Better World News: Single Payer Health Care Stands Up To Unfair Congressional Exclusion Of Single Payer

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. 10 Excellent Reasons for National Health Care

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.

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http://www.singlepayeraction.org//about.html

Who We Are

Single Payer Action is a national non-profit.
Founded by activists.
For the American people.
Seeking to implement a single payer health insurance system in the United States.
Medicare for all.
In our lifetimes.

What We Don't Do

We don't do coalitions with front groups.
We don't do inside the beltway politics.
We will never compromise on single payer.

What We Want

Single payer.
Simple.
Direct.
Everybody in.
Nobody out.

What We Do

We do direct action.
Face to face with the health insurance industry.
In front of the home office of your member of Congress.
In front of your member of Congress, wherever he or she may be.
Until we get single payer.

Why We Do What We Do

We are sick that 22,000 Americans die every
year from lack of health insurance.
We are sick of health insurance companies jacking up premiums while their health insurance company CEOs make out like bandits.
We are sick of high deductibles, co-pays, and
the in-network, out-of-network Rube Goldberg
system we live under.

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http://www.singlepayeraction.org//resources.html

There are many groups working tirelessly to secure single payer in the United States. This page lists some of those.

If you would like to add a single payer group to this list, send us an e-mail.

American Patients United

California Nurses Association

CaliforniaOneCare

Cape Care Coalition

Chicago Single Payer Action

Health Care for All California

Health Care for All Colorado

Health Care for All Pennsylvania