On Fri, Dec 13, 2013 at 4:02 AM, someone wrote me:
Senator
Bernie Sanders introduced legislation earlier this week to provide
health care for every American through a Medicare-for-all, single-payer
system. Rep. Jim McDermott has filed a companion bill in the House.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>...............
Yes; I have read the entire legislation.
I have questions about it and Sanders' staff (in particular Lauri Kearns who is apparently the one and only person in the entire United States who can answer questions about this legislation) refuses to answer my questions which make me think:
1. There are problems with this legislation we should be leery and wary of;
2. Bernie Sanders is not sincerely bringing this forward with any intention of actually fighting for it... it is merely a campaign gimmick; just like HR 676 has been used by John Conyers;
3. Last time I checked, this legislation had NO co-sponsors in the Senate or House which means it has ZERO chance of even getting a first hearing in Committee;
4. I called the offices of the U.S. Senators from North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Iowa along with twenty-two members of the House, including 14 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus including Keith Ellison's And Raul Grijalva and was told they had no intention of supporting this legislation.
Now, why would I waste my time, or why would you waste your time, trying to drum up support for a piece of legislation knowing it is merely a campaign gimmick?
My suggestion is we only promote single-payer as a step towards a National Public Health Care System... the present House, Senate and president will never pass single-payer let alone a National Public Health Care System. I believe it makes more sense to begin advocating for what is really required--- a National Public Health Care System; and out of our advocacy for this will grow the awareness needed for a new political party.
I would like to hear from others who have actually read this legislation, and not just Bernie Sanders' press release if they see any problems with this legislation.
I would like to hear from others who have actually read this legislation, and not just Bernie Sanders' press release if they see any problems with this legislation.
One problem I see is that it requires workers to pay to large a share of the payroll tax; I think it should be 15% to 25% employee and 75% employer and 0% on anyone living in poverty. The way this legislation is written, this could end up costing seniors more than they now pay for supplemental insurance; and this from a guy who says he is for defending Social Security! In essence, this would be a cut in Social Security for anyone on Social Security who has to pay income tax.
It isn't clear if an additional income tax will be levied on everyone; plus, the income tax on the wealthy is way too little and there should be a much heftier Wall Street tax.
Why is it there is all this talk by the Democrats (and "independent" Bernie Sanders) at election time of "tax the rich" but when it comes to actually levying these taxes they amount to next to nothing? Why this continual appeasement of the rich? Because they are the ones making the big campaign contributions! And, quite frankly, it makes me sick that all these people talking about getting money out of politics are afraid of chasing these campaign contributions coming from the wealthy away. Let them take their money to the Republicans--- this is one very effective way to get money out of politics; let the Republicans have ALL this big money and people will begin to seethe in resentment and it will work against them.
I have received over 100 e-mails from people and organizations just tickled pink that Bernie Sanders has brought this legislation forward--- not one single person has read anything other than the press release.
This reminds me of the hundreds of e-mails I received forwarding me John Conyers' press release for his "Full Employment Legislation." Well, I read the legislation--- HR 1000--- and found it to be a very good piece of legislation; an excellent job creating piece of legislation which if passed would employ two to three million unemployed people--- no mention that there are now well over 25 million unemployed people. Just outright lies and gimmickry is what we get from these politicians. I asked John Conyers, to his face, to provide me with a copy of the "Full Employment Act of 1945." He told me to read the "1946 Act" that it was the same thing. Another outright lie. I requested a copy of the "Full Employment Act of 1945" and the testimony from the Congressional Hearing from Keith Ellison's office over three years ago and I still never received it.
If we want good solid legislation about anything we need to write the legislation ourselves and run candidates committed to introducing this legislation. And our legislation has just as much chance of passing in this way as anything coming from any of these phony and dishonest creeps calling themselves "liberals" and "progressives." We can trust these politicians any more than we can trust the labels on the food we buy or a Wal-mart ad--- you always have to read the "fine print."
Read the legislation--- not the press release!
And if you don't have time to read the legislation; don't send me the press release.
And if the legislation is too complicated for you to understand--- the legislation is no good.
Any school child can read and understand the Canada Health Act.
In fact, no one has ever explained to me why we can't just take the Canada Health Act and re-write it by substituting "American" with the word "Canada?"
Let me remind everyone that a National Public Health Care System would be based on the exact same model as public education only it would be a national program that would be publicly financed, publicly administered and publicly delivered. I have yet to hear any teacher ever complain they receive their paycheck from the government; I have yet to hear one single parent ever complain that they don't have to pay each teacher a "fee." And most students and parents have a far more personal relationship with their children's teachers than what they have ever had with any doctor. And, as a bonus, a National Public Health Care System would create 12 to 15 million new, good-paying jobs providing the American people with free health care through a network of neighborhood and community health care centers.
If anyone can tell me why a National Public Health Care System wouldn't work as well as a properly funded public education system I would like to hear the explanation.
Now, all we need to do is end these costly dirty wars, the rampant militarism and close down the more than 800 military bases dotting the globe protecting Wall Street's assets and profits and we will have enough money to fund a world class health care system with plenty left over to put every unemployed person in this country to work doing something socially useful and necessary--- I call this the "21st Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity"--- an Act which would mandate the president and Congress to work together to attain and maintain full employment.
Now, all we need to do is end these costly dirty wars, the rampant militarism and close down the more than 800 military bases dotting the globe protecting Wall Street's assets and profits and we will have enough money to fund a world class health care system with plenty left over to put every unemployed person in this country to work doing something socially useful and necessary--- I call this the "21st Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity"--- an Act which would mandate the president and Congress to work together to attain and maintain full employment.
Consider this my "press release." Pass it along and share it with everyone you know.
I will be asking you to sign on to a statement declaring that this is what we want. Please consider doing this.
Also, when it comes to the need for a new political party. I think we need this new party now; not later. I don't think we need to wait for any "leaders" or these foundation-funded outfits to take the lead. We need to take the lead and initiative ourselves. This is the way it has always been. If you think something needs to be done and you look around for someone to "lead" the way and you can't find anyone--- you do it yourself. We need a working class based progressive people's party in this country similar to the old socialist Minnesota Farmer-Labor Party and like the Canadian New Democratic Party. Bringing forward the kind of legislation required to solve our problems is what we organize and build this new party around.
We have to remember: The only way we ever win against the Wall Street crowd is when we bring an even bigger crowd.
When will we ever learn?
Alan L. Maki
On Fri, Dec 13, 2013 at 4:02 AM, someone wrote me:
Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation earlier this week to provide health care for every American through a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system. Rep. Jim McDermott has filed a companion bill in the House.
From: Alan Maki <alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com>Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2013 7:10 PM
To: "uniting_people@lists.riseup.net" <uniting_people@lists.riseup. net>
Subject: I came across this guy from an e-mail... I'm curious what you think about what he has to saySeems to me he opens up some good discussion:
Does anyone know this guy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUvdpi98mjY --Alan L. MakiDirector of Organizing,Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council58891 County Road 13Warroad, Minnesota 56763Phone: 218-386-2432Cell: 651-587-5541Primary E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.netE-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com