"If We Can Nationalize Banks, Why Not Healthcare?" says Largest Nurses Organization

[Better Believe It]

For Immediate Release
October 9, 2008

America's Largest RN Organization Says: If We Can Nationalize Banks, Why Not Healthcare?

On the heels of reports that the Bush administration is considering taking part ownership of U.S. banks, the nation's largest union of registered nurses today said why can't the nation have a similar approach for our collapsing healthcare system?

"Clearly, the proposal to partially nationalize some banks comes as our financial system continues to plunge off the cliff. But there's no less a critical emergency in our healthcare system," said Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the 85,000-member National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association.

"In homes and hospitals across America, our healthcare system is dying a quiet death. The millions of Americans who endure their pain away from the spotlight of Wall Street or the glare of TV lights deserve sweeping systemic solutions as well."

Consider that on the same day our government moved to take over collapsing banks, the U.S. Census Bureau released data that 16 percent of Americans under 65 are uninsured, and in some areas, like south Florida, the number is as high as 30 percent.

The news isn't so great for those with insurance either. Another report out today in the Wall Street Journal, noted that employers are expected to increase co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs to workers by more than 10 percent next year. This comes at a time when one in five Americans already self-rations care for which they are "insured" by skipping medications, doctors visits, vaccinations, and other needed care.

"If we can bail out the financial speculators and the banking CEOs, why can't we do the same for the tens of millions of Americans facing bankruptcy and healthcare calamity due to the meltdown of our healthcare system?" DeMoro asked. "If it's good enough for Wall Street, why leave out the rest of America?"

Through the simple, cost-effective approach of improving and expanding Medicare to cover everyone, the U.S. could effectively nationalize the financing of healthcare delivery, a single-payer system, while leaving intact the mostly private system of hospitals and doctors.

Notably, the news today from Washington followed the announcement yesterday that Great Britain is also moving to a partial nationalization of banks. "As the British announcement and the free fall in markets in Europe and Asia make apparent, the financial implosion is global. But residents in nearly all those other countries at least have less worries about their health security," said DeMoro.

This summer, a report from the Commonwealth Fund found the U.S. ranks last among 19 comparable industrial nations in preventable deaths -- 101,000 fewer Americans would die annually if the U.S. matched the benchmarks of those other countries. The main difference is all those other nations have a nationalized or single-payer healthcare system, such as our U.S. Medicare system.

"If it's good enough for every other industrialized country, if it's good enough for the speculators and CEOs who have mortgaged our financial security, it ought to be good enough for the rest of America," DeMoro said.

http://www.calnurse.org/media-center/press-releases/2008/october/america-s-largest-rn-organization-says-if-we-can-nationalize-banks-why-not-healthcare.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. When nurses provide millions of dollars in campaign bribes

Excuse me, campaign contributions, then maybe... just maybe... something will be done about the state of America's healthcare.

[Better Believe It]

2. I don't understand your comment

We need to bribe politicians in order to get progressive legislation?

First of all, that would be illegal and it should be illegal because the corporations have far more money to "bribe" politicians than labor organizations.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. This is the United States: We need to bribe politicians to get ANY legislation

Banks and financiers hand out millions of dollars in campaign bribes every year. When they get into hot soup -- after they themselves turned on the gas, lit the flame and added the salt, tomatoes and carrots themelsves -- the government turns around and hands them billions of dollars as a "bail out," which is immediately used on million dollar "training retreats" for the fat cat donors.

Pharmaceutical companies give away millions of dollars in campaign bribes every year. So do the medical insurance companies. As a result, they get their way in pretty much every piece of legislation written in this country that touches upon their industries. Where they cannot write the rules themselves (Medicare "reforms," anyone?) they still have enough pull to gut any meaningful change in the laws.

Until and unless the people and health care providers can outbid the lobbyists, we are screwed. This is America, and that's the way things are done here. You were expecting we were Canada or the United Kingdom?

[mucifer]

5. I'm one of those millionaire nurses

[lildreamer316]

33. Thank you for your work.

It is appreciated.

