Single-Payer Universal Healthcare - Act Now!

AbookamongstthemanyAbookamongstthemany Posts: 8,209
edited April 2008 in A Moving Train
I've noticed many of you support a single-payer based universal healthcare system. Even if the person you're supporting for president's plan doesn't include a single-payer plan...you can still act, write your representatives, sign/start petitions to Congress, share information with others and join the movement so we can apply pressure to our elected representatives, letting our voices be heard. **This thread isn't really about debating universal healthcare (we have those threads all throughout this board) but rather, a place for those of us who are interested in learning more about the details of the plan or those of us who agree with single payer to take action. That said, I'm not saying you shouldn't voice your opinion but just that I'm not going to go 20 pages arguing about it only to end up in the same place we started. **


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Health_Insurance_Act

http://cthealth.server101.com/the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states.htm

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0813-03.htm

HR 676
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR676:



Sign the petition:
http://www.healthcare-now.org/petition.php

If you want to support HR 676 and your representatives aren't on this list then contact them and let your voice be heard.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00676:@@@P

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • El_KabongEl_Kabong Posts: 4,141
    now THAT'S a health plan!!!!
    standin above the crowd
    he had a voice that was strong and loud and
    i swallowed his facade cos i'm so
    eager to identify with
    someone above the crowd
    someone who seemed to feel the same
    someone prepared to lead the way
  • godpt3godpt3 Posts: 1,020
    "If all those sweet, young things were laid end to end, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised."
    —Dorothy Parker

    http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6902/conspiracytheoriesxt6qt8.jpg
  • unsungunsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    Is there a place to vote for NOT having universal health care?
  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    unsung wrote:
    Is there a place to vote for NOT having universal health care?
    Yeah, where do I sign up for hoping to god that i don't get sick or hurt so i dont' go bankrupt and force my family to spend their savings on me getting better. Where's the sheet for that?
  • My3rdEyeMy3rdEye Posts: 927
    "...to provide all individuals residing in the United States and in U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, and mental health services."

    The quote above is from HR676.

    How exactly will this be free?
  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    My3rdEye wrote:
    "...to provide all individuals residing in the United States and in U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, and mental health services."

    The quote above is from HR676.

    How exactly will this be free?
    literally trillions of tax dollars are handed out to corporations...we could pay for this health care plan, as opposed to giving Lockead their what, 10th or 12th billion dollar contract to develep new weaponry that may or may not work,we could pay for his plan. a new idea for sure, spending money to save lives as opposed to taking them, but one that could work,
  • My3rdEyeMy3rdEye Posts: 927
    Commy wrote:
    literally trillions of tax dollars are handed out to corporations...we could pay for this health care plan, as opposed to giving Lockead their what, 10th or 12th billion dollar contract to develep new weaponry that may or may not work,we could pay for his plan. a new idea for sure, spending money to save lives as opposed to taking them, but one that could work,

    I understand that and I am not saying that I am totally against the proposed plan. But, it should not be called "free health care". There is already an item in my paycheck for money I put into medicare. This number will surely go up because as you stated we spend other tax dollars developing weapons and all that, which is not going to stop, so the additional money will have to come from somewhere.

    I don't care who gets elected. From the group we have left none of them are going to cut military spending enough to pay for a national health care plan without having to raise taxes.
  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    My3rdEye wrote:
    From the group we have left none of them are going to cut military spending enough to pay for a national health care plan without having to raise taxes.


    Good point. But its somethign we should be fighting for still. With any president. When they say they can't adfford it we can call bullshit...can aways call bullshit when the gov't says it can't afford something, they hand out billions.
  • unsungunsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    Commy wrote:
    Yeah, where do I sign up for hoping to god that i don't get sick or hurt so i dont' go bankrupt and force my family to spend their savings on me getting better. Where's the sheet for that?


    I have health insurance.
  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    unsung wrote:
    I have health insurance.
    I don't.
  • unsungunsung I stopped by on March 7 2024. First time in many years, had to update payment info. Hope all is well. Politicians suck. Bye. Posts: 9,487
    There was more to my message, but for some reason it was cut off.

