I just attended a public forum with my congressman, John Hall of NY's 19th district, more or less still a swing district, on the health care issue, in Fishkill NY. Happily, I can report that the event was pretty much wingnut free, and attended by people who want to see actual reform and a more universal system and interested in sane, rational and civil dialogue. People came, listened, asked thoughtful questions, and listened carefully to the answers. In short, there was shared dialogue here amongst patients/citizens, care profiders, and an elected representative. one which while perhaps not necessarily certain about final results was at least focused on the process, that is, the process of addressing a large scale and complex problem like universally providing quality health care for all Americans.
(I should mention that I wasn't taking written notes, so this is based more on my impressions of what I saw and heard today.)
The event took place in the lobby of Vassar Brothers Medical Center, which is a facility known, in large part, for its cancer treatment. In attendance, then, were patient-activists, some of whom were experiencing the inequalities and inconsistencies of our current, existing insurance system, with its various denials of coverage. Their presence at this event underscored the need to reform the system and to do it now.
Some photos that I took while there. Here is just before the start of the forum.
My friend and fellow local progressive Vane, who is currently campaigning for city council here in Beacon, NY is in the next picture, in the left of the photo with his hand up.
Prior to John Hall, Sandra Cassese, the vice president of Oncology & Ambulatory Services at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, spoke with much urgency of the need for government to see to it that patients universally be allowed to get the care that they need. She spoke very convincingly about the downward spiral for those who are uninsured or underinsured and who are facing catastrophic medical conditions. She spoke on behalf of those providers who want to be able to provide appropriate medical services for those in need. As someone who has worked for a long time with cancer patients and their families and who has seen such progress in terms of the medical advances in oncology, she came accross as compassionate and very informed, and thus as a real advocate for change. Her calls for universal and affordable health insurance were soundly applauded by the vast majority of those there.
As John Hall spoke and answered some questions, he did what I have long seen him do in such forums, which is to combine both a direct explanation of how legislation and policy decisions get made and his own personal connections to the issue. He spoke, eloquently, about friends and family members, including his mom, his brother, and one of his fellow Orleans band members, as they were dealing with catastrophic medical conditions. He also spoke of the need for realism, that is, for doing what can conceviably get done, given existing political conditions. But essentially, he also underscored, in his comments, the need to reform the ways we pay for and make available health care so that the process is made much more fair, equitable, and rational. he also recieved quite a bit of hearty applause when touching on such themes.
Essentially, what I came away with from this forum is that Congressman Hall, and those like him, that is, progressive leaning Dems, such as those in Congress who support universal coverage and thus the public option, are looking to see what happens in the Senate. He and they clearly know that the system is broken and needs fixing. That much came across. However, a lot of details remain, and the congressman's schedule was tight, so that he could only stay for an hour (actually, he stayed a bit longer and took a few additional questions). He did in the course of speaking mention a possible discussion of reversing some of Bush's tax cuts to help pay for this, as well as a proposal for a legislative cap on private insurer's profit margins to 15% (down from 30-35% where it is currently) but without guaranteeing that either would necessarily happen. My sense from all this is that the fix is not yet in, so as progressives need to keep pushing on our priority of a univesal and affordable health care system.
ADDENDUM: I also wanted to show the button I was wearing on my shirt, as were other there at the event.
Wow, I see that this has made the Rec List. I am very honored by that. Thanks to those who recommended this.