Sunday, February 28, 2010

Who's Gonna Know?

Truth Justice And The American Way
Why do these words NOT belong together?
Why do they Run Together?

Honesty needs to get Hip
Needs to get out from behind Transparency
Needs to answer Lucille then Me

What have you done to my Mother?

USA USA USA You chant
Earth is a closed System
Dominion is not yours

The air you breathe
The water you drink
You share with need

Another Life
Another Time 
without choice

exAMPLE bREAK

Peter/Alley

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Live from Mom

Tsunami
Sat, February 27, 2010 1:45:25 PM




From:
rheppner 


To:Peter Heppner 

Dear Peter,
We were awakened by the sirens early this morning. Local news said a tsunami warning was in effect. We are now awaiting its impact. As David house is well above any danger level, we have been able to stay put. All events have been cancelled and the shopping areas along the beach are closed. As most life here exists along the coast, that means not much is open. Evacuations in the hotels means they move everyone to the third floor or higher. Last week we  were  at the zoo, which right on the Diamond Head coast. What the do with the animals I am not sure.
Yesterday we went up to North Shore to watch the waves, which were 10 to 20 ft. swells. That is in the normal course of happenings here, what surfers love. A tsunami creates a much different scenario, the wave does not break, it just keeps on coming. As we have a clear view of Pearl Harbor and the coast, we should be able to watch it all from a safe distance. The ships in Pearl Harbor are being moved to safer quarters, don't know how they protect the Arizona Memorial, except it is in a harbor.
We should know in another 1 1/2.
Love
Mom

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Summit Sum up

Evenin',
Wednesday  nights', Pre- Health Care Summit Rally at the Chicago Temple on Washington, was soothing, informative.

Here are 3 clips. 


John Gaudette of Citizen Action Illinois using non-profit technology speaking with Steve Hart, the partner of late Melanie Shouse


John Gaudette


marbles, sand & water

Andy Kurtz
www.youtube.com
Andy Kurtz Speaks from experience in the Insurance Industry regarding Healthcare Reform

We Can Do More!!!

Miles Zaremski




 www.youtube.com

Pre-Summit Health Care Rally Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington Street February 24, 2010  Mr. Zaremski advocates Healthcare is a right as a Moral Imperative.
Then for almost  7 hours Thursday (There was a recess for a House Vote)  President Obama listened, responded & observed that if there is no solution to Healthcare Reform soon,(specifically 6 weeks). Elections in November will be the Resolution to the impasse.


Cartoon From 
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/02/we_need_reform.html
today's cartoon











www.c-span.org
Chief Deputy Whip Rep. DeGette continues the segment on the White House health care summit. Rep. DeGette is also a member of the Energy &Commerce Health Subcommittee.


 Press replay and delve,


Chit with ya',


Peter Lott Heppner
Chicago


P.S. Before the Summit The GOP Resuscitated an old confabulation regarding reconciliation.
 Here is  Rachel Maddow explaining in detail how they keep doing this.





Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Healthcare Advocates Pre-Summit Rally

Evenin,
Received this reminder pep booster today.
Sooo,If you're near  77 West Washington tomorrow 'round 6pm stop by, If not share  this letter from 
Dr. Lora Chamberlain.

