Loganotron

Sign Howard Dean’s petition here. Tell members of Congress that you want the choice of options, including a publicly run health care option.

This is from my friend and coworker Beth. We both recognize the urgency around health care TODAY.

Hi all. If you’re horrified at the way the healthcare debate has been hijacked by naysayers and mired in the flat-out lies of the insurance industry and anti-progress politicians, here are two simple things you can do today.

One is to help fire Senator Baucus by simply clicking here.

Another is to call Senator Feinstein’s office (415-393-0707 northern California; 310-914-7318 southern California ) and make it clear that you support a public health option.

I’m also including a link to a very instructive Bill Moyers interview with a former senior executive at Cigna. He openly admits to the insurance industry’s dishonest tactics and how they’ve operated in the past to obscure what’s truly at stake in the healthcare debate, working hand-in-glove with the the politicians they pay off and blackmail. He even predicts, on July 11, how the insurance companies would ramp up their fight as the time for a vote got closer. Please watch the video and pass on the link if you are so inspired.

WATCH MOYERS’ INTERVIEW HERE

This could be the very last chance for meaningful healthcare reform for decades. Please do everything you can.

Sometimes the will of the voters is heard, despite the heavy influence and resistance of businesses. Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today in favor of the city’s plan that would require employers to either offer their employees health coverage, or pay a fee to the city to help fund health care coverage for the uninsured. The court went even further to say that the system can go into effect during the appeals process, and that it is likely to hold up to final legal scrutiny.

I don’t believe for one second that small businesses will have to lay people off to be able to pay these fees. They will raise their prices as necessary, and the city residents will pay those prices. I personally will pay them gladly. I think there are huge benefits to having my fellow citizens have access to affordable health care. A healthy populous is a more productive, happy, and prosperous one.

Also, the fees generated from employers would only account for 20% of the program’s cost. The rest of the funding would come from rerouted city funds already dedicated to health care. It’s also important to note for those who deride handouts and free health care, that this program still requires participants to pay a income-adjusted monthly premiums. These fees make up the final portion of the funding for the program. Essentially the city is stepping in to help regulate the astronomical prices that HMOs levy, prices that most lower and middle-income families cannot afford. I am all for it, and am pleased with the court’s ruling today.