Why in the world are we allowing the perpetrators of the health care crisis to set the terms of the debate on how to clean up their mess?

Join nurses, doctors, and health care activists Tuesday for a day of calls in Congress and a protest against the insurers as we convey a different message.

1- A national call-in day to Congress. Remind the legislators that we need more care, not more private insurance. Urge them to make sure single payer/Medicare for all is a central part of the health care debate. Ask them to support HR 676, the bill to expand and upgrade Medicare to cover everyone. Find information for your US Representative and Senators at www.votesmart.org.

You can also send them your insurance bill or your insurers' letter of denial for needed care to help them recall why we need to get the insurance companies out of the way. For information on how to fax your insurance bills, sample fax cover sheets, and sample telephone scripts, please visit http://www.healthcare-now.org/campaigns/call/  

2- If you're anywhere near Washington Tuesday come join us for a protest outside a national conference of AHIP, America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry's lobbying arm and chief voice in the media. 11:00 a.m., Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C., 1150 22nd Street, N.W. 

3- You can also contact the new HHS Secretary-designate, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.  In addition to congratulating her on her nomination, let her know you support for HR 676 and single-payer national health care.  The office of HHS can be reached toll free at 1-877-696-6775.

Anyone who follows the national healthcare discourse might well conclude that the foremost task is to draft a plan that appeals to the insurance industry, along with the drug companies, and the other corporate lobbyists.

You might almost conclude that they own the building. Or maybe they're just paying the rent.

As the Washington Post reported Sunday, in data compiled by the consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog: 

Health insurers and drug makers have showered members of the 111th Congress with millions in campaign contributions over the last four years, with a special focus on leaders who will play major roles in shaping health-care legislation....

The health-care sector has long ranked with financial services and energy interests as one of the most powerful political forces in Washington, and it spent nearly $1 billion on lobbying in the past two years alone.

The third highest beneficiary in the Senate is Sen. Max Baucus, who as head of the Finance Committee has made himself a kingmaker in the healthcare discussions.

The same Max Baucus who tells every audience that will listen that single payer is off the table and we need a "uniquely American solution."

Unfortunately, we already have a uniquely American solution, it's called all the healthcare you can afford, and it's the reason why the U.S., ranks last among 19 leading industrial nations in preventable deaths even though we spend twice as much as anyone else.

To the Post, a Baucus aide denied that all that money influences his decisions.  "Health-care reform is the same. His only goal is to make sure that every American has access to quality, affordable health care,"  Baucus spokesman Ty Matsdorf said.

But, all the evidence points the other way. Insurance based reform is about the worst way to achieve that goal.

Single payer, by contrast, would take control of our health out of the hands of the insurance industry, guarantee choice of provider, rein-in the ever climbing costs of premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, and ensure one standard of quality care for all. The very approach favored by more than 60 percent of Americans in poll after poll.

If the insurers and the money are in the way, it will be up to all of us to raise our voices loud enough for them to hear:

Join us on Tuesday, March 10.