Hello to all,
     I would like to say something to all the 
Health Care Advocates in America, both Single Payer Advocates and Public Optioners.
     We are at a 
pivotal point in the Health Care conversation that has consumed America for over a year now. It is rightfully front and center, at it's core is the concept of "We vs I, (or individual greed)" and the question about whether we are going to be a benevolent society to each other or not! This is an extremely important moment for the evolution of America but it is truly only one moment in a longer, larger struggle for the control of this country away from the Corporations and Money into the hands of the People, Democracy and Community. I can not stress this enough!
     I am going to invite everyone to this health care meeting below not to fuel any standoff between the Single Payerites and the Public Optioners but because I believe in my heart that the seeds of unity need to be urgently planted at this and every meeting like it across America amongst progressives at this time!
     We, progressives, must come together, in compromise and unity, with a combined, agreed upon,
progressive agenda for the Nation, or we will ultimately lose this country and our democracy, period end of story! Sure, some of us may win a small battle here or there but the Corporations are going to win the War! Can anyone else see this? The only way we, the people, the progressives, will win the final battle for the heart of America and vanquish once and for all the greed of the multinational, megalithic corporation is by our unity, our solidarity, our compromise, our organizing, our numbers and our perseverance
     May I please suggest a way to frame this whole debate; The Single Payerites are the true visionaries, they see into the future and they know where we are going with our 
Health Care System, they do know the truth about the future. The Public Optioners are the strategists, they share the same overall frame of reference, the "WE" as the Single Payerites. They do not see far into the future, they only see the next step.
     Congress is a very fearful institution right now and they are even more unwilling to take significant steps because of the massive amount of corporate money that has just been unleashed on them by the recent Supreme Court decision. They are facing a whole new game!
     I am asking everyone to come to this meeting below without the anger and calcification of our individual opinions or "rightness" but with listening ears for the opportunity of hearing and seeing an opening for compromise. An opportunity for future unity! If the "We" of the country can not come together, how are we ever going to win over the "I"?
     Unity among the progressives is the only way that we are ever going to win the final battle with the Goliath Corporations and unlike the 
Bible story, there is no David, no Savior to win the battles for us! I hope everyone has recognized by now that Barack is not going to be that Savior!
     We, progressives, are going to have to work together to take on the megalithic corporations in every aspect of our society; to break them up, regulate them, boycott them, sue them, refuse to work for them. We must come together so that we can impact the "Too Big To Fail" private institutions across America! I hope that you can see that this is not just a fight for Health Care, correct?
     Please come to the meeting below with a long range view of this moment in history, not in capitulation but in reverence to the higher goal of unity. You do not have to lose your dedication to your vision, just add the dedication to the unity, that it will require to achieve your vision, once and for all!
     I am a Single Payerite, I believe that will have our 
Single Payer system eventually, I would love that we could have it right now, but I see our adversaries; the megalithic corporations and their minions in Congress to be very strong. I would like to strategically weaken them so that our next battle will be the winning battle. Can we talk about what that strategic blow might look like?
     I do not agree with the entire list of priorities in the email below from HCAN but I am willing to go to this meeting with open ears to hear where we can compromise, what we all agree upon and what steps can we take to continue our activism in unity.
     Does anyone agree with me? Does anyone see the wisdom in this approach? I will be at this meeting and I hope you will be there too, thanks for all that you do, Dr. Lora

When: Wednesday, February 24th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Where: Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington, 1st floor Sanctuary
As Washington gets ready for yet another summit on health care, people across the country continue to lose insurance, lose their life savings, and lose their lives. 

  • Aetna Will Start Dropping 650,000 Members
  • Blue Cross Will Raise Rates by 39%
  • 2,500 People Will Go Bankrupt Each Day
Makes You Wonder, WHAT'S LEFT TO TALK ABOUT?
On Wednesday, we gather together to define exactly what we want in health care reform, to layout the path Congress must take to pass reform, and to activate thousands of families with the tools needed to keep the pressure on Congress and the White House.
We will hear from Melanie Marchers that are walking to DC right now, and we will hear from Congressional offices about their strategy to win.

  • Pass the Senate Bill
  • Pass a Fix-Bill with Reconciliation
  • National Exchange, Increase Affordability, Eliminate Excise Tax,
  • Include the Public Health Insurance Option


From WHYY  Fresh Air with Terry Gross interviews Paul... "Blumenthal, a senior writer at the Sunlight Foundation, determined that Congress and PhRMA met dozens of times to negotiate that deal. He tells Terry Gross that he learned who attended the meetings by examining Federal Election Commission records, public visitor logs to the White House and the publicly available schedule of Sen. Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. ..." 

