Democracy For The Southern Adirondack/Tricounty Area: August 2009

Democracy For The Southern Adirondack/Tricounty Area

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Tricounty DFA Update: Meeting Wednesday, Ted Kennedy Legacy, more

Hello Everyone!

In this update for August 30, 2009:

1. Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday

2. Ted Kennedy

3. Scott Murphy Events

4. Stillwater Dem Clamsteam

1. Glens Falls DFA Meeting Wednesday

Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area will hold its regular monthly meeting as usual on this Wednesday, at 7pm, September 2nd, at the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe in downtown Glens Falls. Since the healthcare reform struggle is still going on, I am sure that will be our top item.

The cafe is located one block west of the roundabout in downtown Glens Falls at the corner of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Avenue.

2. Ted Kennedy

Senator Ted Kennedy was laid to rest yesterday. It is being widely said his death is the "end of an era," but only if we let be. Obviously, there are those who would like such a self-fulfilling prophecy to be true because they would benefit from the demise of that tradition.

Four and a half years ago, after John Kerry's defeat, Kennedy brilliantly laid out a defense of the liberal-progressive tradition and a road map for the future. The full text of his message is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0112-37.htm

The culminating item in that address was his dearest cause, healthcare, and his words then show how great a difference a single individual can make, both for the power of ideas, clarity of thinking and language, and tempered experience of how to accomplish such changes:

I propose that as a 40th birthday gift to the American people, we expand Medicare over the next decade to cover every citizen - from birth to the end of life.

It's no secret that America is still dearly in love with Medicare. Administrative costs are low. Patients' satisfaction is high. Unlike with many private insurers, they can still choose their doctor and their hospital.

For those who prefer private insurance, we will offer comparable coverage under the same range of private insurance plans already available to Congress. I can think of nothing more cynical or hypocritical than a Member of Congress who gives a speech denouncing health care for all, then goes to his doctor for a visit paid for by the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan.

I call this approach Medicare for All, because it will free all Americans from the fear of crippling medical expenses and enable them to seek the best possible care when illness strikes.

To me, the confounding mystery of the current struggle, is how and why Democrats got deflected from Medicare For All. Simple and practical, clear and explainable and above all, reassuring. No doubt his illness over the last year impaired his ability to prevent the four locomotive train wreck we are now confronted with: a grossly overcomplicated bill that no one can explain, few really understand, and thus can be easily misrepresented and also subverted from its original intentions, as has happened.

Anyone who doubts the bill so far has been hijacked needs to read this in the L.A. Times, and ask the following question-- how in hell did it become acceptable that public funds should go to corrupt private insurance companies under any circumstances? http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/healthcare/la-na-healthcare-insurers24-2009aug24,0,6925890.story

So, as he said, the work goes on.

3. Scott Murphy Events

Rep. Scott Murphy has been holding meeting across the district this month: teabaggers have shown up to disrupt some, but he's gotten great marks for handling them. We still want him moving in the right direction on healthcare, and thank him for his movement so far. Here are his final summer events:

Thursday, September 3
WHAT: Congressman Murphy to host Congress-On-Your-Corner in Lake George
WHERE: Shepard Park, 260 Canada Street, Lake George
WHEN: 4:45 PM

Saturday, September 5
Event 1 – East Durham Congress-On-Your-Corner
WHO: Congressman Murphy, Local officials
WHERE: Shamrock House, Route 145, East Durham, NY 12423
WHEN: 10:00 AM

Event 3 – Visits Columbia County Fair
WHAT: Congressman Murphy to visit the Columbia County Fair
WHERE: Columbia County Fairgrounds, Chatham, NY
WHEN: 1:00 PM

Monday, September 7
WHAT: Congressman Murphy to Visit Clifton Park Price Chopper
WHERE: Price Chopper, Clifton Shoppers World, Route 146 and Plank Road, Clifton Park, NY
WHEN: 9:30 AM

