Texas Longhorns with newborn calf in Bluebonnets

Texas Longhorns with newborn calf in Bluebonnets

Please note I have a new phone number...

512-517-2708

Alan Maki

Alan Maki
Doing research at the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas

It's time to claim our Peace Dividend

It's time to claim our Peace Dividend

We need to beat swords into plowshares.

We need to beat swords into plowshares.

A program for real change...

http://peaceandsocialjustice.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-progressive-program-for-real-change.html


What we need is a "21st Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity" which would make it a mandatory requirement that the president and Congress attain and maintain full employment.


"Voting is easy and marginally useful, but it is a poor substitute for democracy, which requires direct action by concerned citizens"

- Ben Franklin

Let's talk...

Let's talk...

Thursday, March 30, 2017

I have tried to engage Bernie Sanders and the leaders of "Our Revolution" numerous times in a dialog on health care reform but all I ever get is these meaningless responses.

I received this e-mail from Jeff Weaver of "Our Revolution" about "Medicare For All" and then responded; and following my response is the e-mail I received back from "Our Revolution."

I think it is very important to note that Bernie Sanders' "Medicare For All" legislation--- just like the Conyers bill, HR 676--- leaves the private for-profit motive behind health care intact--- both in its administration and delivery and both come with a very high price tag for individuals and the government which neither Conyers nor Sanders will address as to how much these plans will cost each of us--- this is a less than honest way to bring forward legislation by leaving the people in the dark as to what the actual costs incurred will be. Just as unethical is the failure to inform people that the private for-profit motive will be left intact by each of these pieces of legislation which neither the authors nor the supporters will acknowledge even though most people, because of the dishonest way both pieces of legislation are being promoted, actually believe the for-profit motive will end.

Making health care "affordable" is not the issue; providing health care as a fundamental basic human right to everyone is the goal and objective and only a National Public Health Care System can accomplish this.

Furthermore, how can anyone make such an outlandish claim that 58% of the American people support this "Medicare for All" when all the other choices have not been explained and included--- this is a dishonest way of promoting anything. Make all choices available to people and then ask them to choose.

Here is what "Our Revolution" sent out:


Our Revolution
Alan,
Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he's going to be introducing a Medicare for All bill in the Senate.
We all know that the Affordable Care Act was a critically important step towards the goal of universal health care. But 29 million Americans today still do not have health insurance, and millions more are underinsured because health insurance companies are making our health care unaffordable and inaccessible.
Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All bill puts power and choice when it comes to health care decisions right where it should be -- in the hands of patients and their doctors, because nobody should be squeezed by the insurance industry's bottom line.
I've known Senator Sanders for more than 30 years. He has championed universal health care for even longer. Bernie has always stood up for the people, even if it means going up against the establishment. The insurance industry, which spent $146 BILLION in 2016 alone lobbying Congress, will say that universal health care isn't possible. Not only is it possible*, Medicare for All is the only way to solve our health care crisis.
That's why Our Revolution is joining with communities all across the country to win this critical fight. We're supporting Rob Quist, a strong advocate for universal health care, who is running for Montana's at-large Congressional district in the upcoming special election.
This isn't some fringe issue: 58 percent of Americans support a Medicare for All system**. Our issue is national, and it's personal. Too many Americans lie awake at night wondering how they'll pay for much-needed treatment or medications. Americans are dying of entirely preventable causes. Ensuring universal health care through a Medicare for All program is a moral imperative that we cannot ignore.
Keep up the fight, because together we're transforming this country.
In solidarity,
Jeff Weaver
President
Our Revolution
--------------------
*Medicare for All is possible: here's a map of nations that provide universal health care for all.
**Americans expect more: 58% of Americans support Medicare for all.


This was my response:
from:Alan Maki<alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com>
to:Our Revolution
date:Wed, Mar 29, 2017 at 1:07 PM
subject:Re: Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for All" bill
mailed-by:gmail.com


I would like to meet with people to
discuss this campaign I have launched 
to see if you might be willing to help.

Let me know if Bernie and Our Revolution 

endorse this.

Thanking you in advance for your 

consideration.

Alan Maki
Lakeway, Texas




Campaign for a “21st Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity”

We are fed up with politicians campaigning on promises of “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs” and then failing to make themselves legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment.

We are fed up with our tax dollars being squandered on militarism and wars instead of being used to create jobs by solving the problems of the people and defending our living environment… its time to beat swords into plowshares. Put people to work solving the problems of the people.

A National Public Health Care System would create over twelve-million new jobs paying real living wages providing people with free health care---  general medical, eyes, ears, dental, family planning and mental health--- through a network of neighborhood and community health care centers; this is a better use of our tax-dollars than wasting our human and financial resources on a far flung empire of over 800 U.S. military bases around the world. Or, it could be financed the same way Social Security is financed. Or paid for with  a tax on Wall Street transactions. Or financed with a combination of these methods. Public funding. Public administration. Public delivery… nothing controversial; just like public education.

A National Public Child Care System would create over three-million new jobs providing working class families with free child care.

We need to restore the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (C.E.T.A.), Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).

“At Will Employment” legislation in states across the country needs to be rescinded and repealed to expand democracy in the workplace and provide workers with the right to freely participate in the communities where they live.

All attacks on immigrant workers, documented and undocumented, need to end.

Planned Parenthood needs to be defended and programs expanded.

We insist Congress and the president enact full employment legislation which makes them legislatively responsible for attaining and maintaining full employment; assure everyone who wants a job employment at real living wages in line with the actual cost-of-living.

Full employment would provide stability for Social Security; everyone paying in; everyone getting something out. A Basic Income for All must be guaranteed. Pensions must be honored and protected. The Wall Street swindle of pension funds must end; restore the Glass-Steagall Act.

Turn Habitat for Humanity into a massive public works project to create jobs and assure everyone has a decent home.

Free education through university; cancel student debt. End military recruitment in the high schools.

Unemployment and lack of a National Public Health Care System is the price we pay for militarism and wars. We are entitled to a Peace Dividend……... Let’s talk about the politics and economics of livelihood.

Name                                 Address                               City                                   State                    E-mail
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And this was the response I received:

Info@OR info@ourrevolution.com via helpscout.net 

7:40 PM (16 hours ago)

to me

Alan,

Thank you so much for your

thoughtful note and suggestion.
It will be passed on.

And thanks, sincerely, for your support!

In solidarity,

--
Kelli
Our Revolution Help Desk Volunteer
{#HS:341782061-78721#}