Finding 'Leadership' For Single Payer Healthcare
A majority of Americans want a Single Payer Healthcare System. Many at TPM have listed what is going wrong in this fight and obstacles that are getting in the way. I won't dwell on the problems we are up against here. What I would like to focus on are 'solutions'.
In chatting with some others at TPM we got to talking about how much we need a leader on this issue.
I had this idea, completely not attached, open to other solutions, that we create or
find already in existence a American Council for Single Payer Healthcare or some
other Powerful name that would be non-partisan and all about supporting the
Single Payer movement and seeing it through to its end.
We invite as many strong leaders as we can get to be a part of that council to help organize all of the organizations and people in the country willing to rally and participate and get behind the issue. And we find one leader that we agree to get behind to be the overall leader. The goal then will be to be able to raise money for the sole purpose of promoting single payer, in essence we create our own lobby for Single Payer.
United we conquer, divided we fall.
As Miguelito pointed out, there may be a different motive for rushing the healthcare reform right now than seems obvious. What if one of the reasons healthcare reform is being pushed hard now is to keep 'us' from getting organized and having much of a voice in this debate?
One of my ideas is to write to various people who have demonstrated some leadership around single payer healthcare along with organizations that are supporting it and start looking for what it takes to move quickly into a more unified direction.
So, if you would please, share with me names of organizations and leaders(not currently in congress) that you know are supporting single payer, and share any other ideas you have for solutions.
* I personally joined this organization: Healthcare-Now! as I learned that they are working with about 45 other organizations.
I seriously do not want to hear about what won't work, can't work, is impossible, etc. I am an idealist and I won't believe you. So I invite you to focus on solutions with me:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember the scene in the movie Patch where Arthur Mendelson holds up four fingers for Patch and says 'what do you see'?
The fingers. What's the answer?
Oh, you're another one of those bright young fellows...
always know the right answer, is that it?
Welcome to real life.
(holds up four fingers)
How many do you see?
- There are four fingers, Arthur.
- No, no, no. Look at me.
What?
Y-You're focusing on the problem.
If you focus on the problem, you can't see the solution.
Never focus on the
problem.
Look at me!
How many do you see?
No, look beyond the fingers.
How many do you see?
Eight.
Eight. Eight. Yes! Yes!
Eight's a good answer. Yes.
*See what no one else sees.
See what everyone else chooses not to see...
out of fear and conformity and laziness.
See the whole world anew each day.
Ah, the truth is, you're well on the way.
If you didn't see something here...
besides a crazy, bitter old man...
you wouldn't have come in the first place.
What do you see when you look at me, Arthur?
You fixed my cup.
I'll see you around...
Patch.
As Miguelito pointed out, there may be a different motive for rushing the healthcare reform right now than seems obvious. What if one of the reasons healthcare reform is being pushed hard now is to keep 'us' from getting organized and having much of a voice in this debate?"
I think it is being 'rushed' to make sure it gets passed while the repubs are in disarray and because of their fear of repeating the Clinton debacle
At least that is the excuse.
AGain, I just want a foot in the door. A public option. But I must ponder this further.
GREAT POST
June 29, 2009 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forgive me, dickday, for piggybacking on your comment. I want others to know that Health Care For America Now leads a coalition of 1,000 groups demanding a public option and coverage for all Americans.
http://www.healthcareforamericanow.org
June 30, 2009 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well obviously that's not what I'm looking for in my post Rip. But that's because I think the public option is going to be a waste of time, energy, and money, and delays the inevitable.
June 30, 2009 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why do you say that the "majority of Americans" want a single payer system?
June 30, 2009 9:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
If anyone can light a fire under people about this Dolphin Girl, it's you...
June 29, 2009 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Stilli,
I appreciate the support but would also love to receive any input re:names of organizations that support single payer or people who have been leaders et al.;)
June 29, 2009 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I live a pretty sheltered life, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open...
June 29, 2009 10:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's an article written by Ralph Nader about single payer. It includes names of long-time single payer advocates and there's a singlepayeraction.org link with more info.
http://www.counterpunch.org/nader05112009.html
I'll keep an eye out for leaders that are not dissuaded by the naysayers of singlepayer.
June 29, 2009 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Synchronicity,
You wrote - "A majority of Americans want a Single Payer Healthcare System."
What's your source for that statement?
