Fri Feb 10 2012
Departments
National Issues

HEALTH CARE WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE
by Congressman Dennis Kucinich
August 20, 2009

Today,  Congressman Dennis Kucinich sent the following email. I have removed his request for contributions as I know you can find him if you wish to lend financial support. Kucinich explains what is happening to the health insurance reform debate concisely and accurately, so Free Press wanted to reprint it for our readers.

HEALTH CARE WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

The masquerade is over!  The "public option" is ... dead.

Health care  reform is now a private option: WHICH FOR PROFIT INSURANCE COMPANY DO YOU WANT? You have to choose. And you have to pay. If  you have a low income, under HR3200 government will subsidize the  private insurance companies and you will still have to pay  premiums, co-pays and deductibles.

The Administration plan  requires that everyone must have health insurance, so it is  delivering tens of millions of new "customers" to the  insurance companies. Health care? Not really. Insurance care! Absolutely. Cost controls? No chance.

You will next hear  talk about "co-ops." The truth is that insurance  company campaign contributions have co-opted the public interest.

Your contribution will empower our efforts to continue to  fight for the single-payer, not-for-profit health care bill,  HR676 "Medicare for All," which I co-authored with Rep.  John Conyers. The bill now has 85 sponsors in the House.

The  hotly-debated HR3200, the so-called "health care reform"  bill, is nothing less than corporate welfare in the guise of  social welfare and reform. It is a convoluted mess. The real  debate which we should be having is not occurring.

Removing  the "public option" from a public bill paid for by  public money is not in the public interest.  What is left is a "private option" paid for with public  money. Why should public money be spent on a private option which  does not guarantee 100% coverage nor have any cost controls? A  true public option would provide 30% savings immediately which  would then cover the 1/3rd of the population who presently have  no health care.

Unfortunately, under HR3200, the  Government is choosing winners and losers in the private sector; proposing to spend public funds on subsidizing insurance companies who make money not providing health care. This process  will insure only the expansion of profits. Gone is the debate  over cost.

As a result of current negotiations, the  Medicare Part D rip-off will continue for another decade, further fleecing senior citizens. Drug importation has been dropped, so  no inexpensive drugs can be accessed from other nations.

Instead we are told the pharmaceutical companies will  accept a 2% cut in the growth rate of their profits - they call  this cost control!

If the matter were not so serious, it  would be farcical: The executive branch pretends that the  proposed health care reforms are something they are not. The legislation is being attacked for something it is not. Congressional leadership and the White House defend the  legislation, pretending it actually is the very proposal that is  being attacked. But it is not.

A commonsense government  health care reform policy would insure that every single American  has full access to health care by expanding Medicare to cover everyone under a Single Payer System. We are already paying for a  universal standard of care, it is just we are not getting it.

I  need your help to spread the word and rally the nation around  true health care reform which covers everyone and maintains  fiscal integrity without subsidizing insurance and pharmaceutical  companies and breaking our nation's bank!

My voice in  Congress will continue to challenge the special interests who do not want "single-payer" to succeed. I need you to join  me in combating the special and corporate interests who spend  millions to try to win this Congressional seat. With your help WE  will win again. With your help I will continue to represent your  concerns, be YOUR VOICE in the United States Congress, and be the  voice for health care for all Americans!

With your help,  we can accomplish ANYTHING in America. Persistence, dedication,  truth and courage will lead the way and win out in the end.


Recent National Issues Articles

McCain could have meant Less War
  December 31, 2009
  David Swanson

Healthcare mandate vs. the Constitution
  December 24, 2009
  David Swanson

A healthy economy
  December 24, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Apostle of our inner genius
  December 17, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Wars or jobs: decide now
  December 14, 2009
  David Swanson

Are Americans Too Broken for the Truth to Set Us Free?
  December 13, 2009
  Bruce E. Levine

The school-to-prison pipeline
  December 11, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Kucinich circulating privileged resolutions to end wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan
  December 10, 2009
  David Swanson

National security state still killing John F Kennedy
  December 7, 2009
  Pete Johnson

Richard Viguerie calls GOP litmus tests "Well intentioned," but urges replacement of Republican establishment leaders
  December 3, 2009
  Bob Sturm

Craziest Obavietghanistan speech moments
  December 2, 2009
  David Swanson

New civil resistance coalition formed to end the war
  December 1, 2009
  Cindy Sheehan

Anti-Americans
  November 24, 2009
  Christopher Bifani

Why can't we do to DC what we did to Seattle?
  November 19, 2009
  David Swanson

They should get a union
  November 17, 2009
  David Swanson

KSM and MSM
  November 17, 2009
  David Swanson

The two percent robustness
  November 15, 2009
  David Swanson

Between hate speech and adoration
  November 15, 2009
  David Swanson

Pelosi arrested us for asking for healthcare
  November 15, 2009
  Dan Hodges, Chair, Health Care for All-California

Over 2,200 veterans died in 2008 due to lack of health insurance
  November 15, 2009
  Physicians for a National Health Program

Isolated incident
  November 15, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Come together right now
  November 15, 2009
  David Swanson