    I was trying to say that I don't believe it allowing the government to have control over our health. They are going to make you see their doctors, you don't get to choose your own. I just don't think they are going to go that extra yard to fix a problem. Those VA hospitals are butcher shops and I don't see this being any different.
  • My3rdEyeMy3rdEye Posts: 927
    Commy wrote:
    Good point. But its somethign we should be fighting for still. With any president. When they say they can't adfford it we can call bullshit...can aways call bullshit when the gov't says it can't afford something, they hand out billions.

    We certainly can call bullshit.

    This is my biggest problem with Hillary right now. She's out on the campaign trail piping bullshit about national healthcare but she's certainly not going to cut military spending or do anything to hurt corporations to fund it. Universal health care, without extreme government spending reform first, would break this country.

    Obama's idea of providing healthcare for the 50 million (I think that was number) without any coverage is a much more realistic start and makes the most sense. Get the help to the people that need it now. He is full of shit about withdrawing the troops though.

    So, the original idea in this post to write your reps. is a great idea. Tell them to stop spending our money on bullshit and pay down the debt. Let's get this thing to a point where we can afford programs similar to this one.

    How much do we spend a year on exploring space? Cut that shit. It's a gigantic waste of money and provides no benefit to humanity. Just my opinion of course.
  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    My3rdEye wrote:
    We certainly can call bullshit.

    This is my biggest problem with Hillary right now. She's out on the campaign trail piping bullshit about national healthcare but she's certainly not going to cut military spending or do anything to hurt corporations to fund it. Universal health care, without extreme government spending reform first, would break this country.

    Obama's idea of providing healthcare for the 50 million (I think that was number) without any coverage is a much more realistic start and makes the most sense. Get the help to the people that need it now. He is full of shit about withdrawing the troops though.

    So, the original idea in this post to write your reps. is a great idea. Tell them to stop spending our money on bullshit and pay down the debt. Let's get this thing to a point where we can afford programs similar to this one.

    How much do we spend a year on exploring space? Cut that shit. It's a gigantic waste of money and provides no benefit to humanity. Just my opinion of course.

    fuck I don't care about soil samples from mars. That's some expensive dirt.

    If there is a movement to ask our leaders to cut military spending I am all for it. They could pay for any project they wanted too if they took some out of the defense budget. ANd that should be obvious to Americans.
  • My3rdEyeMy3rdEye Posts: 927
    Commy wrote:
    fuck I don't care about soil samples from mars. That's some expensive dirt.

    If there is a movement to ask our leaders to cut military spending I am all for it. They could pay for any project they wanted too if they took some out of the defense budget. ANd that should be obvious to Americans.

    2006 NASA Budget http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/budget/fy2006-nasa/index.html

    This is seperate from what the DOD spends for intergalactic warfare :)

    I think we can find a few bucks to cut form these systems. No doubt the money is out there.
  • fanch75fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/94-free-healthcare/

    "Stuff White People Like"

    #94 Free Healthcare
    April 4, 2008 by clander

    In spite of having access to the best health insurance and fanciest hospitals, white people are passionate about the idea of socialized medicine. So much so that they have memorized statistics and examples of how for-profit medicine has destroyed the United States.

    But before you can exploit this information for personal gain, it’s important that you understand why white people are so in love with free health care.

    The first and most obvious reason is “they have it Europe.” White people love all things European, this especially true of things that are unavailable in the United States (Rare Beers, Absinthe, legal marijuana, prostitution, soccer). The fact that it’s available in Canada isn’t really that impressive, but it does contribute to their willingness to threaten to move there.

    These desires were only heightened in 2007 when Michael Moore released “Sicko,” a documentary that contrasts the health care industry in the United States with that of Canada, France and Cuba. As a general rule of thumb, white people are always extra passionate about issues that have been the subject of a Moore documentary. As a test, ask them about 9/11, Gun Control, or Health Care and then say “where did you get that information?” You will not be surprised at the results.

    But the secret reason why all white people love socialized medicine is that they all love the idea of receiving health care without having a full-time job. This would allow them to work as a freelance designer/consultant/copywriter/photographer/blogger, open their own bookstore, stay at home with their kids, or be a part of an Internet start-up without having to worry about a benefits package. Though many of them would never follow this path, they appreciate having the option.

    If you need to impress a white person, merely mention how you got hurt on a recent trip Canada/England/Sweden and though you were a foreigner you received excellent and free health care. They will be very impressed and likely tell you about how powerful drug and health care lobbies are destroying everything.

