HEAR you!" when confronted with righteous citizen protesters-- until the bouncers come to roust the hecklers.

Some representative republican democracy we got here, huh?

· Yr Obd't Servant

I would call my congress Michele Bachmann, however this would be as effective as farting into the wind. She is always on the side of Big Corporations and extreme groups like Concerned women for America, Eagle Forum and Dr. Dobson's Focus on the Family. She proudly wears her ignorance as she is a warrior for jesus dont ya know.

It's a sad day for America when advocates for universal healthcare are treated like criminals, and torturers and murderers are praised as dedicated public servants acting in good faith, promised protection from prosecution, kept in their positions of trust without accountability, continued on their government salaries and promised generous retirement benefits.

We need a march of the uninsured and the underinsured and the ripped off and insured! We need a million people on the Mall in DC and soon. If we don't get in Obama's face and Congress on this then we'll lose. The Dems. are just as corrupt as the rethugs but the difference is they need us to hold onto their seats. We need a BIG BIG crowd in DC soon or we LOSE this forever.

All we need is one person with the swine flu (real or imagined) to start hacking away in the house or senate chambers.

Then announce that they just got back from Meico

That should clear the chambers.

And are the nurses/technicians in the congressional health facilities union. They should walk out on the privilleged.

I also think we need a millions person march for single payer now. I am disappointed in "the left", with the exception of people outspoken and involved in the single payer issue. I even suspect some are sell-outs or just don't care because their own health policies are among the few cushier ones. Being "left" for them, is only fashion. They don't walk the talk. They figure their stories from the nineteen sixties give them a free pass.

There was a march in washington recently that went through dismally, in part, I think, because they are unable to focus on issues of importance affecting Americans' everyday lives in a very immediate way. Like a National Health Insurance Act. If Congress were forced to listen to Americans on healthcare alone, that would have enormous impact on what they'd have to do in other areas -- like military -- in order to deliver. To get them to move on this issue, we need put aside differences that normally divide us in other areas. Like the military. Just focus on single payer health, people. 65% of Americans want this. With roughly similar percentages across parties, and close to 60% of the medical profession, with much higher percentages within specialties.

If enough of us showed up in Washington, and left the signs concerning Iraq and every other cause behind at home, and could shut their mouths about the Middle East and every other hot button issue that turns many of their fellow Americans off, believe me, Washington would listen to us. And I for one, would pay for a couple of bus tickets to the other side of the country in order to be there. Come out of retirement from the demonstrations that no longer represent me, my children, and my interests.

Thank you to every individual there who was arrested for their fellow Americans' healthcare.

SEAGLASS
a march on the capital is probably the only thing that's going to counteract corporate influence, though it didn't stop the invasion of Iraq.

it is so clear at this moment that the American people are disenfranchised. Health insurance is such an important part of the insurance industry revenue stream...

I do greatly admire the stalwarts of the CNA and other activists, but at the same time I am so disgusted by the corruption of the system that I am overcome by a paralyzing sense of futility.

the "representative democracy" is simply not working. It isn't representative of the majority will of the people, and it isn't democratic no matter how it is spun.

So far Obama ain't no FDR. He's a corporate shill. Maybe if things get much worse, his testicles will descend...if he actually has any.

This baccus turd has shown nothing but contempt for the people, even those that elected this scum bag. He certainly used his position for a personal political gain to out and out tell the people that for us, there is no debate, just jail. He better never ever come to my house as I will take it a deadly threat to my life and I will act accordingly. And being a democrat does't give him any points because in my eyes all of congress and the president have proven there is but one party and that is the ELECTORATES. And they are 95% of them treasonous bastards deserving of full penalties of the law.

There needs to be and organization that will come up with the people's 'place holders' so when a committee convenes for discussion, the people's place holders will bump the lobbyist's placeholders out of line and when the committee starts its proceedings the people's place holders will be there instead of the lobbyists.

Lobbyists are all criminals that need to the arrested and tried for bribing an elected official.

Here's a thought: Stop paying your medical bills. I have. It's a form of direct action. Don't wait for politicians to grant you a right to health care. Take it.

I'm in a bind right now because I was advised to have a biopsy but am concerned that if I am diagnosed with cancer I won't qualify for health insurance (I'm looking for a job that offers health benefits) or that I'll have to wait 6 mos. for treatment because of a pre-existing condition. Shouldn't I be more concerned about my health? I guarantee you not one person in Congress ever has this dilemma over a family member.

I'm also getting tired of the nonchalant attitude of acquaintances who have health insurance. They constantly tell me, "You need to find a job with health insurance!" Or "You need to get health insurance!" as if it's affordable and jobs offering fully paid benefits are so common.

