OK. Wednesday's speech is written already, We Need To Move Forward

[Motown_Johnny]

and I think we should all start supporting this



http://kucinich.house.gov/NEWS/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=138052


^snip^

Kucinich Secures Congressional Victory for States’ Single Payer Drive
Kucinich Amendment Allows States to Seek a Federal Waiver




Washington, Jul 17 -

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today created an opening for the single payer health care movement by winning adoption of an amendment which eliminates a federal barrier to states choosing to enact single payer health plans. The amendment won on a bipartisan basis during lengthy committee action on HR 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act.

“Although the amendment does not create a single payer health care system, it removes a major obstacle for any state that wishes to pursue the single payer option. This amendment builds on the momentum of the national movement for single payer health care,” said Kucinich.






As long as this makes it into the final version of the bill, and is then made into law, I think we will have won a major victory no matter how weak the public option is

[CoffeeCat]

1. We should not have to work so hard...

...and wait so long for healthcare for all citizens. All industrialized nations have this.

This is so ridiculous. The only thing holding this up, is the insurance lobby that has bribed our
politicians.

Our current president's promises included real healthcare reform.

I appreciate that this roadblock would be taken out of the bill. However, that just takes the fight
to a local level, and we all know that those same insurance companies have billions to fight us locally
as well.

Our leaders should be standing up and passing either a meaningful public option or single payer.

This is so insane that we have to be happy with an incredibly shitty situation---where we get no reform
but we get a nice sentence in a bill that will most likely lead to nothing anyway.

I'm sick of crumbs being thrown at the slaves and I'm sick of being told how wonderful those crumbs
are and that we should be thankful for them.

We are acting like abused children--so psychologically starved that we view the smallest neutral actions as signs of hope.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. I just want to make it clear that a bill with this amendment and one without it are two very

different things



and I chose 40 years since that is about how long it has been since we got Medicare




Not that I disagree with you, but we need to plan on what our stance will be after the address to Congress.

[CoffeeCat]

3. I applaud you for being proactive...

...and for thinking beyond the speech.

I guess I am more disappointed. I am still stunned that Obama seems to be paralyzed
by the corporate forces-that-be who want no reform and profits still in their pockets.

I'm not all cynical though. Part of me wonders if Obama's ambivalence isn't strategic.
Maybe he's not saying much, so the insurance lobby doesn't freak out and start harassing
him to no end.

He's heard what the insurance companies think. He met with them before this debate even
heated up. I imagine he's holding his cards close to his vest.

I'm really wondering if he might use the address to really make the case for a rock-solid
public option--that truly isn't bullshit. After all, he chose to make a speech today, and
tomorrow he's addressing the schools--then Wed he has the healthcare speech. It looks, to me,
as if someone is trying to get in front of the messaging and gain a bit of control.

I dunno. I'm holding out some hope for Friday, because everything hinges on this.

[bobbolink]

4. Some of us disagree, and it should be a given that reasonable people can disagree.

Many of us have drawn a line in the sand, and that includes labor unions, and other groups.

I would hope that you would respect that.