It's time to take the next step to action. In fact I think it's been that time for months now.
Plain and simple, "Let's March!"
We make a very simple plan like, "Medicare for all" or "Single payer" and organize this through SEIU and or other organizations and let's hit the pavement. Whatever level of satisfaction you have with this senate bill we all know we want more, deserve more and it will better our country exponentially, republicans and teabaggers included.
I live in Japan and socialized medicine is alive and well here. The system is so simple and hassle free that you can even forget your HI card and they will still charge you the normal insured rate. Health insurance for my two boys is provided free, medication included, until they reach Jr. high. It doesn't mean people don't get sick or hurt but it does mean we don't have to worry that every trip to the hospital might lead to financial difficulties or ruin if we don't meet the complicated requirements of the private insurance companies. Here in Tokyo, our family pays about $500 a month and the split is 70 (govt.) - 30 (individual) when you go to the hospital or see a doctor. My hernia operation cost me 400 bucks with a two day stay in the hospital a few years back. Sometimes the hospitals are a little crowded and they sure like to give you a lot of medicine but those are non-issues for the most part.
On the other hand, recently my friend in LA told me how, before his wife was about to go under the knife, he was scampering around the hospital trying to confirm if the anesthesiologist was "in network" or not, because if not, he would have to pay the full charge of $3,000 or so. All this while his wife is on the gurney and he is trying to calm and be relaxed for her. Turns out the anesthesiologist was in network and was covered but his wife had a post-op complication and had to stay a day past the expected period. So now he is fighting again to get a $2,500 overstay charge covered by producing a pound of paperwork and then praying that the insurance company will approve his request. What exactly is insurance if it doesn't cover unexpected complications? I feel like laughing but it's such a serious issue I end up crying.
The CEOs of these private HI companies must just chuckle among themselves at how easily trained we Americans are, and how easy it is to keep even modest attempts at reform from occurring. Like CA was to Enron the US is for health insurance companies. Pre-existing conditions, out of pocket costs, deductibles, lifetime limits... The system is so intentionally confusing that I dread the times when I sit down and try to explain to my Non-American wife what we would be in for if and when we move back to the states. One time she just looked at me and said "Why is it so complicated, expensive and not even fully covered at the same time?" and I felt like I had an epiphany. "You're right honey! Because it's an absolute joke that quite a few people are convinced is the best thing to do." WHO number 37 ranking be damned.
So instead of spending our energy trying to figure out if Obama did or did not campaign for the PO before the election, or whether or not the senate bill will hack at the roots or just the leaves we know somethings are for certain. When push comes to shove, the left will always be shoved, even by its own. And without a change in the paradigm the HI will soon enough figure ways to outfox the new system and turn it to its benefit, if it hasn't already. So in keeping up with some of the posts here we have to put fear into the hearts of our leaders. We have demonstrate what happens when our will is discarded so easily. Hit the streets in masses, be lawful but show our might and our determination. We are not satisfied with anything short of a national government run plan that is available to all Americans.
I think one of the positive things to take away from 2009 was that we did get close and there are a lot of congressman, senators, (maybe not presidents), who consistently echo and fight for our goal. Just because we didn't win the championship doesn't mean we should sit out the next season. And one of the positive things to take away from 2008 is that there sure are a lot of us out there. Just because the leader has lost the message doesn't mean we have to lose the message too. Imagine what might happen if we sit on the sidelines in 2010/2012. That's much scarier than a flaky president who might do more if he feared us like he does big Pharma, and Wall Street.
I am ready to fly in from Tokyo. I want to meet as many people who feel like I do and start building bonds and strengthening the movement like we did last fall to Barack elected.
Feet to the streets. We are not satisfied. We want a better, safe, reliable, affordable, simple healthcare system available for all.