The oligarchy has studied the system minutely. It knows that the people won't revolt if it keeps them in debt to its healthcare insurors and its other corporations, banks and IRS. If people are kept well entertained with its media, sedated with its booze, anxious about their jobs, insecure about their safety, in fear of each other, resigned to their religion, spied upon, raided, jailed, disappeared, and led by its puppet politicians.

It's all going well according to plan.

It's only a matter of time until Big Pharma has Xi shooting citizens in the streets.
Is America's Posse Comitatus or just Comatose?
Write a message on an old shoe and send it to your own Senator's local office.

I think what's next is people will start getting so desperate they'll offer to sell a kidney in exchange for a surgery or medication they can't afford.

Stay the course, it's a worthy cause.

Health-care for all citizens needs to be a social right. And the single-payer option needs to be heard.

http://activism101.ning.org

I'm Tweeting this news.

This corrupt system does not even give their combat veterans health care--they use every excuse on their books to deny veterans decent care. If you think this same system is going to pony-up to include the average tax-payer--think again.
They only have enough money to maime, kill, and destroy--there's none for constructive purposes like peace, discovery, health care, schools and industry that serves the common good.

There is no doubt, that our Senators and most of Congress are bought and paid for. The people whom should be in handcuffs, led off to jail, are being given billions of dollars to cover their gambling debts. The blood sucking health care profiteers are treated as honored guests.
The corporations are dismissing people for the stock price and forgettting that once you sell an item you never get another return from it. Until we vote the crooks out and get publicly funded campaigns; this is the kind of demecrocy we deserve. Next, they'll be ordering your own love ones in the military, to shoot you for civil disobedience. But they fail to take into consideration who makes up the military; mostly our sons and daughters. The poor, who's families are suffering, ain't going to shoot their ma and pa.

Seriously, phone calls will do squat. It's time for a revolution...I don't know about you, but most of the messages won't ever reach the intended recipient. Anyway, phone calls don't really push their buttons....anymore than emails. We need to just take what we want through sheer numbers and force of appeal and by our votes. How many times have we gone the phone call/email route? Remember before they passed that mindboggling bailout? Those Senators and Congressmen must have gotten 10x what they're getting now and they still didn't budge. They ripped off the taxpayers like never before in the history of humankind.

ducksawce - now that is a truly brilliant set of suggestions.

Not another March!!! But a march to each of the washington monuments, including the white House and peeing on all of them, plus leaving doggy doodoo bags behind, minus the baggie...

Plus doing same at the local offices of all members of the committee, plus one's own senators, and maybe at the offices of the Insurance Companies and Pharmaceuticals...

Now that would really get everybody's attention...

It's a shame that people like Max Baucus are put in the positions they are put in..This is not the change we can believe in as Obama promised.. Baucus is purposely leaving single payer off the table because if it was on the table,it would prove to be the best solution to America's healthcare nightmare..It would also put Baucus's friends in the for profit health insurance business ,out of business.. Dealing with the for profit health insurance companies to solve our healthcare crisis is like dealing with AL Queda to solve our terrorism problem.
The only difference is the health insurance companies are responsible for more deaths and financial ruin to innocent Americans than was ever done by a terrorist organization.. Yet they are allowed to exist and continue to pillage the citizens of this country with the blessings of a government who apparently doesn't give a damn.. Maybe it is time for a revolution..Maybe more people have to show up at these government healthcare reform charades and let their voices be heard above the voices of the special interests..It's unbelievable that people like Max Baucus are still given credibility as servants of the people... NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!

The really scary part of this story is the obstinate refusal of those in charge to even listen to or consider single-payer. For now, they have had their way, but as JFK once observed:

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable."

This problem of the rationing of healthcare is already a big and serious problem that will only grow as the boomer population reaches retirement age. Human beings are not peaceful by nature and when pushed (or ignored) long enough they will resort to violence. An angry army in the tens of millions with nothing to lose will not go quietly in the night.

Everybody knows who the politicians, punditry, and business leaders who are blocking an honest discussion of this issue and it is only a matter of time before hostages are taken, facilities are destroyed, or other forms of chaos will occur not allowing "business as usual" to continue.

Poet

One more demonstration of how corrupt the Senate, which calls itself, "the greatest deliberative body of legislators in the world" (Arelen Specter)is. There is not a body of legislators more sold out and indebted to special interests in the world. The beginnings of a true reform would be a new constitution that eliminates the Senate. Its a bad bunch of individuals but more than that its a bad idea for a democracy which really wants to represent people's not corporate interest.

"Every dictator plans to rear, raise, feed, and train his fellow men as the breeder does his cattle. His aim is not to make the people happy but to bring them into a condition which renders him, the dictator, happy. He wants to domesticate them, to give them cattle status. The cattle breeder also is a benevolent despot." - Ludwig von Mises

"The first truth is that the liberty of democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism-ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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