Mad As Hell Doctors and Physicians for a National Health Program hold “Sidewalk Summit for Improved Medicare for All” in response to the President’s health care summit and current reform proposals.
Portland, OR – The Mad As Hell Doctors, local physicians, nurses, and activists plan to take their message to the streets at Pioneer Square in downtown Portland on Thursday February 25 at 5:00PM in response to the President’s health care summit on the same day. They are disappointed with the President’s new health care proposal and the exclusion of the Single Payer health care model in Congressional debate.
In his State of the Union address, President Obama said, “But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Let me know. Let me know. I’m eager to see it.”
The planned sidewalk summit is aimed at bringing local physicians, nurses, and activists together to inform the public about Medicare for All, Single Payer. It is also a way to counteract what many believe will be a staged event at the White House summit earlier on Thursday.
Mike Huntington, a Corvallis Radiation Oncologist and member of Mad As Hell Doctors, was very disappointed with the President’s health care proposal posted online Monday. “The major deficits of the House and Senate bills still persist,” he said, noting the “dubious quality” of mandated health insurance and “ransom to the pharmaceutical industry” taxpayers would be forced to pay. “It doesn’t even mention a system to seriously reduce costs,” Huntington said.
“The president’s proposal is further evidence of the strangle-hold on Congress of insurance and pharmaceutical corporate greed. The president and Congress should be ashamed of thwarting the wishes of the vast majority of the American people, physicians and other health care providers,” said Bill Whitaker, a retired social worker and member of the Mad As Hell Doctors.
In September 2009, the Mad As Hell Doctors traveled from Portland, OR to Washington DC. They went to 46 venues in 30 towns and through 15 states, raising awareness for the need for Single Payer National Health Care.
Please participate in the WHITE RIBBON MARCH
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=349518434484&ref=mf
and sign Alan Grayson’s petition
http://salsa.mydccc.org/o/30019/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=17
and sign Dennis Kucinich’s petition
http://healthcare.kucinich.us/petition/
Also write postcards to Nancy Pelosi’s speaker office.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/bulletins?cause_id=275609
After almost 30 yrs as an independent insurance agent, I’ve come to the conclusion that we need Medicare for all, so that all are covered equitably. Life, Liberty & the pursuit of happiness: which one can you have w/o health? Therefore, health care is an implied human right, along w/these others. The so-called public option is a ruse by the Insurers, for they will castrate & marginalize it into nothing.
Only a single payor system will do; and since Medicare is well known, it’s harder for the regressives to lie about it. Let’s not forget that they can still sell Medicare supplements at a profit. Here’s the naked truth: we cannot afford to continue to prop up the Big Banks; the bloated War & Military Industries, AND Big Insurance, Big Pharma.. one or more has to take major cuts or go. It’s time for Insurance to do that! We must all reach out to kindred groups and individuals & demand M4All now before it’s too late: this is the last, best chance we’ll have in our life. If the loss of 3,000 lives on 9/11 was unacceptable, how can the loss of life of 44,000 yearly in the status quo be tolerated? We the People are MAD AS HELL & WONT PUT UP W/IT ANYMORE!!!