On Oprah Tonight

Oprah fans or not.... tonight at 9pm, the whole hour is devoted to the state of healthcare in the US and Michael Moore is one of the guests.

Thanks to Colin and Glenys for this heads-up.

Top Ten Reasons

In an article on International Longshoreman & Warehouse Union site, a fervent activist union for the working class, really hits the mark!  Please take a moment to read this and pass it on to any and everyone you know.  

    Excerpt: "Let's not kid ourselves: The lure of hefty campaign financing courtesy of the medical profits industry is driving Congress to do….nothing. On second thought "lure" may not be the right word. "Addiction" would be more appropriate. Either way, Congress continues to demonstrate that it cares more about its medical industry benefactors than it does about working class America". Read more here

Disturbing New Report

Thanks goes out to one of our members, (Alec) for sharing this info.

From an article on 'truthout';

American Inequality Highlighted by 30-Year Gap in Life Expectancy

Thursday 17 July 2008-by: Leonard Doyle, The Independent UK

Washington - The United States of America is becoming less united by the day. A 30-year gap now exists in the average life expectancy between Mississippi, in the Deep South, and Connecticut, in prosperous New England. Huge disparities have also opened up in income, health and education depending on where people live in the US, according to a report published yesterday.
The American Human Development Index has applied to the US an aid agency approach to measuring well-being - more familiar to observers of the Third World - with shocking results. The US finds itself ranked 42nd in global life expectancy and 34th in survival of infants to age. Suicide and murder are among the top 15 causes of death and although the US is home to just 5 per cent of the global population it accounts for 24 per cent of the world's prisoners.
Despite an almost cult-like devotion to the belief that unfettered free enterprise is the best way to lift Americans out of poverty, the report points to a rigged system that does little to lessen inequalities.
"The report shows that although America is one of the richest nations in the world, it is woefully behind when it comes to providing opportunity and choices to all Americans to build a better life," the authors said. Some of its more shocking findings reveal that, in parts of Texas, the percentage of adults who pass through high school has not improved since the 1970s.
Asian-American males have the best quality of life and black Americans the lowest, with a staggering 50-year life expectancy gap between the two groups.
Despite the fact that the US spends roughly $5.2bn (£2.6bn) every day on health care, more per capita than any other nation in the world, Americans live shorter lives than citizens of every western European and Nordic country, bar Denmark. Using official government statistics, the study points out that because American schools are funded primarily from local property taxes, rich districts get the best state education. The US has no federally mandated sick pay, paternity leave or annual paid vacation.
"Some Americans are living anywhere from 30 to 50 years behind others when it comes to issues we all care about: health, education and standard of living," said Sarah Burd-Sharps co-author of the report. Although the US is one of the most powerful and rich nations in the world, the study concludes it is "woefully behind when it comes to providing opportunity and choices to all Americans to build a better life".
According to a United Nations human development report, the US is in 12th place in a league table of wealthy developed nations. Britain is ranked 16th.

Life and Liberty for All?

In a couple of recent articles on PNHP"s site ,  two large church organizations are speaking out loud and clear.  Will congress listen?

In seperate conferences held last month. The Unitarian Universalists' and  Presbyterians' voted in favor of resolutions endorsing a single payer national health care program,HR 676 The National Health Insurance Act.  Hundreds of other faith based organizations around the country have endorsed the legislation since it's introduction in congress Jan. 2007,  with over 90 co-sponsors as of today, more than any other related piece of legislation currently being proposed.

We, the people, have long held the sense this is a moral issue. A basic human right. Just as our constitution affirms, life and liberty, for everyone in this nation and not just for your ability to pay for it.  What price do our elected representatives put on those sick and dying for lack of health care? In a recent report by Families USA, one working age person in WA dies each day for lack of health care. We know the clear and present danger of corporate health industry positions and the covert special interest lobby that subverts "common good" legislation.  Will we, the people, send a loud and clear message this election year?

This independence day, while we celebrate ourselves, let us also resolve to affirm independence from health care rationing to "life and liberty for all". For more information visit United for National Health Care.

More Skagit Children Affected

A recent article in the Skagit Valley Herald (Funding cut hits dental program for children), drills home our desperate need for a national single payer health program. All local and state municipalities are straining under the heavy burden of ever increasing cuts to community health programs. We are just one of thousands.
There is a solution! The United States National Health Insurance Act-USNHIA (HR 676). This legislation, sitting in Congress, with over 90 co-sponsors, would provide the needed coverage mentioned in the article and more! It would also save our municipalities and the state tax payers millions of dollars! We urge everyone to take a look at this example brochure and share it! It will surprise you.
The Conference of U.S. Mayors, know this all too well. This month they took a bold and decisive stand by unanimously adopting a resolution calling on Congress to enact HR 676. Local and state municipalities need to follow their lead. Not only for the cost saving benefits to the communities they govern. More importantly, the health and well being of their communities. The long term effects of the lack of health care for children and young adults are well documented. As well as that for adults. We need not repeat it here.
It seems we ( or rather our Congress) have lost the ability for common sense. That has been taken over by corporate $cents$. All the while we are paying more,getting less and for some getting nothing at all.

It is time all of us started crowding our local city/county council/commission and school board meetings armed with resolutions calling on your local governments to support/endorse HR 676! You can find out more 'how to' information and resources here.