Friends,
In case you have not heard, Representative Courtney will be hosting a town hall forum on health reform this Wednesday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. at Montville High School.
I would like to make an appeal to progressives, folks on the left and anyone who wants a real discussion about our broken health care system to attend:
1.) To counter the right-wing nonsense about death panels, Adolf Hitler and Darth Vader.
~and~
2.) To advocate for single-payer instead of this band-aid, doomed-to-fail, "public option". HR3200 does not address the real core of the problem: that multi-payer systems are bureaucratic nightmares, required to put profit before care in every instance. HR676 is the logical solution and must be considered.
As most of you know, I have been advocating for the single-payer solution for a very long time. Pre-dating my challenge to Mr. Courtney at the ballot last fall. I have attached below a few recent breakthroughs into the media that I have made for the single-payer option.
Hope you enjoy and hope to see you on Wednesday in Montville!
-Todd
Trying To Bring Single-Payer In To The Media:
Some Health Proposals Address The Issue of Waste
By Todd Vachon
Norwich Bulletin
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/columnists/x769901449/Todd-Vachon-Some-health-care-proposals-answer-issue-of-waste
Health Care: What’s The Diagnosis?
By Todd Vachon
New London Day
http://archive.theday.com/re.aspx?re=3d92d656-ccbb-491e-9839-716af30f2a6b
WHUS Radio Interview with Todd Vachon about Single-Payer
http://www.4shared.com/account/file/126038457/84651d11/whus_interview.html
Other Great Resources on Health Reform:
Physicians for a National Health Program
www.pnhp.org
House Bill 676
www.hr676.org
Frontline: Sick Around The World
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/
Bullying, Hate-Mongering Have No Place In Health Debate:
In a reasoned debate, single payer will come out on top
By Laura S. Boylan, MD and Joanne Landy, MPH
http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/08/18/bullying-hate-mongering-have-no-place-in-health-
debate/
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Norwich Bulletin Column on Health Reform
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/columnists/x769901449/Todd-Vachon-Some-health-care-proposals-answer-issue-of-waste
Some health care proposals answer issue of waste
Guest Column
By TODD VACHON
For The Norwich Bulletin
Posted Aug 19, 2009 @ 10:49 PM
Last update Aug 19, 2009 @ 11:46 PM
Health care reform is the topic of the day. One cannot pass by a radio or television without hearing some mention of it. What seems to be missing from the coverage, however, are the sobering facts about our problem and the true nature of our potential reform measures.
First, let’s examine our health care system.
The United States spends twice as much — $7,129 per capita — on health care as other industrialized nations, yet we still have nearly 50 million uninsured people. Despite spending more, we continue to perform poorly on major health indicators. According to the CIA World Factbook, the U.S. ranks 30th for life expectancy, right behind Bosnia; 46th for infant mortality, right behind Cuba and Guam, and 20th out of G20 for deaths by treatable causes.
Being the richest nation in the world, this certainly reveals our national priorities to be issues other than public health.
More than 18,000 Americans die each year because they cannot afford to seek treatment. That’s rationing based on income. Those with insurance have more bureaucrats between them and their doctors than any other nation, namely the claims departments at the insurance companies. In fact, we have the most bureaucratic system in the world. More than 31 percent of all health expenditures go to administrative costs. Our multi-payer, profit-based system has countless insurers, each with their own overhead costs, marketing departments and exorbitant executive salaries.
These expenses combined account for $350 billion spent on things other than providing health care. Meanwhile, 70 percent of bankruptcies are because of medical bills, and half of those are people who actually have insurance.
The diagnosis: The system is very ill.
The treatment: Here are the options in Congress:
Garnering the most attention is the president’s preferred bill, HR 3200. This adds a public option to compete in the system. However, it does not address the root problem, namely the administrative waste of a multi-payer system. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, has offered an amendment to allow individual states to create their own single-payer systems. This would begin to save money and increase efficiency.
Getting practically zero mention in the press is U.S. Rep. John Conyers’, D-Michigan, bill, HR 676, that would create a National Health Insurance plan. This bill details the creation of a universal single-payer system covering all Americans with comprehensive care — and for the same amount we’re spending. Conyers and advocates contend eliminating the tremendous overlap and waste of a multi-payer system, the whole country could have comprehensive coverage.
The final option, preferred by pundits and spin masters, is to do nothing.
These are the choices legislators face this fall. Please do some research and contact your representative to share your views.
Todd Vachon resides in Colchester.
Some health care proposals answer issue of waste
Guest Column
By TODD VACHON
For The Norwich Bulletin
Posted Aug 19, 2009 @ 10:49 PM
Last update Aug 19, 2009 @ 11:46 PM
Health care reform is the topic of the day. One cannot pass by a radio or television without hearing some mention of it. What seems to be missing from the coverage, however, are the sobering facts about our problem and the true nature of our potential reform measures.
First, let’s examine our health care system.
The United States spends twice as much — $7,129 per capita — on health care as other industrialized nations, yet we still have nearly 50 million uninsured people. Despite spending more, we continue to perform poorly on major health indicators. According to the CIA World Factbook, the U.S. ranks 30th for life expectancy, right behind Bosnia; 46th for infant mortality, right behind Cuba and Guam, and 20th out of G20 for deaths by treatable causes.
Being the richest nation in the world, this certainly reveals our national priorities to be issues other than public health.