Joel Peresman of the Rock Hall Foundation says the time has come today
  November 4, 2009
  Harvey Wasserman

Between hate speech and adoration
  November 2, 2009
  David Swanson

Preview of Ramzy Baroud's 'My Father was a Freedom Fighter'
  October 29, 2009
  Stephen Lendman

Why I am risking arrest for Medicare for all
  October 29, 2009
  Margaret Flowers, M.D., Congressional Fellow, Physicians for a National Health Program

Single-eye vision
  October 29, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Did Obama/McCain choice matter?
  October 28, 2009
  David Swanson

No one else will stop the killing -- Veteran's group to members: Multiply resistance by any peaceful means available
  October 27, 2009
  Mike Ferner

Accepting the prize
  October 26, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Glen Ford speaks in Columbus
  October 26, 2009
  Free Press

Heavy Traffic
  October 23, 2009
  Terence Robertson

Who SHOULD Decide About War?
  October 14, 2009
   By David Swanson

Starting Another Year of War in Afghanistan
  October 14, 2009
  Norman Solomon

Congress must pass single-payer health care now!
  September 30, 2009
  Cynthia McKinney

U.S. Drug War Priorities in Need of Re-Evaluation
  September 16, 2009
  Mary Jane Borden

Senator Kennedy visits then Cleveland City Councilman
  August 26, 2009
  Representative Dennis Kucinich

Govt-funded reporter urged lynching of Black Congresswoman
  August 24, 2009
  David Swanson

HEALTH CARE WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE
  August 20, 2009
  Congressman Dennis Kucinich

Oligarchy rules the health care debate
  August 20, 2009
  Pete Johnson

Six months of immunity
  August 7, 2009
  David Swanson

Grand theft auto: how Stevie the Rat bankrupted GM
  August 7, 2009
  Greg Palast

The perfect storm
  July 29, 2009
  Don Ruben

The Joint Public-Option Single-Payer United Front
  July 29, 2009
  David Swanson

Breaking sarcasm: Holder Joins Conyers in Demanding Action
  July 26, 2009
  David Swanson

If media were any good
  July 22, 2009
  David Swanson

I've Seen 1,200 Torture Photos
  July 22, 2009
  david swanson

California should pay its people in pot
  July 9, 2009
  “Thomas Paine”

How to trap a torture judge
  July 8, 2009
  Cynthia Papermaster and Susan Harman, ImpeachBybee.org

A Campaign Proposal for Progressives* Two Ways to Pay As You Go
  July 8, 2009
  David Swanson

Declaration of Indictment
  July 7, 2009
  David Swanson

Remove the filibuster from the Senate rules
  July 7, 2009
  David Swanson

The Emperor's seven signing statements
  July 6, 2009
  David Swanson

Letter to Obama from a dying friend
  July 4, 2009
  Robert Ellis Gordon and Paul Rogat Loeb

Honor our hemp-raising patriot heroes
  July 3, 2009
  “Thomas Paine”

Breaking: Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously finds Franken winner
  June 30, 2009
  Brad Blog

Why demand to prosecute torture will grow
  June 28, 2009
  David Swanson

The Iron Triangle
  June 26, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

The rise of single-payer health care
  June 25, 2009
  David Swanson

Trading press events for votes: What should press do?
  June 24, 2009
  David Swanson

U.S. government threatens to prosecute waterboarding
  June 22, 2009
  David Swanson

Gutting the health care plan: the scorpion and the Congress
  June 22, 2009
  Paul Rogat Loeb

Darth Vader Cheney and the next attack
  June 17, 2009
  Pete Johnson

Justice for the privileged
  June 11, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

The Omnibus CYA Act of 2009
  June 11, 2009
  David Swanson

We don't need the General Motors Corporation
  June 8, 2009
  Mike Ferner

New report casts exclusion of single payer option as a question of democracy and human rights
  May 27, 2009
  Cathy Albisa

Peace rising
  May 27, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Democratic Socialists? Dems Not Half That Good
  May 25, 2009
  Bob Fitrakis

Give workers what they need!
  May 24, 2009
  Dick Meister

Priorities
  May 21, 2009
  David Swanson

Never Again
  May 21, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

George & the Water Board
  May 18, 2009
  David Swanson

76 members of Congress oppose staying in Afghanistan forever
  May 18, 2009
  David Swanson

Holder's plans as clear as Gonzales' memory
  May 17, 2009
  David Swanson

Why isn't Obama turning to the Credit Unions?
  May 12, 2009
  Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman

Connell's sister now doubts plane crash was accident
  May 10, 2009
  Ralph Lopez

Renters caught in squeeze face eviction
  May 9, 2009
  Gary Baumgarten

Interview with Dr. Margaret Flowers, arrested Tuesday on Capitol Hill, part two
  May 9, 2009
  Joan Brunwasser

Why we risked arrest for single-payer health care
  May 9, 2009
  Margaret Flowers, M.D.

