White House Healthcare Fourm

[Lavinia]

I was glad that Dr Fein was granted a seat at the table at the last minute. Shameful how single-payer advocates were excluded.

see: www.pnhp.org/blog/2009/03/09/dr-oliver-fein-reports-on-the-white-house-health-summit/

The White House reportedly told the California Nurses Association that they weren't unvited because their parent organization, the AFL-CIO had a representative. Meanwhile, SEIU had Anna Burger from CTW, Andy Stern and Dennis Rivera.

ANA President, Becky Patton's, remarks were a disappointment to me, however. She had a seat at the main event- the forum lead by Melody Barnes- and got to speak twice.

While Becky addressed some nursing issues, she never mentioned single-payer. This was significant as there were so few single-payer advocates represented.

I know a resolution was passed at the ANA House of Delegates in support of single-payer and that ANA states they ultimately think it is the best system. So why didn't Becky say that?

Maybe members should write to her and ask.

You can watch the forum on CSPAN at:
www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&cPath=6_17&products_id=284447-2

[chrisrnsyr]

Hello everyone. I'm new here and I'm an RN in Syracuse. I'm also working on administering CPR for the PNHP Group in Syracuse to get it up and running again (Dr. Fein is part of national PNHP) and working with Single Payer New York which is a grassroots group founded by PNHP Albany & NY Metro & union folks last year.

We're working with Single Payer advocates nationwide to keep Single Payer on the table & educate the public on the benefits of a Single Payer insurance system. It is coming to the point of demonstrations and civil disobedience at for-profit insurance companies (inspired partly by that rabble-rouser Michael Moore & SickO, but more by the horrid situations we witness daily because of our For-Profit health insurance system).

There is a demonstration planned at a for-profit insurer in Rochester next Wednesday, Oct 28 and we are working on planning a demonstration for Syracuse on 11/4 as part of a nationwide "wave" of demonstrations against the For-Profit insurance industry that rations healthcare in this country. This "wave" will be ongoing until we get Single Payer. The only reason it is "politically unfeasible" is because Wall Street has most of the U.S. Senate & Congress by the b***s. And the likes of Baucus are completey beholden to Wall Street & not to Main Street. Please contact me if you are interested in participating in any of these actions & I will provide more info.

I have to wonder about ANA & NYSNA -- it seems they want to talk the talk but don't have the courage to walk the walk. Very disappointing.

[Tania]

Welcome Chris.
Some of us have joined SPNY--the meetings are in Albany though and it is not always possible for downstate RNs to be there.
The educational needs of our nurses is paramount--many do not know the basics of single payer, or the history of health care in this--and other--countries. As a result, our members easily fall prey to the clever mass media disinformation blitzes launched by insurance companies and millionaires.
Some of us are doing local work around this issue, as you are. It's got to be a one on one or physical presence thing, in my opinion. Emails, articles and phone calls help but this issue requires direct contact.