Sunday August 16, 2009, 12:57 pm
The argument over which system is better at this point is like arguing whether or not global warming is real and human caused. Everyone knows the answer, but some people can turn a profit by denying it.


Who, in the eyes of Canadians, is THE most popular Canadian? Tommy Douglas, the father of the Canadian Medicare System. Watch this video.


http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1463312787?bctid=1463302784


(Also posted at www.lftwings.org.)

Remember, Canada didn't get UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE all at once; it happened Province by Province nd the government could no longer deny Canadians the health care they demanded.

Sunday August 16, 2009, 12:57 pm
COMPARE health care in:

Australia
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Home
Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/...

England
http://www.propertyshowrooms.com/...

USA videos
http://www.youtube.com/...
http://www.youtube.com/...

From: "Health care system and health care reform in Germany"

http://www.bmg.bund.de/cln_160/nn_1169696/EN/Gesundheit/gesundheit__node.html?__nnn=true


This is the official website of the Ministry of Health and Social Matters in Germany

Quote:

"However, a health care system is not a "normal" market. After all, it places even more importance on care standards and service quality than other sectors do. Here, too, Germany scores high on quite a few counts:

* It is far easier to obtain out-of-hours medical attention here than in most other countries and, very importantly, this is so regardless of income or insurance status.

* Wait times for hospital care ... are shorter here than elsewhere.

Also, no such thing as "Preconditions" exists in Germany!

And

"Universal coverage

From now on, all citizens in Germany will enjoy health insurance coverage. From 1st January 2009, and for the first time in German social history, all residents are obliged to take out health insurance unless they are otherwise covered. Persons who had lost their insurance cover must return to their most recent insurer. This applies to the statutory and the private insurance system alike. "

Addendum: If someone cannot pay for his own health insurance (minimum wages apply), the state pays the premiums. This is a legalized RIGHT for citizens of Germany!

Don't opt for less, Americans! Don't let them tell you, it can't be done - because it can!

If we can, then you can, too. YES, YOU CAN!




WENDELL POTTER IS MAKING SENSE....
I wish Wendell Potter was a household name right now. His message and perspective is arguably as important as any in the country. Potter first came to public attention about a month ago, when he sat down with PBS's Bill Moyers. We learned that he's a former executive at a major health insurance company, who's become a whistleblower, explaining the way the industry "put profits before patients" and is doing everything possible to block health care reform now.

Slowly but surely, he's gaining more prominence. Last night, he spoke with CNN's Anderson Cooper, who almost seemed surprised by what he heard.

"The way it works is that the [insurance] industry will hire big PR firms that create these front groups that have names that have no association with the insurance industry," Potter said." And it is these front groups that do the things that you're seeing right now that try to destroy health care reform by using terms like 'government takeover' of the health care system. Or we're heading down toward a 'slippery slope toward socialism.' Or we're going to 'kill your grandpa' because of this health care reform bill.

Cooper asked, "You're saying that language is written by insurance companies?" Potter responded, "Absolutely."

Asked about the right-wing activists, Potter explained that the industry has "very close ties with the conservative radio talk show hosts and commentators and editorial page writers and they feed the talking points."

Potter also spoke to Rachel Maddow this week. "I think that the health insurance industry deserves a great deal of the blame because they're very much behind the town hall disruptions that you see and a lot of the deception that's going on in terms of disinformation that many Americans apparently are believing," he explained.

Asked about a public option, and whether private insurance companies would be able to compete alongside a government-run non-profit plan, Potter added, "Well, they could, absolutely. I've seen the health insurance industry change its business models many, many times. The insurance companies who operate now are very different from the companies that operated a few years ago. They adapt very quickly. And the one thing they know how to do is make money."

Here's hoping that Potter, given his background and unique insights, gets a whole lot more media opportunities.

.....

So, thanks to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Speaker Pelosi says she will bring a vote to the floor on single-payer after the recess. Are you all ready to make those phone calls and write those letters?


Nancy's contact info..http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

Send our speaker an e-mail of encouragement.

Sunday August 16, 2009, 1:04 pm

Unfortunately, supporters of single-payer -- who should have been using their precious time promoting awareness of H.R. 676 -- WASTED IT by arguing with those who wanted NO reform! So, it would seem, the diversionary tactics have worked.