[Two Americas]

30. that is how it works

The people doing the bribing even write the legislation.

[DaLittle Kitty]

6. Rather Than Endorse A Nurse Practitioner Who Advocates For National Single Payer ANA Endorses A...

Nincompoop crook who is bought and paid for by the INSURANCE Industry and who is totally against single payer in Ginny Brown-Waite. :wtf: is that about? It is that the American Nurses Association is corrupt as hell when it chooses so poorly and is soooooo unsupportive of one of their own! :puke:

[DaLittle Kitty]

10. John Russell, MS/ARNP, MBA/HCSM for National Single Payer Health Care and ANA Endorses...

corrupt career politician do nuth'n incumbent Brown-Waite. What is wrong w/ these nurses?????? :wtf: :puke: The American Nurses Association is a JOKE!

www.johnrussellforcongress.com :)

[tavalon]

17. Unfortunately our national nurses association (ANA) lost it's way a long time ago

When I worked in California, I saw first hand the strength of the state nurses association. In a perfect world, ANA would be taken over by CNA, a much better nursing advocacy group.

[Aragorn]

41. AMA too

The American Medical Association and most if not all state medical associations are the same way. Focus on profit, not advocacy. And if you do a lot of charity work - or especially if you always charge a lot less than peers - you are dead meat.

[tavalon]

16. ANA sucks. CNA is one of the best nurses organizations around

They ditched ANA like a bad cousin.

[malaise]

4. Bravo nurses

The floodgates have opened. Farewell neoliberalism.

K & R

[TreasonousBastard]

7. As much as I would love to see universal health care...

do we really want Medicare expanded? It's tough enough to find a doctor who will take new Medicare patients now. It's always been tough to find one who took Medicaid, and it's almost as though certain forces are trying to shut the whole system down.

(Medicare, Medicaid, VA, Indian Health Services, SCHIP, US Public Health Hospitals... Any more Federal health services out there that we could use as an example of superb Federal medicine?)

[baldguy]

8. The insurance companies and their allies (slaves?) in Congress have a vested interest

in creating a public healthcare bureaucracy which is as difficult to navigate & manage as humanly possible.

The best solution would be to sweep away the corporate health insurance industry entirely.

[LuckyLib]

21. Yes. No middle money makers between health care and patients.

[Better Believe It]

9. Doctors Will Have To Accept New Patients .....

because almost everyone will be covered under single payer and insurance companies will pretty much be out of the health industry.

Employers will gladly leave the insurance racket and sign-up employees for expanded Medicare .... Medicare for all.

That was the plan and perspective of Medicare supporters over 40 years ago.

[TankLV]

20. "do we really want Medicare expanded?" YES!!!!! Unequivocally.

In a heartbeat.

It's a "no-brainer".

[Two Americas]

31. agreed

I am surprised that there is any controversy about this, especially among Democrats.

[demodonkey]

11. Medicare for ALL -- and it must include LONG TERM CARE too or it's worthless...

...get a stroke, or have a accident that leaves you disabled, etc etc etc and GOOD LUCK. "Healthcare" is worthless when long term care is not included.

[tomp]

35. and dental, and psych parity. nt

[Phred42]

12. AND WHY NOT OIL AND COAL?!

[baldguy]

22. Oil pumped out of public lands should stay in the US.

[yurbud]

24. as should the profits

[ejpoeta]

13. well that's easy!!!

nationalizing banks helps the banking industry. nationalizing healthcare does NOT help the insurance companies. next question.

[Blue_Tires]

14. i've been asking that question since the beginning

[tavalon]

15. CNA rocks!

They left the ANA in the dust and I wish, wish, wish that they would just take it over. I gave up on the ANA a few years ago but mayhaps I need to join the CNA even though I live in Washington.

[Better Believe It]

18. They do have a national organizing committee and

Visit their website at:

http://www.calnurses.org/about-us/

Contact them and find out what they have going in Washington.

You can join the National Nurses Organizing Committee.

I'm sure they'd love to hear from you.

