Senate Health Care Hearing Starts off In Protest

[jefferson_dem]

Run time: 06:24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xntn4Zv17oc   Posted on YouTube: May 05, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 05, 2009 By DU Member: jefferson_dem Views on DU: 7517

 

[bluebellbaby]

1. I saw it this morning and then C-Span took it off...

I started a topic on this...

Shameful how we are being led by our noses to a "predetermined" "choice" for health care...

[sasquuatch55]

65. REVOLUTION!!! OUR SYSTEM SUCKS!!!!

The thievery must stop. these self serving bastards are supposed to be working for us!

[alberg]

69. We need a cell phone revolution!

When I heard about the Senate hearing on the John Dean conference call, I called Baucus' office and told him we need the "Public Option" passed as part of the Healthcare Bill. this is what Dean is recommending and how I believe it is politically possible to get to Single Payer. But whether you agree with the Public Option approach or believe we can push to go straight to single payer - here's the thing - we can't get there by typing alone. In the absence of a massive healthcare protest on the streets of DC (by the way, I can't understand why we're not doing this?) we need direct and sustained action by the thousands of folks here at DU. So, here's what I suggest. Take out your cell phone and program the direct phone numbers of the key Senators who will ultimately determine what kind of health care we get. This list should include everybody on Baucus' committee as well as your own state senators and perhaps a few others. Now, here's the good part. Call these fucker's repeatedly until we get what we want! If every body on DU does this it will be like a virtual massive DC demonstration right inside the Senate offices! (See, this is more effective than typing messages to each other because the Senators are not on DU reading our comments)

The Cell Phone Revolution! Push the button Spock!

[clear eye]

87. Coalitions need to be built to organize protests

Our last major era of political protests took coalitions of organizations to mobilize their memberships into a unified concerted action. Is it possible that the constant surveillance of telephone, email, and online activists has inhibited this? Is essential political protest the first casualty of disabling FISA? Or are the natural constituent NGO's still too optimistic about mere political negotiating, to get together and bring their membership out to the streets.

I would encourage everyone who belongs to economic justice and/or single-payer healthcare organizations to encourage coalition-building and national protest. Younger people are more likely to be open than older, since many older leaders of organizations have spent years in turf and position wars and gotten habitually wary of other activists. "Break on through to the other side."

For the most part Americans want a wholesale redirection of public revenue to rescue it from the looters, saving life on earth through serious environmental programs, remaking our country as a world advocate for peace, and restoration of election integrity. Many groups have responded by working for little bits and pieces that fall under those general categories.

The question for the leadership of these seed groups is,"Wouldn't you be more effective as a small group, if rather than trying to tackle such an ambitious agenda as one group, even with the help of other local NGO's, you reinvented yourselves specifically as an umbrella organization whose main job would be defining a unifying set of priorities from within your main issues, and getting large organizations to sign on for mass actions demanding action on those priorities?" The coalition could be called something like United for Democracy (UFD?). It would probably help if the intiators sent a survey to a slew of NGOs and better labor unions w/ 3 - 5 possible priorities listed under each general area and asked which they see as coming first. That way groups would feel that they had input in the agenda for the first mass action. For example, under the heading "Getting our Voice Back" which could be defined as removing the de facto amendments that the Bush administration made to the constitution with their "signing statements", their corporatization of elections, and their institutionalization of domestic spying, you could list (1)a law specifiying open source code for all election machines and tabulators to be made available to qualified representatives of each candidate in real time and a prohibition against sending results to county boards over any sort of lines--a la Minnesota, (2) a memorandum of understanding that when an administration stonewalls reasonable subpoenas from Congress, that Congress is obligated by the Constitution to defend the rights of the people by acknowledging this violation of Constitutional powers and appointing a special prosecutor to investigate whether an impeachable offense is being committed, and (3)undoing some of the Patriot Act provisions that make it possible to arrest leaders of legitimate political dissension as "terrorists". The same sorts of lists could be made for the economic "Just Use of Public Revenue" (health care, mortgage rescue and reregulation of the banks, fall within this area), environmental "Saving Our Planet", and world peace "Peace in Our Time" issue areas.

