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<DIV> <BR><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial><FONT
color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>From: <A title=mailto:emergencylabor@aol.com
href="mailto:emergencylabor@aol.com">emergencylabor@aol.com</A><BR>Subj: Fwd: NO
TO A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN! <FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"
color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial><FONT color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial><BR></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN><IMG
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal
align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">NO TO A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN!</FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal
align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN></B> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">If ever there was a
time for the labor movement to act independently in the interest of its
members and the working class majority, it is now. The<SPAN>
</SPAN>Labor Fightback Network urges that a united labor movement demand
that the government be funded to end the shutdown while demanding at the
same time that the deeply flawed Affordable Care Act -- Obamacare -- be
replaced by a Medicare for All single-payer health care
system.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Our main concern at
the moment is the plight of federal employees, 825,000 of whom will be
furloughed immediately with no guarantee that their lost wages will be
paid. The shutdown will also curtail essential public services. This is
the result of Congress' failure to pass appropriations bills which means
that all non-essential workers must be laid off.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Moreover, what is
taking place now is a dress rehearsal for October 17 when politicians of
both major parties will be back at it debating the same issues involved in
raising the debt limit.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">There is an obvious
disconnect between leaders of the two parties and the public as a whole,
which by overwhelming majorities opposes the government
shutdown.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">We saw such a
disconnect over the issue of bombing Syria. The president, together with
the Democratic and Republican Party leaders, advocated such a strike --
meaning embroiling our country in yet another Middle Eastern war. Yet
80-90% of the people opposed such a move and war was averted, at least for
now.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">In this case, the
issue is Obamacare. We believe it is unraveling and none of the reforms
being advocated can save it. Its fundamental problem is that it was
written by the insurance and pharmaceutical companies who stand to profit
by the hundreds of billions of dollars if everyone required by law buys
its products under penalty of steep fines for failure to do
so.<SPAN> </SPAN><SPAN> </SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">But that does not
mean Obamacare should be defunded with nothing legislated to take its
place. Since we already have a universal health care system in the U.S.
for Americans at age 65 and over -- Medicare -- the replacement is
immediately at hand. Instead of qualifying at 65, make it available to
every resident from date of birth under an improved and expanded Medicare
system.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">At its recently held
convention in Los Angeles, the AFL-CIO unanimously reaffirmed its support
for such a single-payer system. But it is not enough to pass a
single-payer resolution. The urgent need now is to intervene in the
current health care debate and mobilize nationally to win the Medicare for
All alternative to Obamacare. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Funding for such a
system can come by utilizing the astronomical profits that would have gone
to the insurance companies, which will no longer be part of America's
health care system. If more money is needed, increase taxes on the rich
and/or slash the bloated military budget to ensure that every resident
enjoys quality and comprehensive health care as a matter of right.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Issued by the Labor
Fightback Network.</SPAN><FONT size=3> </FONT></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black"><FONT size=3>For more
information, please call 973-944-8975 or email
conference@laborfightback.org or write Labor Fightback Network, P.O. Box
187, Flanders, NJ<SPAN> </SPAN>07836 or visit our website at
laborfightback.org.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black"><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black">Donations to help fund the Labor
Fightback Network based on its program of solidarity and labor-community
unity are necessary for our work to continue and will be much appreciated.
Please make checks payable to Labor Fightback Network and mail to the
above P.O. Box or you can make a contribution online. Thanks!</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: black"></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=ecxMsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN><FONT
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN></SPAN> </P></SPAN></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT><BR>--
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