--------------
About the National Nurses Organizing Committee
A Strong Voice for RNs and Patients

Become a Member of the National Nurses Organizing Committee

The National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) is a new national union and professional organization for Registered Nurses, Advance Practice Nurses, and RN organizations throughout the country who want to pursue a more powerful agenda of patient advocacy that promotes the interests of patients, direct care nurses, and RN professional practice. NNOC was founded by the California Nurses Association in the spring of 2004 with the support of a growing number of nurse organizations that are seeking more effective representation and wish to join the movement being led by CNA. Through the NNOC, RN organizations and non-organized RNs around the country are able to work together to achieve dramatic progress for direct care nurses and patients in their facilities, their communities, their states and at the national level.

The NNOC Program - Direct Care Nurse Control

* An elected, all direct care nurse board of directors will set policy for the NNOC.
* Each NNOC organization will have proportional representation on the NNOC Board of Directors.
* CNA will share its resources, experience and expertise to help expand the national movement and support new members. Collective Bargaining and Effective Professional Representation
* Improved contracts with better salaries, enhanced patient care conditions, retirement security, protection and expansion of health benefits, and an end to workplace abuses such as mandatory overtime and unsafe floating.

Join with CNA to Help Build a National Movement for RNs

Become a Member of the National Nurses Organizing Committee

The National Nurses Organizing Committee was launched by CNA in response to an overwhelming demand by direct care nurses across the U.S. for a national vehicle to address the crisis faced by RNs and to achieve improvements modeled on the successful accomplishments of CNA. (For more information about the remarkable achievements that CNA has made, including the California staff ratio law, please read the reverse side).

As a member of NNOC, you will join a national network of direct care RNs, supported by CNA experience and expertise to:

* Improve RN workplace standards through collective bargaining to assure RNs have compensation that recognizes professional skills and a retirement that provides dignity for our families after a lifetime of caring for others.
* Secure passage of state and national legislation for RN staffing ratios and other basic protections for RNs and patients, and meaningful healthcare reform based on a single standard of care for all.
* Block hospital industry efforts to undermine RN professional practice in legislatures, regulatory agencies, boards of nursing and at the bedside.
* Receive assistance to organize your colleagues at your hospital and other acute-care hospitals in your area to help protect the profession, and make a difference for yourselves and your patients. In addition, as a NNOC member you will receive:
* Our national magazine, Revolution, the Journal for RNs and Patient Advocacy, every other month.
* Regular e-mail alerts on critical issues facing RNs and patient care.

http://www.calnurses.org/nnoc/about-nnoc.html

[Better Believe It]

19. Single Payer Website Supports HR 676

WE DON'T NEED INSURANCE, WE NEED
GUARANTEED HEALTHCARE

About Us

GuaranteedHealthcare.org is a project of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, and patients and community groups around the country.

CNA/NNOC is a leading national advocate for universal healthcare reform, through a single-payer style system based on an improved and expanded Medicare for all. In 2007, CNA/NNOC is campaigning for single-payer legislation, HR 676 in Congress, and SB 840 in California.

Additionally, CNA/NNOC has attracted national and international acclaim for sponsoring the nation’s foremost RN patient safety law requiring minimum RN-to-patient ratios, the most effective solution in the U.S. for stemming the erosion of care standards in hospitals.

California was the first state in the nation to adopt RN ratios, but NNOC affiliates in Texas and Illinois are also working to win ratios and other patient protections in their states.

Other landmark laws sponsored by CNA include whistleblower protections for caregivers who expose unsafe hospital conditions, a ban on inappropriate personnel providing telephone medical advice, and increased funding for nursing education programs.

CNA/NNOC is also renowned for its advocacy for patients with programs that have helped hundreds of patients with information on how to respond to health care industry abuses, and assisted patients in bringing their stories to legislative hearings and the media.

http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/about

--------------------------------------------

HR 676 (CONYERS)
The United States National Health Insurance Act

How it would help!

