« Energy and Immigration? Smoke and Mirrors | Kali Star's Blog | Costs Won't Come Down While Drug Company Profits Are Considered Wealth »
Uninsured Should Camp in Front of Congress
They are going home for August.
The uninsured should be camping in front of Congress as they leave. Build a tent city of the sick and those who have lost insurance. People with stories of how they couldn't afford tests that would have given them a chance to survive a serious illness.
Dare the police tear down that camp. Make the Republicans deal with Americans of all situations. Let all these cowards stand up or sit down. Put bodies, faces, and souls on the line. Bring the children.
What are we waiting for? The internet has distracted us from the real moves that would accomplish the goal. Part of the reason is that sick people don't fight back. Who can blame them? But someone needs to organize this. Now. As the congress with their golden insurance plans head out. Dare these bastards to not vote for a decent plan that works immediately. Dare them. Dare yourself to do more than blogging.
The uninsured should be camping in front of Congress as they leave. Build a tent city of the sick and those who have lost insurance. People with stories of how they couldn't afford tests that would have given them a chance to survive a serious illness.
Dare the police tear down that camp. Make the Republicans deal with Americans of all situations. Let all these cowards stand up or sit down. Put bodies, faces, and souls on the line. Bring the children.
What are we waiting for? The internet has distracted us from the real moves that would accomplish the goal. Part of the reason is that sick people don't fight back. Who can blame them? But someone needs to organize this. Now. As the congress with their golden insurance plans head out. Dare these bastards to not vote for a decent plan that works immediately. Dare them. Dare yourself to do more than blogging.
Advertisement
But it's not just about the uninsured. It's about our entire health care system that is the most expensive thus likely pays the most profits in the world, yet ranks 37th in the world in terms of the level of care.
'Everyone' should be camped out in DC demonstrating against our poorly administered, way too expensive health care system.
As the president said the health care system we should be afraid of and concerned about is the status quo.
Profiteers of the health care industry, comfortably have plenty of money to lobby congress. It will take large numbers of americans demanding what I believe should be a single payer system, to combat the profit makers of the health care industry. Why would they surrender their money maker when they don't have to?
It's all on us.
July 26, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
While I agree with you that everyone should be involved, I think a tent city of mostly sick and uninsured would be more of a moral pressure on politicians. What insured people can do is become activists in finding, organizing, and transporting willing sick people to Washington. With sick people, there would be no way that the news could ignore the action.
Let's say that there are a couple of hundred sick people without insurance who would be willing, but need encouragement and organization to make it happen.
This is what I'm thinking.
July 26, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
What Synch said!
But also, they should stay and work on the issue - if the bill needs improvement (not just modifications!) this is the time! Yet, the truth is if their constituents en masse were demanding they stay - they would. But alas, this hasn't been done - which is a victory for those who receive not only great health care insurance benefits, but also massive donations from the private insurance/health services and products industries.
Unfortunately, unlike our Congress, illness and suffering do not take a holiday!
Thanks for post. Rec'd.
July 26, 2009 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think people should finally decide on a message and an objective and just focus on it.
Some people are talking about this being for uninsured. If that is so - design a system that takes care of the uninsured, but not at the expense of everyone else.
Other people are talking about this being a general crisis of health care. But there is a difference between the DELIVERY and INSURANCE, and our current "reform" is focused on insurance, as Obama himself said in last week's news conference.
Perhaps that's the reason it's all over the place. Because the Democrats have no idea what they are REALLY trying to do.
I told CVille Dem yesterday what I think it is, but she (or he) didn't like my thought one bit.
July 26, 2009 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
No you didn't. I asked you for your solution and you never answered.
That is all you do, over and over again; nit-pick at what others say, and jump on it if anyone says something impolitic so you can pronounce them as having the wrong motivation, or just plain wrong. How easy it is to just kvetch!
OK, Lalo, once more:
How would you solve these problems? What is your answer. We know you are a champion at criticism, and complaining; but what is the right way to do things according to you? That is what you have never said.
July 26, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we're talking about this already, aren't we?
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/lalo35adm/2009/07/blue-pill-for-you-red-pill-for.php#comment-3539554
July 26, 2009 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. I'm happy to keep it in one place, now that you're finally piping up with your solutions. see you over at blue pill...
July 26, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
We should organize a petition to suspend the congressional health benefits till the American people get a bill with no donut holes and not watered down to be ineffective and in favor of the corps. Yes , we should help the uninsured to camp out in front of the Congress!
Health care lobbyists are pouring $1.4 million dollars a DAY into the congressional coffers---Baucus has recieved 1.3 million in the last two years from the health industry! insurance Co's profits are up 428% since 2000!
Call the fools...tell them all -both sides of the aisle---that it will look like 1992 in 2010...1.800.828.0498...call them locally, too!
July 26, 2009 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't need to dare myself to do more than blogging. I helped organize a healthcare townhall at my local library today. I spent the afternoon yesterday canvassing. I'll be going to several events this week to pressure our crappy Republican congresswoman and the Blue Dog Lipinski (IL-03) to the do the right thing.
If you want to protest or organize an event to get your local rep or senators to get on board or get out with all due respect going to DC in August when they're at home isn't the way to do it. Google them, find out their schedule, follow them around, show up at their fundraisers. If you can't get in then mount your protest outside. There's strength in numbers, and we have the numbers. Organize as many people as you can. All that campaign cash won't matter if they realize we're serious and will vote them out of office.
July 26, 2009 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Spot on. There are all kinds of events getting organized and going down. MoveOn has several different issues depending on the state, but health care is everywhere. Local Democratic groups are doing the same. And there is also phone banking at OFA.
As the bumper sticker says:
Get Involved! The world is run by those who show up.
Personally, this is not just the uninsured or the underinsured or the costs. It's about us having the lousy health care system that we got from 60 + years of business and market forces being allowed to keep making profits off an essential service that can't work the way business does. It's about colossal failure that has been deadly.
July 27, 2009 2:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Certainly important and proactive. My point is about emotion that for forces a moral choice. The country seems addicted to personal stories and news headlines. The arguments over health insurance are not played out with facts for most. What I suggest is the radical and symbolic move almost like the monks who committed suicide by fire in Vietnam.
July 27, 2009 8:13 AM | Reply | Permalink