Connecting the Dots Between Big PhRMA and Congress

See ya' Tomorrow,

If not,

 Chit With ya',

Peter Lott Heppner
Chicago


P.S.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Healthcare for everyone, is better than War



Evenin'



From the White House Blog The Weekly Address


http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/02/19/weekly-address-premiums-profits-and-need-health-reform






In my mail From PNHP


February 22, 2010
Dear PNHP members and friends,
We have some bad news and some good news.
1. The bad news is that President Obama's health proposal, as expected, retains all the structural flaws of the Senate health bill: A mandate that individuals (but not employers) purchase private coverage; over $400 billion in subsidies to the private health insurance industry; and funding through a steep excise tax on comprehensive health plans. At best, the plan will leave over 25 million Americans uninsured and tens of millions more underinsured.
Additionally, PNHP's request to be allowed to participate in Obama's health summit this Thursday, Feb. 25, has gone unanswered.
2. The good news is that single-payer advocates are garnering media attention and planning a "Sidewalk Summit for Medicare for All" outside Obama's official health summit this Thursday (with related actions in several cities on the same day).Dr. Margaret Flowers appeared on Bill Moyers Journal on Feb. 5(transcript). Today, Dr. Quentin Young's blog posting, Reprinted Below "Put single payer back on the table," appeared at The Huffington Post.This weekend, PNHP President Dr. Oliver Fein had an op-ed in the Huntsville (Alabama) Times in anticipation of his visit there later this week to give several talks.
PNHPers Dr. George Jolly (Saratoga, N.Y.), Dr. Rob Stone (Bloomington, Ind.), Dr. Anne Courtwright (Pueblo, Colo.) and Dr. Elinor Christiansen (Denver), who was interviewed by Colorado Public Radio, have also helped garner media coverage for single-payer recently.
Last week in Denver, Obama was greeted by throngs of grassroots single-payer supporters from Health Care for All Colorado and Dr. Flowers with "Medicare for All" signs outside (and even inside!) his events.
PNHPers can help with the following actions:
Call the White House at 202-456-1111 and ask that single payer, Medicare for All be "on the table" at the summit this Thursday and that PNHP congressional fellow and Baltimore pediatrician Dr. Margaret Flowers be admitted.
If you live in the DC-area, attend the "sidewalk summit" in your white coat and be prepared to speak to media on site about single payer.
If you live outside DC, please send letters and op-eds to your local paper or try to link up with one of the local actions (Healthcare-Now is keeping a list of these). A sample letter-to-the editor that you can modify is here and several sample op-eds are linked above.
In solidarity,


