SINGLE PAYER NOW!

On May 5th eight physicians and activists spoke out on behalf of the 47 MILLION uninsured Americans. As the senate finance committee was holding its hearings on health care reform eight activists stood up, one at a time to interrupt the hearing and plug single payer health care. The interruptions were made necessary due to the fact that out of the 15 person committee not one was a representative of single payer health care. 59% of Americans support single payer, over 50% of physicians support a national health care system as well as do these major health care organizations: Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP); the American Nurses Association; the U.S. Labor Party; the California Nurses Association; the National Association of Social Workers; the Associations of Physicians Assistants; and the National Association of Midwives, among others. There are also 76 members in the house of representatives that currently support bill HR 676, a single payer bill sponsored by John Conyers and Dennis Kucinch.

The idea behind single payer is that everyone in the United States would be covered, with the single payer being the federal government. This would make sure that nobody could ever be turned away for health care due to costs or preexisting conditions, everyone in, nobody out.

The only discussion of single payer in the media or by our government is to make people aware that its not an option. But why? Could it be that our government is controlled by corporate lobbyists who have too much to loose from the end of private insurance? Could it be that the media in the United States doesn't represent a majority of American instead choosing to shove the views of the wealthy down everyone's throat?

Poor is a word not often herd from the lips of a newscaster or politician. The poor are those with the most to gain from a single payer health insurance system. They are the 21,000+ a year who die because they can't pay for health care. They are 47 million uninsured Americans. It is the rich who will loose from a single payer system, they will no longer be able to use their dollars to place themselves ahead of ordinary Americans. The middle class has been duped into believing they too will lose from a single payer system, but is this the truth? How many Americans waste hundreds of dollars a month paying for health care they may or may not receive. How many pay these premiums only to be dropped when they get sick? Go into a ghetto or talk to a minimum wage worker ask them what they think of single payer. These are the voices you don't hear on CNN.

And what about physicians what do they stand to loose? NOTHING. If you work in health care imagine never having to tell someone they can't receive the care they need. Imagine not having to turn a patient away because their insurance doesn't cover care from you.

The Obama administration's attempt at health care reform is nothing but a farce sponsored by the insurance industry. They are the only ones who will truly loose from a single payer system. No longer will they be able to steal from Americans in need for "administrative costs". A study done in the state of Massachusetts showed that 40% of every dollar spent on health care goes to administrative costs. Nationwide 350 billion dollars are spent on administrative costs every year. Why should there be a middle man between you and your doctor? There are some things in this country we decided long ago were too important to be left to the free market: police, fire departments, the postal service, etc. Should health care be any different? Imagine you were robbed or your house caught fire and you called for help only to find you weren't covered. Or next time you get sick think of how it must be for those without the option of getting help.

The United States needs single payer now. If those who support this idea don't come forward it will soon be to late. It seems as though whatever legislation is passed it will futhur intangle private insurance companies with the federal government making it harder and harder for future generations to make single payer a reality.

Watch The Activists Interrupt The Senate Finance Committee:



Read More about Single Payer:

Single Payer Action : This group was started by Ralph Nader following his presidential campaign. They also organized the protest.

Health Care-NOW!