Right now, I am totally disgusted.


An explanation of what would be a good strategy is contained in another C2NN article:
 
Obama
"Single payer...It is up to the people of our country to "make him do it" whether this year or next. A mere one million immediate calls to members of Congress by one million assertive citizens will start sobering up these legislators..."
 

Sunday August 16, 2009, 1:08 pm
When did you last see a US politician or administration or indeed any politician anywhere with any backbone? Especially when it came to a difficult domestic issue.

Sunday August 16, 2009, 1:11 pm
I see our President using his skills to talk directly to the American people; if you've ever worked with or as a community organizer, then you know the skills hemust use to get this Health Care Reform Bill passed; remember, he didn't write it, the Congre$$ wrote it, the in$urance companies and health care indu$try paid $1.5 million every day to fight it, and if you didn't write, FAX and call every dya to express your opinion, then you're no help at all and have no right to complain.

Sunday August 16, 2009, 1:14 pm
Right now, I am totally disgusted too Carole :(

Sunday August 16, 2009, 1:27 pm

With all of the articles, with high note-its, and numerous comments . . . RARELY (even here) did I see H.R. 676 mentioned. In fact, I thought most of the people arguing for reform (against Republicans) were supporting H.R. 3200!

The problem is that H.R. 676 (like certain candidates in the 2008 presidential nominations) is receiving very little MSM coverage -- which means that many Americans are unaware that there IS another option besides Obamacare and no reform.

It is OUR job to inform them, recruit them, and then activate them. People cannot make calls and send faxes for something they've never been told even exists.

Sunday August 16, 2009, 1:40 pm
I really love having a bunch of ignorant liars trumping all the hard work done up until now to get a public option. We were told no way could we get single payer right out of the box, so we all kept writing, calling, emailing legislators and the white house and now a few bused in naysayers and the very people who promoted end of life decisions being put in living wills, get us to this. So here i go again, calling, writing, emailing with the hope enough will also do so to get it back in the bill....

Sunday August 16, 2009, 3:00 pm
It's imperative that people be aware that there is another option -- other than Obamacare and NO reform . . . It's the rarely mentioned H.R. 676, a single-payer proposal, co-sponsored by John Conyers, Dennis Kucinich and 83 other Congressmen.

This bill, which offers the MOST to American citizens, but which is disliked by those politicians still too strongly influenced by the interests of pharmaceutical/insurance companies, is also being ignored by mainstream media (which is also influenced by pharmaceutical/insurance companies).

Educate yourselves; and DEMAND that your elected representatives do their jobs and REPRESENT your best interests:

Please visit this group to find out more about H.R. 676 and actions to take:

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/Universal_Healthcare_Now


Also, visit my share on this topic:


What is Single-Payer Healthcare (H.R. 676)?

Sunday August 16, 2009, 3:20 pm
Please do not call it Obamacare, it isn't his, these bills are from our legislative committees, NOT Obama. He gave broad brush strokes of his ideas, they are the ones that must create the bill(s), then hash the differences out and put ONE bill up for a vote in both Congress and the Senate. By using Obama's name you are simply pandering to the right wings propaganda and into their scare tactics and misinformation/lies.

Sunday August 16, 2009, 3:25 pm

Sorry, H.R. 3200.

Sunday August 16, 2009, 4:47 pm
It;s all MEDIA HYPE -- they had nothign else to report this weekend with our President on vacation so they hyped the "talk shows" and twisted the words:

WHITE HOUSE STILL BACKS PUBLIC OPTION

Monday August 17, 2009, 11:06 am
Krugman: All That Stands In Way Of Universal Health Care Is Greed, Lies And Gullibility

Howard Dean On Public Option: "You Can't Really Do Health Reform Without It"

Monday August 17, 2009, 5:33 pm
What the H$%#@ happened to Obama? He is bowing to the dispicable GOP? I am so mad right now. Stupid ,wimpy, The Left should be kicking butt and taking names to H@#%$ with the right!!! They are insane!!