    Though their passion for national health care runs deep, it is important to remember that white people are most in favor of it when they are healthy. They love the idea of everyone have equal access to the resources that will keep them alive, that is until they have to wait in line for an MRI.

    This is very similar to the way that white people express their support for public schools when they don’t have children.
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • I guess "my body, my choice" is not really relevant here, huh? Regardless, I'm going to pass on this petition.
  • OutOfBreathOutOfBreath Posts: 1,804
    I guess "my body, my choice" is not really relevant here, huh?
    Sure it is. People choose to get ill, they should pay for it themselves... ;)

    Peace
    Dan
    "YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death

    "Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
  • Sure it is. People choose to get ill, they should pay for it themselves... ;)

    Peace
    Dan

    Some people do effectively "choose" to get ill. Many, however, don't. That's not really what I was angling at, however. I just find it ironic that many support UHC systems wherein the government would have de facto control of people's medical information and choices. Yet at the same time they reject government control of certain specific medical choices, pretending all the while that those beliefs are based on deep principles.
  • lazymoon13lazymoon13 Posts: 838
    Commy wrote:
    I don't.

    why is that unsungs problem? I had a job for 8 years that provided little or no health care. you know what I did? found a different job. I didnt ask you to pay for healthcare.
  • OutOfBreathOutOfBreath Posts: 1,804
    Some people do effectively "choose" to get ill. Many, however, don't. That's not really what I was angling at, however. I just find it ironic that many support UHC systems wherein the government would have de facto control of people's medical information and choices. Yet at the same time they reject government control of certain specific medical choices, pretending all the while that those beliefs are based on deep principles.
    UHC does not mean the government have de facto control over medical info. It just means the doctors etc are paid by public funds. And the government sholdn't interfere with the medical process just as little as the insurance company should. So there isn't necessarily any inherent conflict in that.

    Peace
    Dan
    "YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death

    "Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    UHC does not mean the government have de facto control over medical info. It just means the doctors etc are paid by public funds. And the government sholdn't interfere with the medical process just as little as the insurance company should. So there isn't necessarily any inherent conflict in that.

    Peace
    Dan


    It's pretty naive to think that UHC isn't giving the government a lot more control over individuals' healthcare. The government isn't going to sit back and let you do whatever you want to medically and just keep writing checks for it.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • OutOfBreathOutOfBreath Posts: 1,804
    know1 wrote:
    It's pretty naive to think that UHC isn't giving the government a lot more control over individuals' healthcare. The government isn't going to sit back and let you do whatever you want to medically and just keep writing checks for it.
    Some oversight in the name of cost and keeping budgets must be there of course, as in any business by any actors. That doesn't mean they control the individual's healthcare. The government provides the framework, advised by the medical community, and the doctors and hospitals navigate within it. I dont see the problem, since you people currently let your insurance companies control your health-care, from what I hear.

    Peace
    Dan
    "YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death

    "Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Some oversight in the name of cost and keeping budgets must be there of course, as in any business by any actors. That doesn't mean they control the individual's healthcare. The government provides the framework, advised by the medical community, and the doctors and hospitals navigate within it. I dont see the problem, since you people currently let your insurance companies control your health-care, from what I hear.

    Peace
    Dan

    I think it means that government will control the individual's healthcare.

    I do agree with your comparison to the way the insurance companies now have control, but I am not a believer in health insurance either. I think it's the biggest problem with healthcare by far.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • know1 wrote:
    but I am not a believer in health insurance either.

    Does that mean you'd rather individuals cover their own costs directly?

    That gets a bit pricey, right?
    If I was to smile and I held out my hand
    If I opened it now would you not understand?
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    Does that mean you'd rather individuals cover their own costs directly?

    That gets a bit pricey, right?

    Not really. I do believe in catastrophic insurance, but not health insurance for most of the normal things that we use it for. What if you have insurance on your car for every oil, tire and air filter change. Or even for gas?

    Let's face it, we're paying tons of money so that the health insurance companies can make profits. In addition, we basically have no idea what we're paying for any of our health care. The consumer has been taken completely out of the equation.

    Let's face it, we're all still paying for the healthcare we currently receive IN ADDITION TO the money we're paying to the health insurance industry. It only stands to reason it would be cheaper if we cut out the middle man.
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
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