And you should too.
Yesterday an overflow crowd turned out for the Network’s matinee screening of SICKO, Michael Moore’s newest documentary. The film takes the pulse of this country’s health care system, and the prognosis looks grim. But, if our crowd was any indication, the masses are ripe for change. Even with extra folding chairs set up in the aisles, the Nickelodeon Theater had to turn away people who wanted to see the film and talk about it afterward with organizers of a new group, South Carolinians for Universal Health Care.
It was a surprisingly responsive audience for Columbia, usually a reserved lot in public spaces. They laughed. They cried. They shook their heads. They muttered things under their breath. And when it was over, many of them signed on to a public effort to advocate from the grassroots for a more humane health care system.
The film is funny, frightening and, in the end, hopeful. See it if you can. If not, at least check out Michael Moore’s web site.
And if you want to get on board the campaign for universal health care in South Carolina, email us at network@scpronet.com.
Our thanks to our discussion panelists Lynn Bailey, a health economist for South Carolinians for Universal Health Care, Dr. Sam Baker, health policy professor at USC, and to Columbia radio host Frank Knapp for facilitating.
Becci Robbins
(From left) Frank Knapp, Lynn Bailey and Dr. Sam Baker.
When you look at the 36 countries with better health care than the US, the profound realization is that we don’t just have a health care crisis, we have a democracy crisis.
Check out what your presidential favorite calls “universal health care”. It is Orwellian how the term has come to mean “universal insurance coverage”. We have to stay focused on a national, nonprofit system that provides health care as a basic right. Go to Physicians National Health Plan for the facts about universal health care
AFL-CIO starts push for universal health coverage
Saying that “in America, no one should go without
health care,” the AFL-CIO yesterday mounted a drive to
bring about universal health coverage by the end of
2009.
Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan announced the
campaign at a press conference in Louisville one day
after the Census Bureau said the number of uninsured
Americans had risen to 47 million.
Similar events were held in other cities to launch the
AFL-CIO campaign, which aims to help elect presidential
and congressional candidates who are committed to
universal health care.
The labor organization said it isn’t backing a
particular presidential candidate or a specific health-
care proposal, but it outlined the features a national
health-care system should have: It should control
“rising and irrational” health-care costs, provide
comprehensive high-quality care to all, and preserve
the right to choose your own doctor, among other
attributes.
The AFL-CIO has 10 million members and 3 million
retirees. It said it will recruit a grass-roots army of
1 million people to push for health-care reform.
J.J. Scott of Shelbyville, a truck driver for Ohio
Valley Aluminum, said universal health coverage might
hold down health-care costs for his family.
He said he pays about $600 a month toward the cost of
family health, dental and vision coverage through his
job — more than he can afford. Each year his premiums
rise more than his pay does, Scott said.
The increasing cost of health coverage was one reason
workers at the plant formed a union last year, he said.
U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-3rd District, who spoke at
the press conference, said it won’t be easy to reform a
health-care system that makes up almost 20 percent of
the American economy, “but we’ve got to start.”
“If we have a Democratic president next year, we will
have universal health care in this country,” he said.
Yarmuth is a co-sponsor of a bill introduced by Rep.
John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., that would expand Medicare
to create a national health-care system. But he said he
and others in Congress are open to other approaches to
create universal coverage.
About 70 percent of all health-care spending is now by
Medicare and by government programs for the poor,
military dependents and other citizens, Yarmuth said,
“so we’re almost three-fourths of the way there”
already.
Critics view the U.S. health-care system as inefficient
because millions of uninsured people rely on hospital
emergency rooms for care. That costs much more than
seeing a doctor regularly.
In a Gallup Poll and in a New York Times/CBS News poll
last November, 60 percent or more said it is the
federal government’s responsibility to make sure all
Americans have health-care coverage.
Yarmuth said public opinion isn’t the only impetus for
universal coverage. He said U.S. corporations are
joining in the call because their cost of employee
coverage puts them at a competitive disadvantage
globally.
Last week the American Medical Association, the
nation’s largest physician organization, also launched
a campaign to cover the uninsured. It will include
asking Americans to vote for president with the issue
in mind.
Patrick Howington
ItÃs time for our next meeting for those concerned about healthcare for all in South Carolina!
South Carolinians for Universal Healthcare
September 29th at 2:00 pm
Location: South Carolina Nurses Association
1821 Gadsden Street
Columbia, SC
At our last meeting we explored issues in healthcare in our state and made plans to expand our membership. We have a knowledgeable and committed group that is growing. At this next meeting we will share exciting news of progress and activities in the works.
-Please bring copies of any letters to the editor or articles on universal healthcare for our display.
-Bring you ideas, your energy and a friend!
This is an important time to raise voters’ awareness about healthcare. We must raise our voices across the state in advocating for the healthcare needs of all.
In the Greenville area? Dr. Paul DeMarco will be giving a talk about SCUHC at the Greenville County Democratic breakfast on the morning of our meeting. It will start at 8:30 am at the Holiday Inn located at I-85 and Augusta Road. You will have time to get to Columbia for the statewide meeting.
Directions to statewide SCUHC meeting: from Greenville/Spartanburg:
Take I-26 East towards downtown Columbia. I-26 becomes 126 then Elmwood Avenue.
Take first right onto Gadsden Street. Continue as below
Directions: from Charleston:
Take I-26 to 126 towards downtown Columbia. I-26 becomes 126 then Elmwood Avenue
Take first right onto Gadsden Street. Continue as below
Directions: from I-20
Take exit 73 and follow 277 into Columbia. Turn right onto Elmwood Avenue. Turn left onto Gadsden Street. Continue as below.
Then: Go 2 blocks. SCNA is at 1821 Gadsden Street on right. Park in rear.
For more information: Paul DeMarco (843) 673-2886