Accept No Substitutes: Single Payer Means
Single Payer
In this important election season, the men and women
vying for your votes want you to know they're on your side. They know
that health care is at or near the top of your list, so their messages are
full of agreeable buzz-words like "universal coverage" or "healthcare for
all." Don't be fooled. Many of these candidates are offering
recycled versions of the failed policies that brought us our
current healthcare morass.
Saying you're in favor of better health care is like saying you're in favor
of motherhood -- it's meaningless. If your candidate doesn't
explicitly support single payer universal health care, you're getting
another version of "no insurance company left behind." If your
candidate tends towards weasel-words like "universal care" but
avoids details, dig deeper.
They may just be trying avoid scrutiny from the voters without rocking
the boat with industry donors. Don't let them get away with it.
Specifically, if your Pennsylvania candidate does not support the passage of
HB1660 and sb400, collectively the Family and Business
Healthcare Security Act, then they're on the wrong side of the issue.
If your candidate instead supports Governor Rendell's healthcare
legislation, the cynically mislabeled "Cover All Pennsylvanians"
(CAP), he or she is
again wrong on the issue. They need to be reminded of that fact.
They need to know that their success hinges upon their support for the best
interests of the Commonwealth - not the insurance industry. Compare
the governor's plan with our single payer legislation
here. The differences couldn't be more stark.
We can pass fair healthcare reform in 2008, which is why this is such an
exciting season. But we need legislators who actively support change.
Every incumbent or challenger in Pennsylvania should understand
that their tenure depends on how well they defend the welfare
of the citizenry. When politicians understand their voters know
the difference between real change and weasel-speak, they will do the right thing --
if only out of fear for their jobs. In this season of change, it's
up to all of us to promote this cycle of self-interest on
single payer health care - and then get it passed.
