Let's kick their asses

Submitted by James on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 12:46pm

Okay people. It's clear to me that the battle for a public healthcare plan is heading south. Corporatists in the Senate are leading obstructionism, insisting that the money and the political will just aren't there to make it happen. All the while CEOs and insurance company shareholders are pulling down millions, laughing all the way to the bank. The more they master the dark art of denying care, the more money they make. And they're playing us for suckers.

What can we do? Here are two options:

1. Hit them where it hurts. Let's show them what it's like to not have money. Let's organize a national "Up Yours Month" with businesses and citizens everywhere refusing to pay premiums. July would be perfect.

What if we get sick but hospitals and physicians deny care? Well hell, that's what emergency rooms are for, right? Maybe a deluge of pissed off people clogging hundreds of hospitals will get their attention.

2. National strike. I know Americans are too damn lazy and disengaged to get activated, but with 70% in favor of a public plan, maybe, just maybe, enough of them would take the day off - you know, call in sick - just to make the point.

July 6th would be cool. The day after Independence Day ... a fitting way to celebrate for sure.

The truth is, they're screwing with us - and the Powers That Be think we have no stick. Maybe they're right, but maybe they're not.

Other ideas?

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July 5th is a Sunday so my first idea would be

Submitted by momoaizo on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 1:04pm.

to take a day off on Monday the 6th.

Duh. Even better.

Submitted by James on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 1:05pm.

Thanks.

National strike

Submitted by thomaspaineiscool on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 7:01pm.

I like this idea but can it be organized to make an impact and garner news in a few weeks.

It could

Submitted by James on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 7:20pm.

It doesn't require going anywhere. You can do it from the comfort of your own home.

Shut down the country for one day. Insist on a great public plan.

Next, Has everyone called Hagan's office?

Submitted by momoaizo on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 1:12pm.

if not, here is her email addy and phone numbers:
Washington, DC office = 202-224-6342
Greensboro, NC office = 336-333-5311
Raleigh, NC office = 919-856-4630 or
toll free for NCer's = 1-877-852-9462

As Scharrison pointed out in another diary, this is what she promised, maybe you could read it to her and remind her that she put this in virtual print.....

I will absolutely work toward the goals of universal coverage. First of all, we are going to have a Democratic President in November, and when we do, we’ll finally be able to address and get results on one of the biggest, if not THE biggest domestic policy issue for millions of Americans.

Since 2001, premiums for family health coverage have increased 78%, and now an estimated 47 million Americans are uninsured. Washington is broken.

We need to change the way we deliver health care by standing up to special interests and negotiating lower drug prices and lower premiums. We need to focus on prevention, chronic disease management and implement cost-saving mechanisms such as electronic records.

I’m not going to sit here and make a declaration that we’ll have universal health care plan over night – we won’t. But if you send people like me to Washington, we’ll get there.

Call call call

Submitted by Dan Besse on Sun, 06/21/2009 - 8:04pm.

I did call her Washington office and was told that she was still "reviewing all the health care issues".

Not good enough for a newly-elected Democratic Senator.

I am urging all the people I know who are progressive advocates or otherwise concerned with health care to call Sen. Hagan's office and tell her you strongly support a public plan option.

I consider this to be as defining an issue as we are going to find during President Obama's first term, and in domestic social justice terms, probably the most important issue of this generation (used in the sense of a roughly 20-year-era).

Dan Besse

We should act like Iranians

Submitted by thomaspaineiscool on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 6:58pm.

There needs to be mass demonstrations and marching in the streets. We need to take some inspiration from the people of Iran, who live in a pseudo democracy, and organize some good ole fashioned civil disobedience. We need to organize at make are voices heard.

So do we

Submitted by Independent on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 7:08pm.

live in a pseudo democracy

single payer isnt enough

Submitted by Doremus Jessup on Sat, 06/20/2009 - 11:25am.

we need to do away with fee-for-service reimbursement for doctors and hospitals. FFS creates perverse incentives for providers to preform unnecessary tests on patients.