* HR 676 establishes an American-styled national health insurance program. The bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care program that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all Americans, guaranteed by law, will have access to the highest quality and cost effective health care services regardless of ones employment, income, or health care status.
* With over 45-75 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are under insured, it is time to change our inefficient and costly fragmented health care system.
* Physicians For A National Health Program reports that under a Medicare For All plan, we could save over $286 billion dollars a year in total health care costs.
* We would move away from our present system where annual family premiums have increased upwards to $9,068 this year.
* Under HR 676, a family of three making $40,000 per year would spend approximately $1600 per year for health care coverage.
* Medicare for All would allow the United States to reduce its almost $2 trillion health care expenditure per year while covering all of the uninsured and everybody else for more than they are getting under their current health care plans.
* In 2005, without reform, the average employer who offers coverage will contribute $2,600 to health care per employee (for much skimpier benefits).

Under HR 676, the average costs to employers for an employee making $30,000 per year will be reduced to $1,155 per year; less than $100 per month.

Read more about HR 676 here:
http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/legislation/hr-676-conyers/united-states-national-health-insurance-act

[yurbud]

23. or at least just the insurance companies

[yurbud]

25. from the boogey man in Orwell's 1984:

From the moment when the machine first made its appearance it was clear to all thinking people that the need for human drudgery, and therefore to a great extent for human inequality, had disappeared. If the machine were used deliberately for that end, hunger, overwork, dirt, illiteracy, and disease could be eliminated within a few generations. And in fact, without being used for any such purpose, but by a sort of automatic process -- by producing wealth which it was sometimes impossible not to distribute -- the machine did raise the living standards of the average humand being very greatly over a period of about fifty years at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries.

But it was also clear that an all-round increase in wealth threatened the destruction -- indeed, in some sense was the destruction -- of a hierarchical society. In a world in which everyone worked short hours, had enough to eat, lived in a house with a bathroom and a refrigerator, and possessed a motor-car or even an aeroplane, the most obvious and perhaps the most important form of inequality would already have disappeared. If it once became general, wealth would confer no distinction. It was possible, no doubt, to imagine a society in which wealth, in the sense of personal possessions and luxuries, should be evenly distributed, while power remained in the hands of a small privileged caste. But in practice such a society could not long remain stable. For if leisure and security were enjoyed by all alike, the great mass of human beings who are normally stupefied by poverty would become literate and would learn to think for themselves; and when once they had done this, they would sooner or later realize that the privileged minority had no function, and they would sweep it away.

http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/2008/01/orwells-1984-war-economy-exists-to.html">MORE

[Laelth]

26. Good point. k&r

:dem:

-Laelth

[psychmommy]

27. wouldn't this be a plus for industry and government

to not have to pay for current workers and retirees healthcare. that would at least put us in a better position with our manufacturing jobs.

[bobbolink]

40. ABSOPOSILUTELY! And many large and small businesses have said so, including

auto companies.

They can't compete with countries with nationalized health care.

Great point... shout it from the rooftops!

[Joe Chi Minh]

28. Bankers have always been notorious Commies.

[LWolf]

29. No GOOD reason why not. nt

[vssmith]

32. Socialized Medicine

I hear this all the time and my response is: We have socialized police protection, socialized fire protection, socialized defense, socialized education, socialized roads, socialized mail and socialize retirement so what is the big deal about one more thing.

[bobbolink]

39. "socialized defense" !!!!

I've been leaving that out.. the most obvious one.

Thanks... it was right in front of my nose, and I wasn't seeing it.

I appreciate that!

[d_b]

34. Nationalized healthcare?

What's in it for the rich?

[Uncle Joe]

36. Kicked and too late to recommend.

Thanks for the thread, Better Believe It.

[quidam56]

37. Acceptable Standards of Health Care in Tennessee

Tennessee calls health care in East Tennessee 'horrifying' but quite acceptable eventhough hospitals are dumping a 'superbug' into our community. The mega profit machines are killing us and we are paying for them to. http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[bobbolink]

38. This needs to be a FULL PAGE AD in every large newspaper in the U.S.!

It's so frustrating that most USians STILL don't understand the issues!

We MUST change that... the ignorance is literally killing us!

[Chemical Bill]

42. I sent this to all my congress critters. n/t