Event 1 – Petersburg Congress-On-Your-Corner
WHAT: Congressman Murphy to hold a Congress-On-Your-Corner in Petersburg
WHERE: Petersburg Veterans Memorial Community Center, 71 Main Street, Petersburg, NY 12138
WHEN: 11:30 AM

Event 2 – Visits Rensselaer County Fair
WHAT: Congressman Murphy to visit the Rensselaer County Fair
WHERE: Rensselaer County Fairgrounds, 69 Stillwater Bridge Road, Schaghticoke, NY 12154
WHEN: 2:00 PM

4. Stillwater Dem Clamsteam

From Lisa Scerbo-- you are invited to:

STILLWATER DEMOCRATS ANNUAL CLAMSTEAM

COME ENJOY HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS, CLAM CHOWDER, SAUSAGE & PEPPERS, SALADS, SODA & BEER WITH FRIENDS

AND MEET OUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES! RAFFLES & SILENT AUCTIONS ALSO ADD TO THE FUN!

Saturday, September 12 at 12:00 PM

Admirals Marina, Hudson Ave, Stillwater

Tickets: $15/person picnic only, $30/person picnic & steam

Steam tickets must be purchased in advance by September 6. Picnic tickets may be purchased at the door. Please contact Frank Ronda (664-8227) for information and to purchase tickets. All steam tickets include picnic items.

Thanks, everyone! See you all Wednesday.

Larry

Labels: Democracy For America, Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Glens Falls, healthcare reform, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, Scott Murphy

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:40 PM 0 comments

Monday, August 03, 2009

Tricounty DFA Reminder: Meeting Wednesday, Single Payer Vote

Hello Everyone;

In this update for August 3rd, 2009:

1. Glens Falls/Tricounty DFA Meeting Wednesday 7pm at the Rockhill Cafe

2. Single Payer To Get A Vote

1. Glens Falls/Tricounty DFA Meeting Wednesday 7pm at the Rockhill Cafe

We will be having our usual monthly Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area meeting this Wednesday, August 5th, at 7pm at our usual place, the Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe. We hope to have interesting news on Healthcare Reform to discuss.

The cafe is one block west of the roundabout in downtown Glens Falls on the corner of Elm and Exchange Streets and Hudson Avenue.

2. Single Payer To Get A Vote

Despite all the resistance from the insurance industry and Blue Dogs, it seems a Single Payer Healthcare system is going to get a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives after all. Dick sends along this news item from Matt Yglesias:

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/08/single-payer-gets-its-day-on-the-floor.php

Single Payer Gets Its Day on the Floor

This seems unlikely to make a practical difference, but I’m glad to see that House leaders will let a single-payer bill get to the floor:

Seeking to dampen liberal anger about deals cut with centrists, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said House leaders have agreed to allow a floor vote on a government-run, single-payer system.

“A lot of members on our committee want a vote on that,” said Waxman said in an interview. “I believe their wishes will be accommodated.”

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) offered a single-payer amendment in the Energy and Commerce Committee on Friday, but withdrew it after Waxman said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had promised a floor vote.

To clarify, the idea behind a single-payer system is not to have a “government-run health care system” but to have a health care system similar to the one we currently have, but a health insurance system that’s like Medicare. To avoid confusion, the best thing is probably to press the media to characterize this proposal as a “universal Medicare” or “Medicare for all” plan. Medicare for all is not my favorite vision of health care; if it were totally up to me we’d construct something that’s more like the system they have in Singapore that would have a direct public provision element, a single-payer element, and a forced savings element. But Universal Medicare would be better than the status quo, and better than the “official” bills being pushed by congressional leaders.

Given the immense complexity of the healthcare reform bills presently before the Congress, and the serious problems they are having, it's clear universal medicare or medicare for all is the way to go. We have all of August to contact our members of Congress, wherever you are, and ask them to support Rep. Weiner.

Thanks everyone!

Larry

Labels: Democracy For The Greater Glens Falls Area, DFA, Glens Falls, healthcare reform, Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe

- posted by Larry Dudley @ 10:19 PM 0 comments