Single-payer advocates disrupt Senate Finance Committee.

allnurses Guide · May 6, 2009

[color=#004276]doctors, single payer activists arrested, make history at senate finance roundtable

[color=#333333]it has finally happened right here in the united states. citizens who believe healthcare is a human right have been arrested and are being processed like criminals through the southeast district of columbia police station. their crime? asking for single payer healthcare reform-publicly funded, privately delivered healthcare-to be discussed during the congressional hearings on reform.

[color=#333333]

[color=#333333]doctors and other single payer activists were handcuffed and went to jail today speaking up for single payer to be at the table in the senate finance committee's roundtable discussion on healthcare access and coverage. in stark contrast, karen ignagni, head of the industry lobby group american health insurance plans (ahip) was escorted into the room like royalty by staff members of the senate committee....

[color=#333333]...it made me physically ill to see maryland pediatrician margaret flowers cuffed like a criminal and pushed out the door as the senators waited to begin their staged roundtable discussion. it made me want to scream. it made me proud of them for being bold but ashamed that not one senator spoke up for their own citizen-protestors and asked that they at least be allowed to speak. but the insistence that the citizens rising in protest be arrested continued from the chair with each incident.

[color=#333333]simply asking to have single payer be included and fully vetted is a crime. profiting as the for-profit health insurance companies do at the expense of 22,000 american lives every year, however, gets you a run of the table in this healthcare reform discussion. just ask the senators who are drafting what this nation's health system will look like-and watch their behavior today-if you want evidence of how your voice will be heard in the process....

[color=#333333]http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/may/doctors_single_paye.php

Honnête et Sérieux · May 6, 2009

I believe that healthcare is a human right, along with many other rights, but I don't believe that the gov't or any other taxpayer has any obligation to pay for my rights.

I also don't believe that the definition of a right means I can behave like a drunken sailor and shout over the normal order of things.

tntrn, ASN, RN · May 6, 2009

Were they arrested for creating a disturbance maybe?

allnurses Guide · May 6, 2009

washington (dow jones)--eight advocates of government-run health care disrupted a senate hearing tuesday on health-care coverage, complaining that their viewpoint was shut out of senate debate on the issue.

one-by-one, the eight people stood up just before a senate finance committee hearing and spoke in favor of so-called "single-payer" health care - a system by which the government would provide health insurance for everyone and essentially supplant the private insurance market. the finance hearing is a "roundtable" in which 15 witnesses are set to testify on health care coverage.

"you have 15 seats at the table and not one for single-payer," said one man, before being escorted from the committee by u.s. capitol police.

the single-payer supporters, dressed in business attire, were able to interrupt the hearing by spreading throughout the hearing room and staggering their protest speeches. just as one protestor was taken out of the room by police, another would stand up and start talking.

single-payer health care proposals have seen little-to-no footing in congressional debates on overhauling the u.s. health-care system, though many democrats favor the creation of a public insurance plan to compete alongside private insurers. ...

http://online.wsj.com/article/bt-co-20090505-711710.html

Jolie, BSN · May 6, 2009

[color=#004276]doctors, single payer activists arrested, make history at senate finance roundtable
[color=#333333]it has finally happened right here in the united states. citizens who believe healthcare is a human right have been arrested and are being processed like criminals through the southeast district of columbia police station. their crime? asking for single payer healthcare reform — publicly funded, privately delivered healthcare — to be discussed during the congressional hearings on reform.

no, they were not arrested for "asking for single payer healthcare reform," they were arrested for disrupting a senate committee hearing and refusing to step down, despite being repeatedly asked to do so.

those who engage in civil disobedience must fully expect to be arrested and held accountable for their actions. these activists got exactly what they wanted.

does it not strike you as ironic that a democrat chairs this committee and democrats outnumber republicans in seats held, yet those very democrats chose not to include a "single-payor advocate" on the panel?

GCTMT · May 6, 2009

I also don't believe that the definition of a right means I can behave like a drunken sailor and shout over the normal order of things.

A few of them were probably very nervous, thus what they said wasn't delivered as planned. Others however were pretty well spoken and had some excellent points. Let's keep in mind also, that single-payer was excluded from the "normal order of things."

Honnête et Sérieux · May 6, 2009

All of them were out of order...without exception.

GCTMT · May 6, 2009

These activists got exactly what they wanted.

They wanted an advocate of single-payer as part of the round table discussions. They didn't get that. There are many people in the United States who support a single-payer option. Why isn't their voice present in these proceedings? Furthermore, their secondary objective was most likely to get media attention. Is anyone aware of hearing about this on the network nightly news, or for that matter, how much publicity does single-payer get?

Honnête et Sérieux · May 6, 2009

The Senate Progressive Caucus prefers a single-payer system, but they are aware of Obama's opposition to the idea. They are also aware how it went when Hillary tried to promote the idea the first time.

They might also be aware of how every regional attempt at a single payer in the US has failed straightaway.

And it's not as if this has been the only hearing on the issue, or that it will be the last.

GCTMT · May 6, 2009

Every regional attempt at a single payer in the US has failed? I would be interested to know what you mean by that. Are you talking about the Massachusetts plan?

Whether it's the first hearing on the issue or the last, it's still important. Essentially, a large group of Americans (single-payer advocates) were excluded from these proceedings, which is perhaps why one of the protestors asked the simple question of why single-payer advocates were not present. I agree, they were out of order. There are times however, when we can't follow the proper channels and expect our voices be heard.

Jolie, BSN · May 6, 2009

They wanted an advocate of single-payer as part of the round table discussions. They didn't get that.
The people who interrupted the meeting were acting in a well-organized and well-planned manner. They knew exactly what they would accomplish by their actions, and that was to get attention and sympathy, not a seat at the table.
There are many people in the United States who support a single-payer option. Why isn't their voice present in these proceedings?

You need to direct this question to the leadership of the Democrat Party, which holds the Chairmanship and a majority of the seats on the Senate Finance Committee. It is their job to set the agenda. Again, I find it ironic that the Dems, who promise improved access to healthcare for all have failed to listen to the constituents who desire a single-payor system. Rascals!