More than 18,000 Americans die each year because they cannot afford to seek treatment. That’s rationing based on income. Those with insurance have more bureaucrats between them and their doctors than any other nation, namely the claims departments at the insurance companies. In fact, we have the most bureaucratic system in the world. More than 31 percent of all health expenditures go to administrative costs. Our multi-payer, profit-based system has countless insurers, each with their own overhead costs, marketing departments and exorbitant executive salaries.
These expenses combined account for $350 billion spent on things other than providing health care. Meanwhile, 70 percent of bankruptcies are because of medical bills, and half of those are people who actually have insurance.
The diagnosis: The system is very ill.
The treatment: Here are the options in Congress:
Garnering the most attention is the president’s preferred bill, HR 3200. This adds a public option to compete in the system. However, it does not address the root problem, namely the administrative waste of a multi-payer system. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, has offered an amendment to allow individual states to create their own single-payer systems. This would begin to save money and increase efficiency.
Getting practically zero mention in the press is U.S. Rep. John Conyers’, D-Michigan, bill, HR 676, that would create a National Health Insurance plan. This bill details the creation of a universal single-payer system covering all Americans with comprehensive care — and for the same amount we’re spending. Conyers and advocates contend eliminating the tremendous overlap and waste of a multi-payer system, the whole country could have comprehensive coverage.
The final option, preferred by pundits and spin masters, is to do nothing.
These are the choices legislators face this fall. Please do some research and contact your representative to share your views.
Todd Vachon resides in Colchester.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
G20 Organizing in CT
Meeting to Organize Transportation to Protest The G20
Sunday, August 30th at 2pm
Location: TBA in Middletown, CT
Discussion List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ctg20workgroup/
Join us as we come together and organize for the G20 protests in Pittsburgh this Sept 25th.
Why We Protest: Working people and the poor continually carry the burden of suffering during economic crises; struggling to keep their homes, their jobs and maybe health care. Meanwhile, the wealthy elites continue to debate policies that do little to alleviate this pain, and much to garner further profits. This economic struggle is historic; a continuation of the struggles that our parents and their parents endured during the crisis in the 1970s and the Great Depression of the 1930s. While we are being stripped of our job security, access to quality education, access to healthcare, and forced from our homes; the ruling class continues to enrich itself through economic bailouts and endless wars. It’s time to draw a line in the sand!
People from around the world; including Latin America, Guadeloupe, Greece, France, Iraq, Iran, throughout Africa, and countless other countries have taken up the fight for a more just economy. Here in the US we have been resisting the unjust war against the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan and Iran.
This September, the G20 comes to Pittsburgh for a meeting of war-makers and profiteers—
offering us a great opportunity to stand up for global justice! The G20 is an undemocratic organization of wealthy capitalists who meet behind closed doors to make extremely important decisions that impact us all. The criteria of their decisions is quite simply to maximize profits, which has nothing to do with making a better world for all. In fact, they rarely even consider the social and environmental impacts of their decisions on the poor people in their own countries let alone anyone in the 175 other non G20 countries. We must join our sisters and brothers in solidarity against this economic oppression and protest these undemocratic processes. These meetings continue to enact the very programs that have made the richest 500 men wealthier than the remaining 5 billion+ men and women combined . We cannot allow these warmongers and spoilers to further exploit our resources unopposed. We must meet them in the streets to demand an economy that provides for the people, not the war machines. We call for students, workers, and lovers of democracy to:
UNITE and RESIST THE G20! RESIST IMPERIALISM!
DEMAND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR ALL!
Email: ctstraightedge@yahoo.com for more details
Sunday, August 30th at 2pm
Location: TBA in Middletown, CT
Discussion List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ctg20workgroup/
Join us as we come together and organize for the G20 protests in Pittsburgh this Sept 25th.
Why We Protest: Working people and the poor continually carry the burden of suffering during economic crises; struggling to keep their homes, their jobs and maybe health care. Meanwhile, the wealthy elites continue to debate policies that do little to alleviate this pain, and much to garner further profits. This economic struggle is historic; a continuation of the struggles that our parents and their parents endured during the crisis in the 1970s and the Great Depression of the 1930s. While we are being stripped of our job security, access to quality education, access to healthcare, and forced from our homes; the ruling class continues to enrich itself through economic bailouts and endless wars. It’s time to draw a line in the sand!
People from around the world; including Latin America, Guadeloupe, Greece, France, Iraq, Iran, throughout Africa, and countless other countries have taken up the fight for a more just economy. Here in the US we have been resisting the unjust war against the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Pakistan and Iran.
This September, the G20 comes to Pittsburgh for a meeting of war-makers and profiteers—
offering us a great opportunity to stand up for global justice! The G20 is an undemocratic organization of wealthy capitalists who meet behind closed doors to make extremely important decisions that impact us all. The criteria of their decisions is quite simply to maximize profits, which has nothing to do with making a better world for all. In fact, they rarely even consider the social and environmental impacts of their decisions on the poor people in their own countries let alone anyone in the 175 other non G20 countries. We must join our sisters and brothers in solidarity against this economic oppression and protest these undemocratic processes. These meetings continue to enact the very programs that have made the richest 500 men wealthier than the remaining 5 billion+ men and women combined . We cannot allow these warmongers and spoilers to further exploit our resources unopposed. We must meet them in the streets to demand an economy that provides for the people, not the war machines. We call for students, workers, and lovers of democracy to:
UNITE and RESIST THE G20! RESIST IMPERIALISM!
DEMAND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR ALL!
Email: ctstraightedge@yahoo.com for more details
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
