[Peace-discuss] Healthcare and Daughter Nadine
C. G. Estabrook
galliher at illinois.edu
Sun Aug 16 19:38:05 CDT 2009
Actually, Medicare was achieved in something like 'one fell swoop.' It's a
single-payer health care system that was passed by Congress in the late spring
of 1965 and signed into law by President Johnson on July 30 as amendments to
Social Security legislation. At the moment, it enrolls only Americans over 65.
Alex Cockburn remarks that Medicare was "driven through Congress by the most
consummately cunning and accomplished politician of the postwar era and maybe of
the twentieth century (unless you make the case for FDR), Lyndon Johnson, who
really did care about poverty, having seen a lot of it up close in Texas."
Maybe. If it weren't for the fact that Johnson killed a couple of million SE
Asians -- as well as a few friends of mine -- I might find it easier to praise
the political skills, if that's what they were, that accomplished this.
It's certainly the case that Medicare for all is what we should insist on now,
rather than the gimcrack system of protecting corporate profits that's being
called "Obamacare." --CGE
Jenifer Cartwright wrote:
> Allow me to repeat:
> "Yes, of course single payer (Medicare for all) would be best... but if
> there aren't the votes to pass that this time, we have to support the
> best bill that has a chance, and -- because there may not be enuff votes
> for any significant kind of reform (shudder), we need to swallow our
> pride and push hard for what realistically we can get."
>
> Are you KIDDING that the reforms you mentioned belowed were all achieved
> in one fell swoop?? Of course not. Most of them took decades and decades
> of work and laws passed in small increments (you've mention some final
> stages) but none of these went thru until there were enuff votes to pass
> them.
>
> Sorry, but I'm not willing to sit in my own ivory tower (where the
> livin' and health care are e-z) and refuse to accept reforms that would
> help many others until the US passes single payer. And since the votes
> for S P aren't there yet, let's take what we can realistically get
> now... and then the likelihood of single payer will be greater next time
> around, hopefully in the near future.
>
> A final Q: Would you throw away SCHIP or Medicaid or Medicare because
> there isn't single payer for everyone???
>
> DISGUSTING that latest talk is removal of public option altogether -- I
> tho't they had the votes for that at least... and if that's the case and
> they're compromising on that just to placate the naysayers, it's really
> pathetic and unacceptable. Let's keep pushing for that at least.
> --Jenifer
>
> --- On *Sun, 8/16/09, John W. /<jbw292002 at gmail.com>/* wrote:
>
>
> From: John W. <jbw292002 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] Healthcare and Daughter Nadine
> To: "unionyes" <unionyes at ameritech.net>
> Cc: "Jenifer Cartwright" <jencart13 at yahoo.com>, "Peace-discuss List"
> <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
> Date: Sunday, August 16, 2009, 5:13 AM
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 5:31 PM, unionyes <unionyes at ameritech.net
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=unionyes@ameritech.net>>
> wrote:
>
> I disagree Jenifer,
>
> This is EXACTLEY what the corporate interests want. That is, a
> compromise that doesn't solve the fundamental problem, which is
> THE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY !
>
> Did the Women's suffarage movement compromise on getting only a
> vote on some things at the local level ? NO !
>
> Did the Labor Movement betwen 1876 and the 1940's compromise on
> no Union and only a few changes in the workplace and pay with no
> representation ? NO !
>
> Did the Civil Rights Movement compromise on a removal of just
> some of the Jim Crow Laws ? NO !
>
> And we should NOT compromise on anything but REAL PUBLIC HEALTH
> CARE, ie. MEDICARE for ALL !
>
> Medicare for all needs to be the new civil rights movement of
> the 21st century, and hence we need to be in the streets,
> boycotting, sit down occupations, etc. whatever it takes.
>
> In regards to these congressmen and senators that won't vote for
> it, we need to make healthcare THE issue along with ending the wars.
