Believe this, folks. There are those out there, especially on the right, who are the declared enemy when it comes to our advocacy issue, Single Payer Universal Health Care. In one example, a member had written to the political representatives regarding the aspect of universal health care, and specifically the HR-676 legislation from Conyers and Kucinich of the US House of Representatives. One wrote back and from the member’s comment was full of the proverbial bull feces regarding the aspect of HR-676. In essence this lying congress critter indicated that the costs of HR-676 would be astronomical and would create such a drain on the people in higher taxes, that is would not be feasible.

Strange, in every single industrialized nation, except for two, there is a comprehensive single payer universal health care system in place, and they all cost their governments and the people, less than half what ours costs us. Plus, and this is a real “gotcha” the citizens of these countries actually live longer, healthier lives than we do. Oh yeah, by the way, that other country without a sp-uhc program? South Africa!!!! Don’t that just make your heart swell with pride that the United States and South Africa are the only two developed countries in the world that still treats its citizens as so much cattle with regard to health care?

We have been working on contacting other organizations with similar beliefs in the idea of Single Payer Universal Health Care and believe that the implementation of HR-676 would be a great start. Among these organizations are the http://www.pnhp.org Physicians for a National Health Program an organization of doctors who strongly support the idea of a SP-UHC program.

There is also the California Nurses Association and their support for this program, their web site is at: http://www.calnurses.org/

These are but two of the health care professional organizations, now couple that with the plethora of other groups and it becomes readily apparrent that this type of legislation is needed now. The new Congresss could do a lot worse than please a huge majority of the people by passing this legislation into law.

But we must be constantly vigilant because there are any number of congressmen, lobbists and the major health care industry players themselves who would not balk at all sorts of dirty tricks to savage the idea of a single payer universal health care program for this country.

Admitedly most of these enemy congresscritters are on the right side of the aisle and the Republican party has never made a secret of their preference for private business over the best interests of their constituents. However, don’t be surprised to find that opposition can come from the most unsuspected places. The beauty of all that, is that these opposition “enemy combatants” are in the extreme minority. They are loud, they are vociferous but they are in the minority. Some 75% of United States Citizens state that the time has come for health care for all, and that health care should come from a single payment source, the public sector. The private sector, in the opinion of these majoity folks, has had it’s chance and they blew it big time, through their greed, their insensitivity and their totally uncaring attitude for their very customers, you and me.

The idea behind the HR-676 is to combine the Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and VA programs into a comprehensive plan for health care delivery. Click on the HR-676 link to see the actual bill, it’s not that long, just 27 pages. Short by legislation standards.

This new approach will take these programs, expand the coverage and establish a health care plan for every single American and the program will be expanded to cover all medically necessary implements as well.

The Senior Citizens Consortium has been an avid supporter and advocate for the Single Payer Universal Health Care program for virtually all of our existance. We fully and unequivocably support Congressman Kucinich and Congressman Conyers in their efforts to bring the HR-676 legislation to the floor of the house for a vote.

We would, as an organization, encourage everyone to seriously consider joining with us in developing and acting upon a March of Washington for Health Care. It is never too late, and you are never too old or too young to get involved in advocacy issues such as this one.

My challenge to any and all who happen to read this blog post,,, contact your senator and congressional representative. ASK them directly, what their position is relative to the HR-676 legislation and the very idea of Single Payer Universal Health Care for all Americans and legal residents!

You may be pleasantly surprised, or you may be very unpleasantly surprised depending on the idological bent of your representatives.

Also, go to the President’s web site for citizen’s input and give him your opinion on SP-UHC and the HR-676 legislation. The web site is: http://www.change.gov. There is also a new section there called the Presidents Briefing Book. Go to that and leave your recommendation, opinion or comments. Let’s take advantage of the fact that this administration is at least willing to read what we have to say.

In my next blog entry, I will put up a listing of links to papers and other documents that we have accrued regarding this important topic.