Ida Hellander, MD
Executive Director Mark Almberg
Communications Director
Put Single Payer Back on the Table
By Dr. Quentin Young
The Huffington Post
February 22, 2010
One year after its much-ballyhooed launch, the Obama administration's approach to health reform is now in serious disarray.
The president's health care summit on Feb. 25 is being portrayed as a last ditch bid to find some common ground with his "just say no" Republican opposition. He also faces an increasingly wary group of disgruntled Democrats, whose memory of the Massachusetts massacre -- the election of a Republican to Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat -- remains fresh.
The summit proceedings, which will be televised in the name of "transparency," will no doubt be laden with a formidable amount of stagecraft. They will be preceded by the unveiling of the president's own legislative proposal -- presumably the odious Senate bill with some tweaks -- a few days before.
But it's almost certain that this latest White House initiative, undertaken with the stated goal of salvaging and passing at least some elements of the stalled congressional bills, is foredoomed.
The House bill, contrary to many who believe otherwise, is disastrous. And if such a thing is possible, its Senate counterpart is even worse. Both would shovel hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars into the coffers of the private health insurance industry. Both would make it a federal offense, with fines, for a person to fail to buy the insurers' shoddy products.
Even so, at least 23 million people would remain uninsured under the new law. And those who have insurance would remain vulnerable to extort premium increases, not unlike Anthem Blue Cross' recently announced premium hikes of up to 39 percent in California.
While one could imagine the enactment of certain piecemeal measures that might ameliorate our condition -- e.g., a simple prohibition of insurance company denials of coverage because of pre-existing conditions -- these are precisely the stand-alone measures most stubbornly opposed by Republicans, conservative Democrats and their corporate patrons. Such concessions, in their eyes, must be linked to shoring up the very culprits who are most responsible for our health care mess.
The presence of the for-profit health industry -- the private health insurance conglomerate and the Big Pharma drug companies in the first place -- in the legislative process has certainly been "transparent" from the get go. Through their lobbyists and campaign contributions, they shaped a bill that would enhance their domination of our health system. They are at the root of the catastrophe that passes for health care financing in the United States today.
Of course, the conspicuous omission in the debate has been single-payer national health insurance proposal, an improved Medicare for All. This was assured on the Senate side when the powerful chairman of its Finance Committee, Max Baucus, D-Mont., informed the world that everything was on the table but single payer.
How the chairman of a congressional committee, however powerful, can set the terms of debate in a democratic society by excluding such a popular and well-substantiated solution is hard to rationalize. Baucus did, of course, prevail, and what came out of the Senate was execrable. Like the House bill, it fails the three tests of genuine reform: universal coverage, quality improvement and cost control.
One can reasonably suspect that President Obama now wants something -- anything -- to pass in Congress as evidence of the fulfillment of his campaign pledge to accomplish health care reform. But if he looks to the House and Senate bills as the starting point, his efforts will be in vain.
It's not too late for the president to re-embrace his earlier support for single-payer national health insurance and set the nation on the right path. Were he to lay out the facts to the American people and provide energetic leadership for this eminently rational proposal, he would get strong, grassroots support from the public.
We're now spending $8,000 per capita annually on health care, $2.5 trillion in total. That's nearly one-fifth of our GDP. Yet our health outcomes rank among the lowest in the industrialized world. Some 45,000 people die each year chiefly because they have no health insurance, and medical bills and illness are now linked to nearly two-thirds of personal bankruptcies. This reality in the richest country in the world is unnecessary and intolerable.
I suggest the president look to an improved and expanded Medicare program as the solution. Medicare, which was enacted in 1965 and which has served our elderly and the totally disabled so well, is a solid foundation to build upon.
Enactment of an improved Medicare for All would save our nation $400 billion annually by eliminating the bureaucracy and paperwork inflicted on our system by the private insurers. That's more than enough to provide universal, comprehensive care to everyone and to eliminate all co-pays and deductibles. A single-payer system would also allow us to rein in costs and better allocate resources.
We have a talented health care workforce. But to fully unlock their potential, we need to get out from under the greedy dictates of the health industry.
Mr. President, it's time to put single payer back on the table.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-quentin-young/put-single-payer-back-on_b_471811.html




From Dr. Lora Chamberlain


Hello to all,
I am sure you have heard, the Obama health care plan was unveiled today, it is similar to the Senate health care plan without a Public Option, it does propose some Federal agency which would regulate insurance rate increases, (these kind of Federal regulatory agencies have been historically quickly corrupted by corporations!) So we are going to have to fight hard for the Public Option, very hard! Please pick up the phone every day to call Congress 1-800-828-0498 and sign the petition below and if you can, please come to the meeting listed below on Wed night. Thanks so much for all that you do, Dr. Lora
"Pre-Summit Health Care Rally: The Time Is Now" on


Wednesday, February 24 at 6:00pm.


Event: Pre-Summit Health Care Rally: The Time Is Now
What: Rally
Start Time: Wednesday, February 24 at 6:00pm
End Time: Wednesday, February 24 at 7:00pm
Where: Chicago Temple,1st floor Sanctuary, Chicago


To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=316049972916


Back to me, for the future I see  Global Healthcare for All


Meanwhile here at home from ((WUWM))


 The poster features two women veterans, and it says, "We are veterans, too. Ms. or Mrs. will do."



www.npr.org

"More than 230,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but many report that when they return from war, they face another battle at home: getting the care and respect they need at VA hospitals.
The traditionally male-dominated environment often doesn't recognize that women veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced the same psychological, physical and emotional trauma as male veterans. VA hospitals across the nation are taking a number of steps to treat the whole female veteran"


Chit With ya',


Peter Lott Heppner
Chicago


P.S. Also Meanwhile
http://www.congress.org/news/2010/02/22/obama_unveils_health_plan