I feel that free single health care is a great idea, obviously there needs to be some kind of change in the country's health care system. Why not try something different for those who make an HONEST living!!!   PEACE!

It's amazing how many Americans do not know about HR676. While trying to educate others, I am always bombarded with the usual naysayers, who pretty much repeat, verbatim, what powerful insurance lobbyists want them to repeat about the "Canadians/Brits/French hate their system and come to the USA for health care" and "people die waiting for emergency surgery in Canada/England/France". I also get the assorted statements such as "it will never work", "I'm not paying for other people to have health care when I don't have it/just got it/worked hard for mine", "Medicare? Seniors hate medicare, why would I want that?".
So much negative information is out there. That's what the insurance lobbyists pay for, and unfortunately, get their money's worth. But, I will not be part of the problem! Apathy is not our friend! No matter how frustrated I get trying to explain the ins and outs of a single payer health care system, I continue to do it. No matter how many times I'm told I'm living in a dream world, I'm crazy, it will never work...I keep on TRYING.
Do your part as often as you can. This will be a change of massive and historic proportions...a change for the BETTER! And, if I'm living in a "dream world" as people keep telling me, I don't want to live there alone! 
Blog on every site you can, post on message boards, tell your friends, neighbors, people you talk to waiting in line at the store or post office.  If you are lucky enough to have health insurance, or the money to pay to go to a doctor...talk to the people waiting to see the doctor about it. Ask your doctor what he/she thinks about it, ask the nurses and office staff. Get people thinking. They may disagree with you at first because it's just a knee-jerk reaction. But they'll go home and think about it. They'll know about HR676, and maybe something will click in their minds and they'll realize "what a great idea!"  
Plant the seeds of HR676 everywhere you go.

20 lobbyists have been meeting with Senator Kennedy behind closed doors to draft health reform policy. They represent the same old special interests big business. What happened to transparency and no lobbyists so early in the new administration?These specal interest groups represent Big Parm, the Insurance Industry, AARP, the Chamber of Commerce, the Round Table and more.
The process must include in the National Health Care debate the advocacy organizations that speak for the PEOPLE. That includes, the National Nurses Organization, Physcicians for a Ntional Health Program, Health ccare-now, and certainly the coalitiion of almost 500 unions in support of H.R.676.
It is clear that we have learned nothing from the 1993 attempts at health care reform that failed miserably, due in large part to its secrecy.
Senator Kennedy's legacy should be an improved and expanded MEDICARE FOR ALL.
What should take place since the process is not open and tranparent is to call for an INDEPENDENT HEALTH REFORM COMMISSION comprised of top economists and health policy wonks and representative voice from the PEOPLE.This would remove the specilal interests.

Pearl, I will write a messaage to you also, but just wanted to leave a comment (as a concerned physician..  and memberof Physicians for a National Health Plan). This is a very good question. I have forwarded it to Timothy Foley the lead Health Care blogger.

Healthcare in Every Pot, Universal Healthcare Now   :)
These Actions on Change.org, the url   :)

Healthcare in Every Pot   :)

http://healthcare.change.org/actions/view/healthcare_in_every_pot

Supporters of single payer are currently pushing for HB09-1273 in Colorado.  This bill would allow our state to set up a Colorado guaranteed Health Care Authority, a non-governmental group, to establish the financial and medical imperatives necessary for a single payer system.  Following that successful completion in the next two years, we would then proceed to have passed in the Legislature and them set in motion a health care system that is publicly funded and privately delivered.  Besides the work in our state, we are hoping that some of the health care funds will help us to blaze the trail and show that a single payer system will work.   

I'm not sure if this guy is on change.org or if you all have heard about him, but I want to pass along this link to this guy's (Mike Cooke) myspace page. He is going on a HUNGER STRIKE TO PASS HR676. He says he knows it may even result in his death! Please read his page and become a friend to support him. Let your local newspapers/TV stations know about this, we may be able to get some much needed attention to this issue. Here is the link:
http://www.myspace.com/hungerstrike1

I support a good single payer plan that covers all aspects, mental, vision, medical, poditry, and prescriptions, with no co-pays or share of costs on prescriptions, and on vision it should not matter on what type of frames and types of lenses with what enhancements to them, they should be covered completely at no cost.  And with poditry we need full coverage on orthotics and specialized shoes for diabetic patients.