Once the groups were on board, this could be started as a petition campaign including deadlines with the understanding that when Obama, following the advice of his reactionary advisors, inevitably ignored the demands except rhetorically, the coalition would progress to the weekend mass demonstration, and then, as outrage over inaction built, toward a one-day General Strike. The time is overdue for the federal government to be made to remember that this is a representative democracy, and that we, the people, can hold their feet to the fire.

While of course the interactions among the principals has to be more extensive than the survey I suggested, that was the beginning, for example, of the People's Party platform in 1971-2. While the group was a dismal failure as a political party (3rd parties have an almost unsurmontable challenge under our system), the platform did affect how the political debate was framed that year and the positions taken by Congressional Democrats on a number of issues. Just as our recent political history was derailed by the theft of the Presidential election in 2000, politics in 1972 was trying to recover from the deformation caused by the assassination of then-Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. I believe that Nixon's unconstitutional behavior was seen against the backdrop of the populist goals of the People's Party platform by many politically active people, and the contrast helped fuel the call for impeachment. Of course it didn't hurt that the Fairness Doctrine was in force then and TV news was forced to air pro-impeachment opinions even if only in 90 second or less slots at the end of the program.

The bottom line for me is that I don't see real political recovery for democracy from the damaging effects of the Bush administration without such a coalition and explicit agenda. Nothing worth doing in this enormous country of ours is ever quick and easy. Some group will, eventually, get the ball rolling.

[wroberts189]

2. "we need more police" (to kick out single payer and public option protests)

These people do not represent us. Not one single damn bit.




knr

[PassingFair]

12. They're going to need a LOT more police.

As we sicken and die without
access to care.

[L. Coyote]

21. What an asshole remark that was!

[bjobotts]

36. We need more senators...ones with ears to hear.They are only trying to figure how much $ to give

[bjobotts]

37. $ to give private ins. comp.How much will they charge to cover homeless people

[bjobotts]

38. Without a single payer public option there is no health care reform.

[bjobotts]

39. The know it would be successful. But it would end their profiteering

[bjobotts]

40. And stop a flood of campaign contributions.Over $5billion in last 10yrs

[bjobotts]

41. It has nothing to do with what is best for the people.They know what is best

[bjobotts]

42. It has to do with profiteering of ins comp. and how to replace campaign contributions for congress

[wroberts189]

78. All your posts ...from your mouth to God's ears.

The outrage... I feel it and others here appear to as well.

Too bad God does not do that lightning strike trick like in the movies .

[mmonk]

70. Yep, just rearranging the deck chairs.

[wroberts189]

74. And that is the one thing they cannot deny.

Truthfully that is.

They got one mission ... pass some watered down meaningless legislation that will hurt us even more ..like "can spam" "no child left behind" "medicare reform" etc



sad

[NJCher]

61. Huh?

What an asshole remark that was!


I know someone doing exactly that, right now.


Cher

[wroberts189]

75. Did you watch the vid? ...they snickered as they tossed these people out. nt

[wroberts189]

72. ..and then they all laughed at them...infuriating. nt

[SlingBlade]

3. Remind me, Who the hell won the past two elections ?

Where is OUR VOICE ?

The voice of the American people on single payer health care ?

[dflprincess]

5. Just as soon as we contribute as much money to campaigns

as the insurance companies do, they'll listen to us.

[PHIMG]

8. No they won't

Because we can't give them 7 figure gold parachute (lobbyist jobs) once they get voted out of office.

[dflprincess]

16. Good point. (eom)

[hootinholler]

64. Apparently the Insurance companies, Banksters and corporate moguls.

You heard our voice being dragged away by the police Mr Bacus needs more of.

-Hoot

[wroberts189]

76. And now has the house.. Presidency..and almost 60 in the senate?

I thought we won as well... with a big mandate.

[harun]

84. The same group who always wins, the Corporations.

[AndyA]

4. Sen. Baucus: "I deeply respect your views, but shut up and don't stand up

and speak out even though no one up here is pushing for you..."

