Evolution of Consciousness

Single Payer Now!

Healthcare in America is headed for reform, but the quality of it will depend on you.

Americans currently pay the most for their healthcare, by far, but receive inferior coverage and service. Why? Because the profit motive sits between us and our providers. The medical ethos in this country has become “first, maximize thy profit.” Corporate greed must be removed from our healthcare, and adopting single payer is the best way to do it.

Health insurers and big pharma do not want the gravy train to end. They have money, lobbyists, and clout. So, unless a lot of us insist on single payer, we won’t get it. It’s as simple as that.  

The windows of opportunity for healthcare reform don’t come around all that often. FDR made initial attempts in the 30s, Harry Truman tried in the 40s. Lyndon Johnson managed to push Medicare through for seniors in 65. Nixon tried in 74, the Clintons in 93. Special interests usually kill the effort. The years go by, and more Americans suffer and die, needlessly (while others get richer). Now, we have another chance.

Everyone has three congresspersons: one representative and two senators. Rattle their cages! Tell them you want single payer healthcare in this country, now. Go to the website change.gov and send Obama the same message. If enough of us speak up for single payer, right now, I think we have a good chance at it.

For more information…

• Physicians for a National Health Program
• Ralph Nader on Single Payer

How pathetic, listening to the Bush gang prattle about their legacy. The answer, like their man, is simple: worst president ever. What began as illegitimate has ended ignominious. Bush will stand amongst his rubble forever.

Now, at the close of this shameful epoch, there is talk of presidential pardons. Not a good idea. Think about it. The presidential pardon provides the means for a criminal administration to operate outside the law with impunity. We should not be encouraging this sort of behavior.

It is time to revisit this highly abused appendage, the presidential pardon, along with the Electoral College, gerrymandering, and many other impediments to a true democracy.

Here’s a sad/fun thing to do: read the book Nineteen Eighty-Four and see how close we’ve come to living this Orwellian nightmare. Brutal interrogation and torture, perpetual wars and arms production, extensive monitoring and surveillance, widespread fear and propaganda…it’s amazing how prescient the author was, way back in 1949.

The thing that got me interested in rereading the book was the overtly manipulative abuse of language and logic that we’ve been subjected to lately. When I hear names like the “Clear Skies Act” or “Healthy Forests Initiative” I’ve learned to expect the opposite (how about “Happy Corporations Giveaway”). It’s been like dealing with a sleazy salesperson or a desperate junkie who has an ulterior motive and will say anything to try and get it.

Here’s hoping we’ve reached a nadir, and our “leaders” begin to respect the language, our intelligence, and the truth a little more.