Sign this petition to demand congress and the president enact single payer universal health care. Also sign these other petitions. Put this message on your blog. Tell your friends.


http://www.change.org/actions/view/i_demand_congress_and_the_president_enact_single_payer_universal_health_care

http://www.change.org/actions/view/i_demand_congress_and_the_president_enact_the_employee_free_choice_act

http://www.change.org/actions/view/i_demand_that_the_congress_and_the_president_enact_a_10_an_hour_minimum_wage_into_law

http://www.change.org/actions/view/i_demand_that_norm_coleman_concede_the_senate_race

http://www.change.org/actions/view/i_demand_that_the_congress_and_the_president_enact_the_womens_freedom_of_choice_act_into_law

I agree with the above many people only know what they hear on the 6 o'clock news. You must wake up and realize the mass media is controlled by the same money hungry greedy corporations that do not want us to have universal health care. The insurance companies are in control of our lives today. They say who gets well and who dies while reaping billions every year. I say any system that does not do away with the insurance companies does not work for me....

PS, We could pay for universal health care for all free. If we could end the tyranny called the war on drugs. If you feel putting more honest law respecting Americans in jail is a good ideal you need to get out more...

Cherokee Fred Jesus

Americans will never respect or conform to a law born of racism, perpetuated by greed and supported by lies. As well they should not....CFJ

In 2008, there were over 800,000 MD's in the US. According to the most recent polls and stories, less than 20,000 support the single payer system (this number included medical students)

rational tort reform, ridiculous malpractice insurance, class action lawsuits....  these have MUCH more impact on our medical costs than the leeches on the system...

There is a Parasite in our Land that is killing 20,000 people a year.  It is the greedy, excessive, profit driven Health Insurance System and the Pharmaceutical Companies of our land.  We need to rid out land of these greedy profit only driven Parasites.  We need “Single Payer” Health Care Reform NOW!  Where are our Congressmen and Senators who should be looking seriously at the rest of the worlds government driven and option Health Care System for all.  Time for our Congressmen and Senators to go to these countries who lead us in their foresight and wisdom and see what parts of their systems works best and bring them all together in this country.  I do not believe for a second that these systems are broken and don’t work for the “people” they are for.  On the other hand I believe they are living examples of the “right way” to bring true Health Car Reform to the USA.  Those who sit and tell lies about how all these foreign Health Care Systems would not work in this country are “dead” wrong.  Look at the infant mortality rate and the quality of care.  Those other countries do it better and cheaper than we do.  We in fact have a current system that cost twice as much and we don’t get near the quality of care for our dollar while excluding thousands of citizens of our country.  This would not be “too big of a change” in fact it would be much simpler answer like having the ability for anyone to buy into Medicare  All of our citizens should have the right and access to quality health care and preventative medicine.  This should be done in a Non-profit manner and exclude the greed and profiteering.  This is the Central Issue of Our Time. 

We currently have a Heath Insurance System run by people who’s first priority is to deny claims, out of control bean counters, obscenely compensated executives, and out of control drug prices.  What this really is all about should be a Heath Care System with at the very least a “Public Option” if not a “Single Payer System” like every other Industrialized Country in the World which would put all our USA businesses on an even keel competitively with the rest of the World.  Right now we are at a Competitive Disadvantage because our Government has failed to Step Up!

My first option should be "Single Payer" and I am really upset that the people representing this point of view don’t even have a place at the table in all the discussions.  In several instances people who represent this point of view have been arrested at committee meetings when they attended in the gallery and showed signs protesting their exclusion.  Not having a seat at the table for people who represent the "Single Payer" view point is wrong.  All points of view should be seated at the table to bring about the best Heath Care Reform possible.  Many of these people are our doctors and nurses.  They have been shut out of a place at the table and this is not the "Change" I can believe in.  . “Single Payer” would be the best, most economical, most complete solution and would get the greed, profit mongers, bait and switch, lying corporations out from between us and our doctors.  These people have proved time and again they can NOT be trusted to do anything but line their own pockets and the expense of good Health Care.  A “Single Payer” Health Plan similar to Medicare for all of us would be the best and cheapest solution in the long run.  How many of you in Congress have gone to Canada, France, or other major countries that have up and running “Single Payer” systems and really heard from people there from all sides how well it’s working?  I also completely reject the thought that “Single Payer” would be too disruptive as stated by President Obama and others.  “Single Payer” would be one of the greatest things to bring this country together, put our business on and even keel with the rest of the World, save money, and deliver quality health car for ALL and get these vultures out from between me and my doctor.