>
> The message to these corporate whores in the U.S. Congress and
> Senate should be ; " you vote against REAL public healthcare (
> Medicare for ALL ) or vote to fund ANY aspect of te wars, you
> will receive NO votes from us and we will focus on making
> certain you are not re-elected, no matter who we have to vote
> for to make it happen.
>
> This is what needs to be done, otherwise if we fall for the lie
> of Obama Care and " compromise " on a watered down half ass
> policy that leaves the fundamental problem in tact ( The Health
> Insurance Industry ) we ALL lose !
>
> NO COMPROMISE !
>
> Let's get in the streets and turn up the heat !
>
> David J.
>
>
>
> Right behind you, Dave.
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Jenifer Cartwright
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jencart13@yahoo.com>
>
> *To:* peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> <http://us..mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net>
> ; bdyskant at hearthstead.net
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bdyskant@hearthstead.net>
>
> *Sent:* Saturday, August 15, 2009 3:48 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Peace-discuss] Healthcare and Daughter Nadine
>
> Hello AWARE Friends,
> We all know that -- without at least a public option and
> lotsa regulation of the Ins Cos, those w/o health ins,
> period, and those w/ health ins but also w/ pre-existing
> conditions could be in a precarious position if we don't get
> some kind of health care reform soon.
>
> Yes, of course single payer (Medicare for all) would be
> best... but if there aren't the votes to pass that this
> time, we have to support the best bill that has a chance,
> and -- because there may not be enuff votes for any
> significant kind of reform (shudder), we need to swallow our
> pride and push hard for what realistically we can get.
>
> There have been- and will continue to be lots of emails to
> Peace-discuss on this. Please make the phone calls, sign the
> petitions, and do whatever else you can to get the best
> possible healthcare reform NOW.
>
> And THANKS so much for writing, Barbara -- everyone on this
> list should read yr blogs -- Nadine has one as well -- for
> an inside look at yr situation... and then try to imagine
> what a future w/o health care reform could mean for Nadine
> and her family... or for them and their own loved ones.
> --Jenifer
>
> --- On *Sat, 8/15/09, bdyskant at hearthstead.net
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bdyskant@hearthstead.net>
> /<bdyskant at hearthstead.net
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bdyskant@hearthstead.net>>/*
> wrote:
>
>
> From: bdyskant at hearthstead.net
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bdyskant@hearthstead.net>
> <bdyskant at hearthstead.net
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=bdyskant@hearthstead.net>>
> Subject: [Peace-discuss] Healthcare and Daughter Nadine
> To: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
> <http://us.mc449.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net>
> Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009, 8:56 AM
>
> Hi,
>
> Barbara here, still AWARE in western NY State.
>
> Healthcare has gotten more personal since my 17-year-old
> daughter Nadine
> was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia last
> May. At best, she is
> facing a chemo program of approximately 2 years and,
> after about 5 years,
> a lifelong yearly monitoring for any kind of cancer..
>
> So far we have "health insurance" although my husband
> has to stay at his
> job to keep it, about 100 miles from Rochester, where
> Nadine and I are
> located during her treatment -- he misses being able to
> be with the
> family.. And we don't know what will happen 5, 10, 30
> years down the line,
> how she can maintain the care she needs, how everyone
> who needs care will
> (or won't) receive it.
>
> I know we have it "better" than many people -- still the
> whole issue
> touches me even more deeply now.
>
> However, we're all at risk -- everyone -- from having
> illness or injury at
> any time.
>
> I'm just writing this personally to urge us all on in
> fighting for
> single-payer healthcare for everyone -- we know it's
> what we need.
>
> What a nasty, cruel, profit-ridden system we've got, and
> what a heroic job
> we have ahead to lift us all out.
>
> Love and peace,
> Barbara
>
> PS -- For friends who want to follow our personal
> "journey" I'm keeping a
> journal at barbaranadinestory.blogspot.com
> <http://barbaranadinestory.blogspot.com/>. If you're in
> our area, give
> us a "shout".
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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