I paraphrased, but that was the jist of it. And why is single payer off the table, perhaps Sen. Kerry could answer that. I saw him sitting there. People are dying every day due to lack of health care, but he and the rest of the Senate has great health care. Why do they deserve it and the American people don't? We do, after all, pay the bills for their health care. :shrug:

[Baltoman991]

6. What a sick

piece of shit Baucus is. Sitting there laughing with Grassley while the woman is talking about all those people dying every year because they can't afford insurance.

Yeah Max, that's a real hoot isn't it you sick Republican wanna be.

[Liberal_Christian]

45. Behold. What is wrong with DC. None of them really have any idea what the rest of America is.

I guess it's easy to have such an oblivious attitude of apathy when your sucking on the teet of private corporations for doing nothing but walking around in a suit and limiting their accountability.

[JDPriestly]

7. So, Sen. Baucus knows full well that the American people want

single-payer as a choice, but he still does not invite a proponent of single-payer to the hearing. Who does he think he is fooling?

[PHIMG]

9. More videos from this action here

http://www.phimg.org/V2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259:single-payer-protestors-disrupt-senate-finance-comittee-members&catid=42:av-club&Itemid=69#yvComment

[L. Coyote]

28. EXCELLENT videos from the audience perspective.

[bjobotts]

43. That protest was well done and effective. Orderly and respectful. The voice of the people

[L. Coyote]

47. Also, they apparently are doctors!

[wroberts189]

79. And smart ..another stood up as soon as one was taken out. nt

[avaistheone1]

59. Thanks. I want to observe as much of this hearing as possible.

I have had with these Democrats especially Baucas. He needs to be retired or recalled.

[quidam56]

10. See what is deemed, defended and supported in Tennessee as THE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF HEALTH CARE.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 PROFIT CARE COMES AHEAD OF PATIENT CARE !

[balantz]

11. The people have no voice at the fat cat table.

We have no representation. And they chuckle at us when we speak out at their meetings. The system is rigged for the insurance and pharmeceutical industries. Single payer would actually save the government money and bring health care to all, the dollar numbers have been crunched. We live under the thumb of an increasingly fascist government and revolution is in the air.

[peace13]

13. How arrogant, completely and utterly arrogant.

They sit at the table with their health care paid for by the people and refuse to seat the voice of the people. This made me ill to watch. How sweet that it is a Dem running the show. I made my call to him before I watched this or my message would have been more strongly put!

[fascisthunter]

14. I'm Sure if these Arrogant Shit Stain's Lives were in the Balance

they wouldn't be so smug....

It's time for Americans to place that fear into people working for us all. They have forgotten their place.

[Mithreal]

15. We have to be willing to do much more than we have done before.

Words may make us feel better. I say we shut down their offices with our bodies. We haven't done enough.

[EFerrari]

17. They LAUGHED at us. This post needs to go to the top.

Let everyone see how Baucus and his committee LAUGHED at doctors fighting for our health care.

[avaistheone1]

57. I agree. Did I see some of the Democrats including Senator Kerry

being disrespectful of the audience?

[leftstreet]

19. +1

[valerief]

18. K&R

:kick:

[pleah]

20. K&R

[BelgianMadCow]

22. now THAT is protest. K&R

[patrick t. cakes]

23. K&R

[drm604]

24. K&R

:kick:

[jsamuel]

25. k&r

[slipslidingaway]

26. These were the witnesses for today...

and the thread in LBN.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3862225&mesg_id=3862225


http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing050509.html

Witness Statements:

Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., Vice President, Domestic and Economic Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC

John Castellani, President, Business Roundtable, Washington, DC

Gary Claxton, Vice President and Director of the Health Care Marketplace Project, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Washington, DC

Donald A. Danner, President and CEO, National Federation of Independent Business, Washington, DC

Jennie Chin Hansen, R.N., M.S., F.A.A.N., President, AARP, Washington, DC

Karen Ignagni, President and CEO, America’s Health Insurance Plan, Washington, DC

R. Bruce Josten, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC

Len Nichols, Ph.D, Director, Health Policy Program, New America Foundation, Washington, DC

Ron Pollack, J.D., Executive Director, Families USA, Washington, DC

Sandy Praeger, Chair of the Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Washington, DC

Sara Rosenbaum, J.D., Chair of the Department of Health Policy, George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC

Diane Rowland, Sc.D., Executive Vice President, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Washington, DC

Raymond C. Scheppach, Ph.D., Executive Director, National Governors Association, Washington, DC

Scott Serota, President and Chief Executive Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Washington, DC

Andy Stern, President, Service Employees International Union, Washington, DC

[jwirr]

34. Not one single friend in the bunch. That is what congress calls an

open discussion on health care? As you said where are the doctors, health care professionals and patients? So much for the voice of the people.

[slipslidingaway]

48. Open except for any single-payer advocates, the prior list

from April.

http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing042109.htm

April 21 , 2009, at 10:00 a.m., in 216 Hart Senate Office Building


Member Statements:
Max Baucus, MT
Charles Grassley, IA


Witness Statements:

Allan M. Korn, M.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Office of Clinical Affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Washington, DC

Glenn M. Hackbarth, J.D., Chairman, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Washington, DC

Peter V. Lee, J.D., Executive Director, National Health Policy, Pacific Business Group on Health, San Francisco, CA

Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Director, Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, Brookings Institute, Washington, DC

Lewis Morris, J.D., Chief Counsel to the Inspector General, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, Washington, DC

Mary D. Naylor, Ph.D., FAAN, RN, Marian S. Ware Professor in Gerontology, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA

Debra Ness, President, National Partnership for Women and Families, Washington, DC

Frank G. Opelka, M.D., FACS, Vice Chancellor for Clinical Affairs, Professor of Surgery, Office of the Chancellor, Louisiana State University, Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA

Glenn Steele Jr., M.D., PhD, President, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA

John Tooker, M.D., MBA, FACP, Executive Vice President/Chief Executive Officer, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA

Richard J. Umbdenstock, FACHE, President and CEO, American Hospital Association, Washington, DC

Ron Williams, Chairman and CEO, Aetna Inc., Hartford, CT

Paul J. Diaz, J.D., President and CEO, Kindred Healthcare Inc., Louisville, KY

[Enthusiast]

27. Capitalism

The insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry bought congress. Look at how much money they will now make. And the insurance companies? They get free money for doing absolutely nothing. Say it again. Absolutely nothing (except bribery).

[MrMickeysMom]

29. Mr. Chairman, If you DEEPLY respect OUR view...

Why the HELL didn't you seat anyone representing Single Payer at the table?

You aren't listening all your "best bosses" in Montana, and you don't know the meaning of the word, "RESPECT"!

[eridani]

30. Hey! Senator!

If you respect the views of single payer advocates so much, why were none invited to your hearing?

[Systematic Chaos]

31. K&R! And a request for help in the comments below the video, please!

Anyone who has good statistics at their fingertips and doesn't mind posting on YouTube comments really should help to set the wingnut parrots straight. I already fired a couple replies to these:


whoo689 (6 minutes ago) Show Hide
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22,000 people dying per year b/c they can't afford healthcare? Well, if even if that is true, what's the number for states like England where they have heavy rationing and long waiting lines for surgey and other major treatments?? I'm sure it can't be that far off. It could even be MORE than 22,000, but so many people in those states are too complacent to care and just are afraid of giving up all their free health. Yes, their "wonderful" free healthcare, paid for by huge tax hikes.
whoo689 (12 minutes ago) Show Hide
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Do all the people for UHC and gov't-run healthcare not realize what a DISASTER monopolies can be?? Or does that just right over their head, as if they've never taken even 1 economics class? I mean, come on! Competition is always preferable to just letting one person or entity deliver all the services. Yet these single-payer nincompoops actually think giving our entire system over to the gov't is gonna fix whatever "broken" problems arise from insurance companies. Bull-fucking crap.
whoo689 (15 minutes ago) Show Hide
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Single-payer is a disaster! Countries with COMPLETE governmnet control have FAILURES of health care systems. They have to extremely ration healthcare and decide which drugs get covered under the gov't plan and which don't. And some pretty good life-saving medicines have been denied. Countries with gov't-run healthcare oftentimes have a very limited variety of drugs on the market, esp. prescriptions. The free market works. It's not perfect, but we don't need some idiotic overhaul.
whoo689 (16 minutes ago) Show Hide
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Who the hell is that idiot in the beginning? It sounded like Senator Waxman, but then I was like "Noo, it couldn't have been him. He'd have a little more decorum and not be so rude. It had to be some idiot in the audience."


With THESE:


progrocker69 (3 seconds ago) Show Hide
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Whoo do you want to believe? Do you want to believe whoo689 who's probably getting paid to pump this bullshit into your brains to help keep the sheeple quiet, or do you want to believe the findings of the WHO? The World Health Organization has the US ranked 37th in health care among Western nations, but the UK is a respectable 18th!

It appears that the WHO is more aware of what's really going on than the whoo. But believe WHOmever you like.
progrocker69 (3 minutes ago) Show Hide
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Right-Wing Talking Point Guy is spewing right-wing talking points.

Anyone who lives in such a bubble that they don't understand that the USA is NOT first among Western nations in health care quality and accessibility, but rather close to LAST ON THE LIST, needs to wake the fuck up and quit listening to the stooges on AM talk radio and Fox News!

Don't let these billionaire sons of bitches tell you what works and what doesn't - do the research and find out for YOURSELF!

Don't let these people get away with their right-wing propaganda. Fight the fuck BACK!!

[Union Yes]

32. K&R Powerful stuff!

[Kaleko]

33. K & R

[usregimechange]

35. Good for them, there will be a lot more disorderly conduct if something isn't done

[Liberal_Christian]

44. THIS is patriotism. THIS is American. NOT the bullshit you hear from Hannity, Beck, and Lim but THIS

A bunch of citizens yelling at a bunch of overpaid, out of touch, fat cat politicians. I do indeed believe THIS is what our founding fathers were talking about.

[kaygore]

46. Did Kerry present the MoveOn/DFA comments and read them into the record?

I contacted Baucus and reminded him that the last two elections emphasized that big money did not guarantee a win and that I stood personally ready to set aside my life in 2012 and go to Montana first to get him defeated in the Democratic primary and then if need be in the general election if he does not get a public option at the very least in the final health care bill.

This man has accepted 100,00s of dollars from insurance companies and others who will benefit from denying us single payer or public option health care. In fact, the Senate Finance Committee seems largely composed of Republicans and Blue Dog Dems.

Republicans masquerading as Democrats must GO! We must call them out. This has got to end and end now.

[debbierlus]

49. We respect your views, we just don't allow anyone who holds them to be included in this discussion

Fuckers.

The need more police jokes were DISGUSTING...

Ah, what wonderful change we are geting with a dem controlled senate

Fascism at its finest.

[avaistheone1]

58. You got it exactly right.

Baucas need to go. He needs to be removed from his seat.

These are not the kind of Democrats we need in the US Senate. Baucas is literally jeopardizing the lives and futures of millions of Americans with his behavior. He is absolutely shameful.

[harun]

85. I don't know how anyone there thought that was funny.

[MasonJar]

50. "Need more police" Ha! ha! ha! What a jerk! I hope this got lots of play on

tv, like Keith and Rachel. Now even the dems are becoming great fodder for Colbert and crew because they are proving as shoddy as their counterparts across the aisle. Well okay, maybe not quite as shoddy!

[Sunnyshine]

51. They laugh as we cry and people die. These paymasters are vile & do not serve the people of America.

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane--Martin Luther King, Jr.

[DebJ]

52. Just called his office and left an angry message. Is Move On

working on this? I am outraged and offended.

[Buzz Clik]

53. Remember how funny it was when we saw stuff like that from the Philippines and Taiwan?

Oh, yeah. It wasn't funny.

It's third world bullshit.

[Truth2Tell]

54. It's official!

Max Baucus is a dick.

[farmboxer]

55. Did the insurance companies have them arrested?!

Would not surprise me at all! Next time the plutocrat politicians want our vote, let them get their votes from the damned insurance and drug companies! They have the money, we have the numbers!