As the second option if "Single Payer" is not achievable, I don’t know how it could be being they are not even included in the discussions, should be a "Public Option".  70%  plus of the American public are behind and support this position and want some strong “Public Option” across the board.  90% of all Democrats polled want the “Public Option.  Lacking this Health Care Reform would be SHAM.   We should not compromise on this position one bit!  This alternative proposal of a “Co-Op Option” is a scam and nothing more than a way to derail real Health Care Reform.  This would not bring those people who are currently without Health Care Insurance under this bogus “Co-Op Option”.  If the Democratic Party can’t deliver at least the “Public Option” with 60 votes now in the Senate I believe we will pay a heavy price at the ballot box.  We will prove, even with all the majority we have in both Senate and the House, we still can’t get this done and govern like the American public voted for..  I trust my government more than I trust the For Profit Motivated Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Industry who are completely profit driven with little or no regard about delivering quality health care to anyone.  They are more about denying health care to as many as possible to drive up the bottom-line for all the executive obscene bonus and pay.  They are the ones between me and my doctor that scare me, not the government.  I have less fear about someone in the government between me and my doctor that the current profit driven creed of the Health Insurance and Pharmacy companies.  A Medicare type Public Option is the very least we will accept.  Now is time to get on board with President Obama’s ideas and plans for Health Care Reform.  Not get weak knee and wimpy spine and cave to any less than “Single Payer” or a robust “Public Option”.  Lacking at least a robust “Public Options” in my opinion we have NOTHING resembling Heath Car Reform!  You should have started out pushing hard for “Single Payer” and then if you had to negotiated back to the “Public Option”.  But no you started out dealing from a weakened point.

No "Single Payer" or a strong uncompromised "Public Option" in the Bill to be presented you have NOTHING!  If you don’t support this position you will not have our vote and we will work to see that you are NOT re-elected.  Time to “Get On Board”.  “This is the most important issue of our time.”  It’s time to get this done.  Put our businesses on an even keel with the rest of the Industrialized World who have good Public Health Care for their citizens.  It’s time to take complete control of this issue and get it out of the hands of the For Profit Greedy Corporations.  Heath Care should be “The Right of all People” on a equal basis and at an affordable rate driven by non-profit positions.

Under the Republicans for the last eight years we found ways to go around the World killing people and spending Trillions, none of which helped anybody in this country.  Rather it cost American lives on a trumped up War.  It’s time to spend whatever it takes on the American people and Health Care Reform!

I would rather have my government between me and my doctor than the way it is now with greedy profit drive health care insurance companies between my and my doctor.  Medicare, Medicaid, S-Chip and Veterans Health Benefits work fine thank you very much.  As does Social Security and other government programs that work for the better situations of all of us.  If you think this is Socialism then let’s see YOU not collect Social Security Check, not have anything to do with Medicare, Medicaid, S-Chip, or Veterans Benefits. 

We just need to monitor all these government systems better and take the people who are cheating these systems and bring them to justice.

How to pay for this is to first cancel the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy..  Second return the tax levels back to the Reagan Era would be a good step in the right direction.  Also putting a heavy tax on Executive Pay and Bonus (50%-75% tax on anything over $2-$3 million dollars per year combined packages) would help get things back towards some sanity and fairness.  Executive Pay should be tied directly to some percentage of what the average worker makes to get things in line with what is going on in the rest of the world.  This would also make our companies more competitive with the world.  I’m truly tired of seeing workers giving up or asked to give up concessions when executives keep draining company profits even when they are dragging companies into the pit.  Auto workers have gotten stiffed, Wall Street has run amok, Banking has run the economy into the ground by doing high risk dealing they had no business getting involved in while the regular workers take it the shorts and the executives keep scooping up obscene salaries and bonuses.

The Democrats need to get a stiff back bone and drive home what the agenda is of our President and not be scared off by the tactics of the Republican scare machine and the party of NO, lies and deception and who have no new ideas.

Harry Reid needs to quit “caving in” at the slightest push from the Republicans.  We Democrats now hold the power after 8 years of one of the darkest, most incompetent, and war mongering administration in history.  If the Republicans want to join in and have value added discussion, ideas and debate fine.  If not forget them.  If the Republicans want to Filibuster let them.  Bring out the cots, pizza, portable restrooms and all the rest and let them talk into next year and show them up for what they are “Obstructionist”.  Don’t give and inch to these people on the most important issue of our time Health Care Reform with a “Public Option”.  Health Care Reform NOW!

Gerry Brott

P.S. --- We need a Special Prosecutor NOW for all this torture business.  Torture is a WAR CRIME and those who are responsible need to be brought to JUSTICE! Sooner Not Later!

As Coordnator of the MA Campaign for a U.S. Dept. of Peace, I am convinced that a single payer health care plan will represent one of the important conditions for peace in the U.S, and will urge support of Rep. Conyers' Bill, HR 676!