On 29 September 2009 Rep Alan Grayson informed us of the Republican health care plan:
Nothing has changed except the party of NO increased its Senate membership by one, yesterday.
On 8 October 2009 Rep Alan Grayson explained what matters to Americans and reminds us that 44,000 Americans die every year because they do not have access to health care:
Today, 20 January 2010, the first anniversary of President Obama’s inauguration nothing has been done to stop the dying, to stop the suffering. While Congressional Democrats ponder their fate – a fate Rep Grayson outlined cogently they will face if they do not serve the American people – I’ve written the following to the President because it is something he can DO that will stop the suffering and dying while the American people await legislative reform of health care administration and improvement in the overall health care delivery system.
Good afternoon Mr. President,
As you know, General Smedley Butler was an extraordinary soldier. He was awarded the Medal of Honor not once, but twice. In 1935 he published ‘War is a Racket’ – and noted: "War is a racket. It always has been. … It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. … Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."
However, today, we have now witnessed the emergence of a challenger to ‘war’ - the health insurance industry of America.
From the perspective of the Harvard Study that Congressman Grayson has so powerfully summarized for all Americans, and, more importantly, from the perspective of an ethical society, I think General Butler would agree that today his assessment of lucrative rackets should be amended to: ‘War and the American health insurance industry are the two enterprises in which profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.’
Legislative reform is needed and you are clearly striving for meaningful reform. But, Mr. President, you must recognize that that legislation does nothing for the people dying today, tomorrow, the next day and the next because they have no access to affordable care. That eventual reform does nothing to sooth, to comfort, to alleviate pain, to provide dignity to those who are left to await their death with no hope - the steadily expanding plight of millions of Americans. That's millions, Sir.
Mr. President - please see it for what it is. We confront a colossal National Emergency - it touches every State, every County, simply, it is everywhere in America. It kills more people in 30 days than died on 11 Sept 2001. It kills more people in 19 days than were killed by hurricane Katrina. It kills more people in 3 days than SARS did, internationally. It kills an American every 12 minutes on average.
Mr President you need to act and act boldly to begin caring for our fellow Americans – in real, tangible ways. So, while we await reform of health care, I urge you Mr. President to declare a National Emergency and began providing medical, dental, psychiatric care for the sick and those whom will die – one, on average, every 12 minutes - with no hope, no comfort, no mercy, .... nothing.
Just imagine how many would be alive today, who would have suffered less had you done so when I first submitted the request to you in October, 2009 – many more than have died in Iraq and Afghanistan in the same interval, for sure.
Thank you - please ACT,
Bob
I do think the House should pass the Senate bill and begin a parallel process of legislative action as to improve numerous aspects of that bill.
But, what will rightly, ethically and effectively change the situation for those whom are suffering and dying is for the President of the United States of America to do for them what we are currently (and rightly) doing for the people of Haiti - deliver emergency care swiftly and persistently.