June 30, 2009 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
"the American public overwhelmingly favors a choice between getting insurance coverage either through the private market or a government run option. Indeed, 76 percent of respondents said it was either "extremely" or "quite" important to "give people a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/17/obama-boost-new-poll-show_n_217175.html
Does that prove the single-payer argument? Maybe, maybe not. But it's pretty compelling especially noting that the pollsters are NBC and WSJ, neither bastions of conservatism.
June 30, 2009 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, 76% is alot. But a public choice is much different from single payer.
And I would have responded yes too if asked that question. But the other answers are also telling. People are concerned about having to switch doctors, lower quality of care and most aren't on board if it costs a lot more than they are paying today.
I would also be in favor of a job that pays me 10 million a year, but I may not want to work as hard as that job would require. In theory it sounds good but when you understand the costs you have second thoughts.
Devil's always in the details
June 30, 2009 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's another site working for single payer: http://www.1payer.net/
June 30, 2009 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
This group is also known as Health & Justice. It was founded by an MD/JD, Dr Clark Newhall, in Salt Lake City. He's a true single-payer advocate. Donations to his group are tax deductible since its a 501(c)3 organization.
Also, Physicians for a National Health Program (the doctors who were arrested at Baucus' hearings belong to this group) is single-payer. Hope this helps.
June 30, 2009 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Synchronicity,
Bernie Sanders just sent me his newsletter.
If you haven't signed his petition to congress, for single payer,
here it is again. sorry if I repeat...
http://sanders.senate.gov/petitions/index.cfm?uid=7fd59f2e-88e1-477a-8eaf-762a5b050809
June 30, 2009 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/faith_in_public_life/2009/06/grassroots-pastors-call-on-swi.php
Not that I'm religious, but...
June 30, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Synchronicity,
One organization which is working to support the public option (and is headed by an M.D.) is Democracy for America. Since Mr. Obama kicked Howard Dean to the curb at the DNC in favor of the do nothing, Gov Kaine, Dean had returned to DFA, and is working to support many key issues for those of us who have never been embarrassed by being called liberals.
June 30, 2009 7:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The devil is in the details.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/help-committee-leak-details-likely-outline-of-public-option-andy-stern-pleased.php?ref=fpb
If you look at this it suggests ties between private sector localized rates and costing with the public option plan. This could diminish the savings being sought by this whole exercise.
A final plan that provides a public option but doesn't realize any savings and doesn't control costs is exactly the direction we must be wary of. It is the very one that would falsely placate public opinion while preserving the rip off.
June 30, 2009 7:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes,
Exactly why I want to focus on single payer. I agree that what is going on in WA right now is a fiasco and we the 'public' are getting jipped.
June 30, 2009 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know whether the push for passing healthcare legislation this session is designed to preclude organization on the part of single-payer/public-option advocates. There definitely needs to at minimum be some coordination between all the disparate groups. Physicians for a National Healthcare Program, Healthcare Now, Healthjustice, Boldprogressives, Dean's 'Democracy for America, and who knows how many others. I'm not sure why or how a synthesis of these different groups failed to coalesce under one banner. Howard Dean, would be a good choice, however his position in the Democratic Party would lend a partisan air to the movement, that would probably be better avoided.
June 30, 2009 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
p.s. At this point with all the forces of the insurance/healthcare sectors alligned against single payer, I think it might be more timely to organize a 'Throw the Bums out of Congress' movement to target those pols who actively campaigned against a public option first, and those pols who didn't actively support such an option secondly.
June 30, 2009 9:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It sounds like the liberals on here want to throw a "tea party" type movement against the currently proposed legislature. Good for you!! You should do it if you feel strongly about it.
Of course, many liberals on here denounced anyone who showed up to a tea party as being "radical", "unpatriotic" and "against Obama".
Oh well. I won't be hypocritical and condemn people for advocating single payer. I totally disagree with it but it's your right to fight for it.
June 30, 2009 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the 'teabaggers' were mostly denounced for their lack of research when they picked their moniker. :)
June 30, 2009 9:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was much more than that. People on here were going crazy that people would be protesting against our government. And now people are going nuts that Congress isn't going far enough with healthcare reform. And if you feel strongly - YOU SHOULD PROTEST!!! I am all for that. But I'm sure people here will say it's OK to protest for healthcare reform but it was still wrong to have a tea party against taxes and bailouts.
June 30, 2009 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Could you refer me via a link to where "people on here were going crazy that people would be protesting against our government". I must have missed something if what you say is true.
June 30, 2009 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/robert_reich/2009/04/a-short-citizens-guide-to-kook.php
The comments on the above link are just one example.
July 1, 2009 6:04 AM | Reply | Permalink