Monday August 17, 2009, 8:39 pm
Thanks everyone for your comments. Obama needs to stop trying to please everyone and kick some conservative butt! 73% of American's want Universal Single-Payer insurance like Canada, Britain and other industrialized nations have. Health care is a human right. Obama is reading the popularity polls incorrectly. If he at least championed an expansion of Medicare for every age group that wanted it, his popularity would soar. If the private insurance companies can't compete, too bad. That would mean the public option is better. Let the people have a choice so they can decide.

People are disappointed with Obama because he is trying to please the politicians who bankrupted the country in the first place with the Iraq war and their deregulation of the banking industry. Remember Bush and Cheney's secret meetings with "Kenny Boy" Lay of Enron? Then, while they warn us that government paid-for health care is socialism, they approve hundreds of billions of dollars in corporate welfare bailout money for the banks and other corporate vultures who reward the taxpayers by raising credit card interest rates and increasing home foreclosures. Corporations don't care about people, they care about profits!

The anti-health care choice politicians didn't ask where the money would come from to pay for the Iraq/Afghanistan war or the corporate bailout, but when it comes to a bailout for Social Security or Medicare for the people they are supposed to represent, they suddenly get concerned about who's gonna pay for it. If the American people would wake up and realize that they are being duped by the corporations that bribe corrupt politicians to vote against their best interests, maybe things could get turned around.

How bad do you want a public option? Bad enough to spend 5 minutes calling your president, two Senators and House representative? Bad enough to find out where a town hall is happening in you area?

I agree with Carole. Everyone needs to join the care2 group, Campaign for Universal Single Payer Health Care and learn how to fight for your rights! There will by a National Rally for Health Care For All on June 25, 2009, 10:00 a.m. in Washington DC at the Washington Monument on the National Mall. Be there or be square :)

This will be our real grassroots answer to the fake grassroots ("AstroTurf") march in Washington on September 12th, cynically orchestrated and lead by former Texas Republican Rep. Dick Armey. Armey is the chairman of FreedomWorks Foundation, a lobby front for the health insurance industry. To give you an idea of who they represent, hatemonger Glenn Beck is promoting the event on his show and plans to be there.

Make no mistake about it. This is a thinly veiled attempt by the Republican Party and big corporate interests to sabotage Obama's presidency and take back the country from the Democrats. Now is the time to act. This is class warfare, whether you believe it or not. The concentration of wealth in hands of rich greatest on record. Curious about the compensation of the health insurance company CEOs? Check this out:

* United Health Group
CEO: William W McGuire
2005: 124.8 mil
5-year: 342 mil

* Forest Labs
CEO: Howard Solomon
2005: 92.1 mil
5-year: 295 mil

* Caremark Rx
CEO: Edwin M Crawford
2005: 77.9 mil
5-year: 93.6 mil

* Abbott Lab
CEO: Miles White
2005: 26.2 mil
5-year: 25.8 mil

* Aetna
CEO: John Rowe
2005: 22.1 mil
5-year:57.8 mil

* Amgen
CEO: Kevin Sharer
2005:5.7 mil
5-year:59.5 mil

* Bectin-Dickinson
CEO: Edwin Ludwig
2005: 10 mil
5-year:18 mil

* Boston Scientific
CEO:
2005:38.1 mil
5-year:45 mil

* Cardinal Health
CEO: James Tobin
2005:1.1 mil
5-year:33.5 mil

* Cigna
CEO: H. Edward Hanway
2005:13.3 mil
5-year:62.8 mil

* Genzyme
CEO: Henri Termeer
2005: 19 mil
5-year:60.7 mil

* Humana
CEO: Michael McAllister
2005:2.3 mil
5-year:12.9 mil

* Johnson & Johnson
CEO: William Weldon
2005:6.1 mil
5-year:19.7 mil

* Laboratory Corp America
CEO: Thomas MacMahon
2005:7.9 mil
5-year:41.8 mil

* Eli Lilly
CEO: Sidney Taurel
2005:7.2 mil
5-year:37.9 mil

* McKesson
CEO: John Hammergen
2005: 13.4 mil
5-year:31.2 mil

* Medtronic
CEO: Arthur Collins
2005: 4.7 mil
5-year:39 mil

* Merck Raymond Gilmartin
CEO:
2005: 37.8 mil
5-year:49.6 mil

* PacifiCare Health
CEO: Howard Phanstiel
2005: 3.4 mil
5-year: 8.5 mil

* Pfizer
CEO: Henry McKinnell
2005: 14 mil
5-year: 74 mil

* Well Choice
CEO: Michael Stocker
2005: 3.2 mil
5-year: 10.7 mil

* WellPoint
CEO: Larry Glasscock
2005: 23 mil
5-year: 46.8 mil

* Wyeth
CEO: Robert Essner
2005:6.5 mil
5-year: 28.9 mil


TOTAL 2005: 559.8 mil

TOTAL 5-Year: 14.9 billion

Monday August 17, 2009, 8:52 pm
Correction: Obviously, the National Rally for Health Care For All on June 25, 2009 already happened. OK, so I'm a little tired today. I still think another rally should be scheduled for September to answer the "AstroTurf" march in Washington on September 12th.

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 2:52 am
i agree healthcare needs to change

but in this current healthcare bill, they enable death panels!!!

This is a letter written by Dr. Stephen Fraser to Senator Bayh. If you would like to send it on to your Congressman, he says to feel free to copy it and send it around to our friends and to senators and representatives.

July 23, 2009

Senator Bayh,

I ask you respectfully and as a patriotic American to look at the following troubling lines that I have read in the bill. You cannot possibly believe that these proposals are in the best interests of the country and our fellow citizens.

Page 22 of the HC Bill: Mandates that the Govt will audit books of all employers that self insure!!

Page 30 Sec 123 of HC bill THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.

Page 29 lines 4-16 in the HC bill: YOUR HEALTH CARE IS RATIONED!!!

Page 42 of HC Bill: The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!

Page 50 Section 152 in HC bill: HC will be provided to ALL non US citizens, illegal or otherwise

Page 58 HC Bill: Govt will have real-time access to individuals finances & a National ID Health card will be issued!

Page 59 HC Bill lines 21-24: Govt will have direct access to your banks accounts for elective funds transfer.

Page 65 Sec 164: is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations: (ACORN).

Page 84 Sec 203 HC bill: Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange.

Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications for of Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!

Page 91 Lines 4-7 HC Bill: Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example Translation: illegal aliens.

Page 95 HC Bill Lines 8-18: The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & AmeriCorps to sign up individuals for Govt HC plan.

Page 85 Line 7 HC Bill: Specifications of Benefit Levels for Plans. AARP members your Health care WILL be rationed.

Page 102 Lines 12-18 HC Bill: Medicaid Eligible Individuals will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid.. No choice.

Page 124 lines 24-25 HC: No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No judicial review against Govt Monopoly.

Page 127 Lines 1-16 HC Bill: Doctors/ American Medical Association The Govt will tell YOU what you can make! (Salary)

Page 145 Line 15-17: An Employer MUST auto enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE!

Page 126 Lines 22-25: Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.

Page 149 Lines 16-24: ANY Employer with payroll 401k & above who does not provide public option pays 8% tax on all payrolls.

Page 150 Lines 9-13: Businesss with payroll btw 251k & 401k who doesnt provide public option pays 2-6% tax on all payroll.

Page 167 Lines 18-23: ANY individual who doesnt have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.

Page 170 Lines 1-3 HC Bill: Any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)

Page 195 HC Bill: Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans finances /personal records.

Page 203 Line 14-15 HC: The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax Yes, it says that!

Page 239 Line 14-24 HC Bill: Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid Seniors, low income and poor are affected.

Page 241 Line 6-8 HC Bill: Doctors, doesnt matter what specialty you have, youll all be paid the same!

Page 253 Line 10-18: Govt sets value of Doctors time, profession, judgment etc. Literally value of humans.

Page 265 Sec 1131: Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries.

Page 268 Sec 1141: Federal Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.

Page 272 SEC. 1145: TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS Cancer patients welcome to rationing!

Page 280 Sec 1151: The Govt will penalize hospitals for whatever Govt deems preventable re-admissions.

Page 298 Lines 9-11: Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a re-admission -Govt will penalize you.

Page 317 L 13-20: PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Doctors what/how much they can own!

