Fwd: Obama Deputy Chief of Staff delivered single payer message

Not sure how many of you are on Don Bechler's email list.  Apologies for duplicates....

Jady

Begin forwarded message:

From: dbechler@value.net

Date: August 20, 2009 5:49:56 PM PDT

To: dbechler@value.net

Subject: Obama Deputy Cibama Chief of Staff Jim Messina delivered single payer message

Obama Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina Receives Message that Californians Want Single Payer Healthcare

 

Dear Single Payer Healthcare Activist,

 

On Wednesday, August 19, Obama Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina was delivered the message that Californians want single payer healthcare.

On short notice we had 35 sign carrying single payer supporters in front of a San Francisco restaurant making our message clear.  Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina was speaking at a fundraiser sponsored by the Democratic National Committee and Organizing for Change.  The leaflet we handed out is pasted below.  We will be bringing a similar version to upcoming town hall meetings. 

Also pasted below are pictures from event.

 

Thank you.

Don Bechler

Chair – Single Payer Now

415-695-7891

www.singlepayernow.net

 

Leaflet distributed on August 19.

 

Dear Healthcare Activist,

Please let Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina know that Californians want single payer healthcare.  And we want the Kucinich Amendment passed so states can enact single payer.

1.   The California Democratic Party wants single payer healthcare.

2.   The Democratic controlled state legislature has twice passed single payer healthcare (SB 840), only to have it vetoed by a Republican Governor.

3.   The City of San Francisco supports single payer both nationally (HR 676) and in California (SB 810).

 

Single Payer Healthcare is the most politically viable solution to our healthcare crisis.

Advocating for HR 676, the US National Healthcare Act gives the opportunity for legislators to look their constituents in the eye and honestly explain that passage of HR 676 will:

1.       Allow everyone to have comprehensive healthcare.

2.       Allow choice of healthcare provider.  Private insurance companies restrict this choice.

3.       Allow caregivers and patients to regain their autonomy to decide what's best for a patient's health, not what's dictated by the billing department. 

4.       Save money.  Private health insurance bureaucracy wastes 31 cents of every health care dollar. 

5.       Enhance benefits by including full prescription drug, vision, mental health, and long term care benefits.

6.       Remove co-pays and deductible to zero dollars.

 

If any fact is clear from the last century of using private health insurance, it is that market mechanisms to increase competition for better healthcare does not work.  It is in the gene structure of the insurance industry to avoid the sick, deny claims and pass expenses on to others.

 

Trying to include the insurance industry in a healthcare fix is like trying to include the Mafia in a community meeting on public safety.

 

Healthcare Yes!  Insurance Companies No!

Distributed by Single Payer Now: PO Box 460622; SF, CA 94146

Singlepayernow.net    415-695-7891   email dbechhler@value.net