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.

Obama won, and I consider that a step in the right direction, but it merely represents an ever-so-slight opportunity for the citizens of this country to try and wrest some power and influence away from our current owners.  

Corporations, and the super wealthy, are not going to lay down or go away. They are going to continue doing all they can to have government continue serving their interests. Money, and its influence, is deeply entrenched in American government. This is a simple fact of life. If we, the people, want any representation in this country, we are simply going to have to insist on it. We can’t just “vote for change” and then go home and hope for the best. The lobbyists are still in Washington.

So, what can we do? now that the election is over? I think the folks at november5.org have the right idea: we band together and insist that our representatives in Congress start representing OUR interests too.  

The folks at november5.org have chosen universal healthcare as a top priority, and I think this is an excellent choice. The current free-market, for-profit healthcare system in this country is obscene. But if we sit idly by and let Washington “solve the problem” on their own, they are going to make decisions that favor all the current monied interests in the healthcare field. The result will not bode well for the great majority of people in this country, instead, it will end up being a Frankenstein of the current system. We need to insist upon a healthcare system that will work for all of us, not just the greedy and unenlightened among us. Many other countries have fine universal healthcare systems, we should too. But the people of this country are going to have to rise up and insist on it, otherwise it will never happen.

I’d like to encourage all American citizens, especially those who live in bodies that might need some decent healthcare one of these days, to visit the website november5.org. Take a look, have a listen, and see what you think. Remember, democracy is a contact sport.