Page 317-318 lines 21-25, 1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.

Page 321 2-13: Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input is required. Can u say ACORN?!!

Page 335 L 16-25 Pg 336-339: Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.

Page 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Advance Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan.

Page 354 Sec 1177: Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! Unbelievable!

Page 379 Sec 1191: Govt creates more bureaucracy Tele-health Advisory Committee. Can you say HC by phone?

Page 425 Lines 4-12: Govt mandates Advance Care Planning Consult. Think Senior Citizens end of life patients.

Page 425 Lines 17-19: Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!

Page 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death. (assisted suicide)

Page 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.

Page 429 Lines 1-9: An advanced care planning consultant will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates.

Page 429 Lines 10-12: advanced care consultation may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from GOVT!

Page 429 Lines 13-25: The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.

Page 430 Lines 11-15: The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life!

Page 469: Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!?

Page 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORIGINATION. 1 monthly payment 2 a community-based organization. Like ACORN?

Page 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage?

Page 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, and rationing those services.

Senator, I guarantee that I personally will do everything possible to inform patients and my fellow physicians about the dangers of the proposed bills you and your colleagues are debating.

Respectfully,

Stephen E Fraser MD

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 7:39 am
We don't know whether we are Arthur or Martha... sherbet they need to get their ducks in a row...

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 8:41 am
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/august_2009/support_for_congressional_health_care_reform_falls_to_new_low

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 8:00 pm
There seem to be several possible reform models..and we know which is the best single payer,with extension of universal extension of medicare.Public option would still be a partial victory..and a step to be built upon..but even that is deemed a bold step too far,by a President who is looking increasingly like a straw in the wind..allowing himself to be a man buffetted by oligarchal powers.Unlike Tommy Douglas or Britain's Nye Bevan,Obama and those around him seem not to have the vision or guts to take that fight to the power.
In the battle for hearts and minds,it feels vital to demolish the arguments of the axis of evil..and to keep promoting the best option.
Republicans/Insurance companies/torch wielding mobs..but although that is important..power is proven once again to lie outside of people..but instead beyond them,where capital is consolidated.
Obama's expediency in bowing to the power would show that all of the arguments for real change..no matter how popular or powerful..never mattered ..whether it be single payer ..or public option
That Obama could fail even to fight for his "middle way"public option is a travesty..Falling short of the best,is always possible,falling short of the minimum is a failure "even within his own measure of success/failure".

If the public option is dropped,that will be twice in modern times that The Democrats have allowed themselves to fail re their healthcare election promise .Would it be too outrageous to suggest that this would highlight a pattern..which illustrates that with the present socio-economic power structure in place,even the minimum will not be passed.
It isn't over ..and there is a lot to fight for still..but that will take bigger tactics..mass demonstations,trade union actions ..and petitioning on an enormous previously unseen scale..as clearly the tactics used so far,have not been enough..it has to be MASSIVE.Now isn't the time for divisions.
If this fails..then it is clear even to the waverers that only a democratic and social revolution will acheive any meaningful change.

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 8:03 pm
At this moment, on Rachel Maddow...the public option is back on the table....from the White House Admin powers that be.

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 8:06 pm
Woa...chalk that up to liberal dems taking the hard line for once.

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 8:08 pm

It's become very obvious that this is not a Republican/Democrat issue. This is a people's issue.

I, for one, am sick and tired of telling my "representatives" what I want, only to be ignored.

Yes, Rob, the word "revolution" is hard accept, and even harder to put into print -- and considering the overwhelming apathy of most of the overly-sedated citizens -- would be nearly impossible to orchestrate. But, we must not stop.

Axioms become well-known for a good reason . . . they're true. So let's keep squeaking that wheel until it's oiled!

Tuesday August 18, 2009, 9:26 pm
CODE BLUERockefeller, Feingold, Pelosi Call Public Option Essential
Don't Panic. Howard Dean Says Bill Will Pass - With The Public Option

Gibbs: Nothing Has Changed, We Are Still Expecting The Public Option


The News of Its Death Is Greatly Exaggerated

Wednesday August 19, 2009, 12:03 pm
Keep your fingers crossed, Blue. They keep vacillating on this so much that they could say anything by tomorrow.