Matt Reichel: Democratic shame on health care
Today, the single-payer health care community learned of its bitter defeat in the fight for the only just and workable solution to this nation’s health care crisis: expanded and improved medicare for all Americans.
We had been advocating two amendments to the health care bill (HB 3200), both of which were removed from consideration by the Democratic leadership today. One, the Weiner Amendment, would have resulted in an up-down vote on single-payer on the house floor. The other, the Kucinich amendment, would have allowed individual states to institute their own single-payer health care systems.
Despite aggressive lobbying for these amendments by the single-payer community, and a few members of the house, the health insurance companies won out: the final health care bill contains only a minimal public option that will only insure 3% of Americans. Meanwhile, 33% of Americans have inadequate or no health care whatsoever.
It is issues like these that demonstrate the need for a strong third-party to challenge the two corporate parties that dominate the American political system.
Help us expand our campaign for a pro-single payer candidate here in Illinois’s 5th District by donating today. Click Here and then click Donate. Please consider a donation of $100, $50, or $25 for a genuine activist who won’t cower before corporate pressures.
Also, help this campaign out by getting involved as a volunteer!
This Sunday, our weekly canvass continues in spite of the fact that we are done with petition signatures, and this candidate is all filed with the Illinois Board of Elections! We will meet on Sunday, November 1st, at 2:30pm, at Conrad’s home, 4620 N. Austin. We will depart for the doors at the conclusion of the Bears game.
Monday, November 2nd, 7:00pm, our monthly meeting will be held at Huettenbar at 4721 N. Lincoln in Chicago.
I look forward to continuing to work with you to help cleanse the American political system of the filth of monied interests.
Solidarity,
Matt Reichel