[L0oniX]

56. I'm watching Sicko again and getting mad all over again.

[knixphan]

60. Miles to go....

[1776Forever]

62. Who Does Senator Baucus Listen To - “everything is on the table” except single payer.-

Posted on January 26, 2009
Who Does Senator Baucus Listen To

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/january/who_does_senator_bau.php

Unions for Single Payer Health Care
January 25, 2009

Montana Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has said that in writing his new healthcare legislation “everything is on the table” except single payer. One wonders if Senator Baucus has been reading his home state newspapers or just listening to the lobbyists for the private insurance industry. (www.Opensecrets.org).

After Baucus ruled single payer “off the table” in his search for an “American” solution to the healthcare crisis, Montana’s newspapers have carried several articles calling for Senator Baucus to put single payer back on the table.

Writing in “The Great Falls Tribune” under the headline “Tell Sen. Baucus Single-payer Should Be On the Table,” Gene Fenderson, who served for twenty-five years as a union trustee of a Taft-Hartley joint healthcare fund, wrote: “I maintain that a single-payer system must be on the table because it can help save our present and future economic well being as a state and nation.” Fenderson criticized the Baucus plan directly saying: “Unfortunately, the Baucus plan simply adds even more layers of confusion to this hodgepodge, which is already driving costs up and up for all Americans. We can do better. We must do better. That is why a single-payer system must be on the table.”

.............

And this:

In the media — April 26, 2009
Baucus At Heart Of National Health Care Battle

By Ledyard King, GANNET WASHINGTON BUREAU

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/patients/articles/?storyId=26512

(snip)

Baucus also has been dinged by the group Consumer Watchdog, which earlier this year scolded the senator for accepting $183,750 in campaign donations from health insurance companies and $229,020 from drug companies — the most any congressional Democrat received during the past two election cycles.

The senator said he doesn't pay attention to those criticisms, and quickly points out that he also is trying to curb payments to health maintenance organizations.

...........

Now you know the rest of the story - disgusting reaction to those in the chamber who asked a very honest and pressing question! Not one representative for single payer at the table? Ins't it obvious who "owns" our government when it comes to "health care"?


:fistbump:

[Mari333]

63. we need more police???

assholes of the highest order.!!!!! listen to the people, you bastards, you are not the government, THEY are. what a bunch of whores.

[wroberts189]

80. It was quite a telling comment and the laughter was the cherry on top nt

[Th1onein]

66. Them Senators "deeply respect" others' views.....

Yeah, right. That's why you laugh when one of you says you need more police to arrest them. You sorry mother fuckers. Who the fuck do you think you are?

[dixiegrrrrl]

67. Didja notice the guy behind Bachus literally twiddling his thumbs???

Towards the end of the video, as Bachus is making his phony "I care" speech,
a staff member is standing to the viewer's right of him, twiddling his thumbs.
Quite symbolic.

Who was that telling Bachus how to run the meeting, the guy sitting to Bachus left...Grassley?

I hope every household sees this.

and the OP should be titled:
Congress shows its contempt for Americans on live tv.

[yurbud]

68. go vote it up on YOUTUBE too!

Just double click on the vid and it will take you there.

[yurbud]

71. only 1500 views on YOUTUBE?! Get your ass over there!

[yurbud]

73. Digg, Reddit, Buzzflash.net, Jabberwonk voting LINKS:

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/8i3j7/senate_committee_heckled_into_recognizing_single

http://digg.com/people/Senate_Health_Care_Hearing_Starts_off_In_Protest

http://buzzflash.net/story.php?id=1013801

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=vjl6a

[yurbud]

77. vote up related Michael Moore story, at top of Buzzflash:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=1168

[yurbud]

81. Getting some down votes on Reddit--we should swamp it with positive ones. A couple of clicks will

make this viral.

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/8i3j7/senate_committee_heckled_into_recognizing_single

[vinylsolution]

82. Baucus never had a plan for us....

.... The Healthcare corporations simply told him their demands, and then 'advised' him not to fly in small aircraft.

Do as we say, or die. Simple as that.

And the 'deal' was done.

Four more years of obscene profits for corporate healthcare, and misery for millions of Americans of all political persuasions.

[L0oniX]

83. K & R

We all need to bombard them with the message "single payer health care now". Call - email - demonstrate - protest - march

All they care about is who is going to give them money for their election campaigns and give them high paying lobbyist jobs in the future.

[clear eye]

88. Coalitions need to be built to organize protests

Our last major era of political protests took coalitions of organizations to mobilize their memberships into a unified concerted action. Is it possible that the constant surveillance of telephone, email, and online activists has inhibited this? Is essential political protest the first casualty of disabling FISA? Or are the natural constituent NGO's still too optimistic about mere political negotiating, to get together and bring their membership out to the streets.

I would encourage everyone who belongs to economic justice and/or single-payer healthcare organizations to encourage coalition-building and national protest. Younger people are more likely to be open than older, since many older leaders of organizations have spent years in turf and position wars and gotten habitually wary of other activists. "Break on through to the other side."

For the most part Americans want a wholesale redirection of public revenue to rescue it from the looters, saving life on earth through serious environmental programs, remaking our country as a world advocate for peace, and restoration of election integrity. Many groups have responded by working for little bits and pieces that fall under those general categories.

The question for the leadership of these seed groups is,"Wouldn't you be more effective as a small group, if rather than trying to tackle such an ambitious agenda as one group, even with the help of other local NGO's, you reinvented yourselves specifically as an umbrella organization whose main job would be defining a unifying set of priorities from within your main issues, and getting large organizations to sign on for mass actions demanding action on those priorities?" The coalition could be called something like United for Democracy (UFD?). It would probably help if the intiators sent a survey to a slew of NGOs and better labor unions w/ 3 - 5 possible priorities listed under each general area and asked which they see as coming first. That way groups would feel that they had input in the agenda for the first mass action. For example, under the heading "Getting our Voice Back" which could be defined as removing the de facto amendments that the Bush administration made to the constitution with their "signing statements", their corporatization of elections, and their institutionalization of domestic spying, you could list (1)a law specifiying open source code for all election machines and tabulators to be made available to qualified representatives of each candidate in real time and a prohibition against sending results to county boards over any sort of lines--a la Minnesota, (2) a memorandum of understanding that when an administration stonewalls reasonable subpoenas from Congress, that Congress is obligated by the Constitution to defend the rights of the people by acknowledging this violation of Constitutional powers and appointing a special prosecutor to investigate whether an impeachable offense is being committed, and (3)undoing some of the Patriot Act provisions that make it possible to arrest leaders of legitimate political dissension as "terrorists". The same sorts of lists could be made for the economic "Just Use of Public Revenue" (health care, and reregulation of the banks, mortgage rescue fall within this area), environmental "Saving Our Planet", and world peace "Peace in Our Time" issue areas.

Once the groups were on board, this could be started as a petition campaign including deadlines with the understanding that when Obama, following the advice of his reactionary advisors, inevitably ignored the demands except rhetorically, the coalition would progress to the weekend mass demonstration, and then, as outrage over inaction built, toward a one-day General Strike. The time is overdue for the federal government to be made to remember that this is a representative democracy, and that we, the people, can hold their feet to the fire.

While of course the interactions among the principals has to be more extensive than the survey I suggested, that was the beginning, for example, of the People's Party platform in 1971-2. While the group was a dismal failure as a political party (3rd parties have an almost unsurmontable challenge under our system), the platform did affect how the political debate was framed that year and the positions taken by Congressional Democrats on a number of issues. Just as our recent political history was derailed by the theft of the Presidential election in 2000, politics in 1972 was trying to recover from the deformation caused by the assassination of then-Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. I believe that Nixon's unconstitutional behavior was seen against the backdrop of the populist goals of the People's Party platform by many politically active people, and the contrast helped fuel the call for impeachment. Of course it didn't hurt that the Fairness Doctrine was in force then and TV news was forced to air pro-impeachment opinions even if only in 90 second or less slots at the end of the program.

The bottom line for me is that I don't see real political recovery for democracy from the damaging effects of the Bush administration without such a coalition and explicit agenda. Nothing worth doing in this enormous country of ours is ever quick and easy. Some group will, eventually, get the ball rolling.

[Hotler]

86. Fuck you Max. eom.