Why We Were Arrested at the Senate Finance Committee Hearings

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.counterpunch.org/zeese05062009.html

May 6, 2009

Pay to Play Politics is Unacceptable for Health Care Reform
Why We Were Arrested at the Senate Finance Committee Hearings
By KEVIN ZEESE

Yesterday morning, eight doctors, lawyers and other activists stood up for single payer health care. We stood up during a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. The hearing was only to hear from the insurance industry, pharmaceutical companies, HMO’s and business interests. They did not want to hear about a real national health care plan.

I was one of the eight.

We stood up to the private health insurance industry, to the corporate power in Congress and demanded a single payer national health care plan where everybody is in and nobody is out. We want a plan that ensures the peoples right to choose their own doctor, hospital and health care treatment. We want a plan that will control costs – something that cannot be done unless the insurance industry, HMO’s and pharmaceutical companies are challenged.

The Senate Finance Committee which has taken millions from the insurance industry, HMO’s, pharmaceutical industry – those that profit from health care in America only scheduled their donors to speak. It was pay to play on display in Washington, DC before the corrupt Senate Finance Committee.

We stood up and told the truth. The Emperor Has No Clothes we said. We were arrested and charged with “disruption of Congress” a euphemism for telling the truth in Congress.

You can see the C-SPAN and other video on our new website ProsperityAgenda.US. You can see the news reports from The Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, Politico, Democracy Now and National Public Radio which all carried stories about the protest. Prosperity Agenda is an economic justice project of the Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics. You can help us develop an economy for all, including a health care system for all, by participating – share your comments, ideas and strategies. Join our effort.

Chairman Baucus, invited his major donors to the table: the health insurance industry was there, so were the Chamber of Commerce, the right wing Heritage Foundation, the Business Roundtable, Blue Cross Blue Shield and corporate liberals who have sold out the people like Andy Stern, Ron Pollack and AARP.

But the most popular and efficient health care reform was not at the table. It was not mentioned even though it is the one favored by a majority of doctors, nurses, economists and the American people. Only those who paid to play were included.

[Truth2Tell]

1. K&R nt

[lbrtbell]

2. This is just horrendous.

I thought *we* won in November. Apparently, it's business as usual in Washington. :(

[Sunnyshine]

3. Sorry you got arrested, but Thank you so very much- outstanding job by everyone!

It feels great to speak truth to power, especially when in a hearing rooms stuffed with it. You did real good. We Love you all. :patriot:

[Vidar]

4. Thank you for standing up.

[BigBearJohn]

5. Would that there could be more Americans like you. God bless you.

[livvy]

6. Thank you, Mr. Zeese, for standing up for the will of the people. n/t knr

[geckosfeet]

7. People like you and your group make it easier to be proud to be an American. Thanks.

[Echo In Light]

8. K&R

[Delphinus]

9. Keep it up!

Let's get Single Payer on the table - now!

[formercia]

10. Truth to power

Single payer can manage Healthcare for less than 10 cents on the dollar. The market place does it for 25 cents or more. Do the math.

How many Billions a year in profits? More than enough to buy Congress for a pittance.

[Wednesdays]

11. K&R

:kick:

[phantom power]

12. The fucking Heritage Foundation?

No advocates for single payer, but they can't live without the input of a think tank devoted to right wing hacks?

:puke:

[rvablue]

13. That's a pretty sad revelation being that all the hate radio hosts pawn Heritage Foundation

memberships on their program.

And did you see other threads describing Pigboy as their headline speaker at their meeting the other night?

Why the hell are they even given a seat? So they can do oppo research for the attack ads they are bound to put out to try to defeat a public plan?!?!?!

What a joke.

[glitch]

14. Amazingly disgusting. K & R the thread. nt

[Luminous Animal]

15. Everyone can stand with Zeese and be a proud American...

Single Payer National Day Of Action:

http://www.healthcare-now.org/campaigns/may-30th-day-of-action/

[jazzjunkysue]

16. Standing ovation!!!!! thank you!!

I hope you didn't get too roughed up. You're all heroes.

We can't fix this country without health care.

[suede1]

17. K & R

[emlev]

18. You speak for me, Kevin. Thank you. n/t

[Joe Fields]

19. I want to personally thank you, as well as the other seven.

YOU are democracy. YOU won't be silenced. YOU have the courage to do what is right, in the face of uncertain consequences. YOU have the conviction of your well reasoned ideals to make the kind of commitment to this issue that is desperately needed, if we are to insure that EVERY American is covered by some form of health insurance.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[TexasObserver]

20. interesting stuff