Not outraged about torture?
  May 8, 2009
  Pete Johnson, Free Press staff

Take your torture photos to church day
  May 8, 2009
  David Swanson

The hounds of heaven
  May 7, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Pay to play politics is unacceptable for health care reform
  May 7, 2009
  Kevin Zeese

It's national Nancy Off the Table Day
  May 7, 2009
  David Swanson

President Obama's war budget: analyzing the numbers
  May 6, 2009
  Jeff Leys, Voices for Creative Nonviolence

Give everyone healthcare by shutting down insurance companies
  May 5, 2009
  David Swanson

Torture and treason
  May 2, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

The wrong torture question
  May 1, 2009
  David Swanson

The prosecution of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney
  April 26, 2009
  Free Press staff

The prosecution of torturers
  April 23, 2009
  Free Press Editorial

Rule of law vetoed by President Obama
  April 23, 2009
  Joel S. Hirschhorn

Take heart and have courage
  April 22, 2009
  David Swanson

Karl Rove still not arrested
  April 20, 2009
  nation.of.gandhis

Hard times for African-American workers
  April 18, 2009
  Dick Meister

Forced patriotism
  April 16, 2009
  Gary Baumgarten

Geo-insanity's latest mutation
  April 13, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Changing the rules of the blame game
  April 12, 2009
  Bill Moyers and Michael Winship

War casualties at home
  April 10, 2009
  Gary Baumgarten

Capitalism's self-inflicted apocalypse
  April 7, 2009
  Michael Parenti interviewed by Jason Miller

MoveOn is not new to supporting war
  April 3, 2009
  David Swanson

Is this the best we can do?
  April 2, 2009
  Dan DeWalt, Charlotte Dennett, John Nirenberg and Martha Hennessy

Happy Birthday, Cesar Chavez!
  March 31, 2009
  David Swanson

Capitalist Incarnate: My interview with a vampire
  March 29, 2009
  Jason Miller

Baseball: More than a man's game
  March 28, 2009
  Dick Meister

Let's truly honor Cesar Chavez
  March 22, 2009
  Dick Meister

A modest proposal
  March 19, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Breaking: Peace activists arrested at Pentagon
  March 17, 2009
  David Swanson

Government stands in the way of financial security of small farmers: NAIS program is source of deep concern
  March 16, 2009
  Mark Huntress

A New Deal for American Workers
  March 14, 2009
  Dick Meister

Bill Moyers Journal: Interview with Simon Johnson
  March 9, 2009
  Bill Moyers

Join a union, get fired
  March 7, 2009
  Dick Meister

Oregon Plumbers Local Endorses HR 676
  March 7, 2009
  Kay Tillow

Appoint a special prosecutor
  March 4, 2009
  David Swanson

Kids for cash
  February 24, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Washington & Lafayette get stoned & talk marriage
  February 22, 2009
  "Thomas Paine"

An RX for nurses -- and us, too
  February 22, 2009
  Dick Meister

Jobs may decline, unions won't
  February 20, 2009
  Dick Meister

Cross of irony
  February 19, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Coffee entrepreneur brewing trouble for George W. Bush
  February 19, 2009
  Stephen Pizzo

Perriello, peace and justice
  February 18, 2009
  David Swanson

What President Obama should say
  February 17, 2009
  Free Press Editorial

Truth and healing
  February 12, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

The problem with truth, reconciliation, and commissions
  February 10, 2009
  David Swanson

Sit down! Sit down!
  February 10, 2009
  Dick Meister

Abandoning torture, but what about war?
  February 8, 2009
  David Swanson

... No intelligent life down here
  February 8, 2009
  Christopher Bifani

Keeping the Bush era viable
  February 7, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Bolsheviks in Seattle?
  February 2, 2009
  Dick Meister

New letter from Leonard Peltier: A hero’s welcome
  February 2, 2009
  Leonard Peltier

Holding Rove in inherent contempt
  January 27, 2009
  David Swanson

Missing the train on the recovery package
  January 24, 2009
  Deron Lovaas and Paul Loeb

President Obama must free Leonard Peltier
  January 23, 2009
  Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman

Dangerous executive orders
  January 23, 2009
  David Swanson

Childish things
  January 22, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

A New Day
  January 21, 2009
  Malcolm J.

The shirt off my mother's back
  January 20, 2009
  Gabrielle Burton

Not to remain silent
  January 20, 2009
  Jim Miles

Be the peace
  January 7, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

For the health of all: Camp Hope
  January 5, 2009
  Mike Ferner

Bill Richardson - Kissinger-American
  January 5, 2009
  Greg Palast, excerpted from Armed Madhouse

The future of civilization
  January 1, 2009
  Robert C. Koehler

Camp hope holds Obama to "Change" pledge
  January 1, 2009
  Mike Ferner




Read National Issues Articles by Year:
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000



FREE PRESS EMAIL UPDATE


Donate to The Free Press The Free Press Store

FOLLOW US ON
twitter
facebook


SEARCH THE FREEPRESS




1021 E. Broad St. Columbus, OH 43205 | 614.253.2571 | truth@freepress.org
All content © 1970-2012 The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer