[Q]uality care shouldn't depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to.
This is the cause of my life. It is a key reason that I defied my illness last summer to speak at the Democratic convention in Denver--to support Barack Obama, but also to make sure, as I said, "that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American...will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not just a privilege." For four decades I have carried this cause--from the floor of the United States Senate to every part of this country. It has never been merely a question of policy; it goes to the heart of my belief in a just society. Now the issue has more meaning for me--and more urgency--than ever before. But it's always been deeply personal, because the importance of health care has been a recurrent lesson throughout most of my 77 years.
- Ted Kennedy Speaks Out on Health-Care Reform in Newsweek
Ted Kennedy knew the importance of health care reform. While I frequently doubted some of his means (closed-door negotiations, invitations to insurance companies to be part of the "solution," etc.), I never doubted that he did want some kind of reform that would eventually lead to every American receiving affordable health care. In 1973, when Kennedy was first fighting in the Senate for universal coverage, he learned that his 12-year-old son, Teddy, had bone cancer.
His son (along with some other children) underwent experimental treatment at Children's Hospital Boston. When the trial was deemed a success and terminated, only families with insurance coverage could continue to receive the treatments. Kennedy described witnessing uninsured families beg the doctors for mercy.
What chance does my child have if I can only afford half of the prescribed treatments? Or two thirds? I've sold everything. I've mortgaged as much as possible. No parent should suffer that torment. Not in this country. Not in the richest country in the world.
Many politicians (especially Democrats) will claim today to have respected Kennedy, but if they want to really pay tribute to the man, they should stop watering down health care reform. Democrats should end this silly debate over insurance co-operatives and securing 80 votes in the Senate (instead of the 51 they actually need,) and just get Americans affordable health care right now. It's what Ted would have wanted. After all, it was the cause of his life.
Crossposted from Allison Kilkenny's blog. Also available on Facebook and Twitter.
Follow Allison Kilkenny on Twitter: www.twitter.com/allisonkilkenny
Our political system is a facade of a democracy. We vote every two or four years to perpetuate the careers of representatives, who spend the entirety of their terms representing NOT the voice and needs of the people, but the interests of their corporate benefactors who bankroll their re-election campaigns. It is a sick, sick system. It will take nothing short of a massive uprising of each and every of our voices to effect real change.
The corporations drive every agenda -- from wars, to environmental protections, to health care -- with the majority of our politicians serving as little more than hood ornaments.
Corporate Democrat or Corporate Republican? It makes no difference. They both serve the same master. Obama's shown no shame in disregarding the voice of the people who elected him, nor in dishonoring the endorsements of the Kennedy family, who, like us, believed Obama to be a principled man worthy of comparison to Jack, Bobby and, yes, Ted, himself.
Obama's call to "Look forward, not back," is a slogan to ensure his corporate benefactors (past, present and future) that he has their backs. It takes a million of us to offset just one corporate lobbyist. And, even then, the deck is still stacked. We simply can't afford to keep our politicians in the style to which they've become
https://www.madashelldoctorstour.com/Mad_as_Hell_Video.html
These Oregon physicians are in the process of organizing a caravan designed to inform the public about the benefits of the single-payer option. At last count they will be stopping in approximately 23 states, on their way to demonstrate in Washington. They need volunteers and our support. Please spread the word.
My hope is that President Obama will pick up the torch that is being passed to him, leave the fear aside and steer the ship forward toward what is right.
without all that Ted Kennedy done i would not have the health care that i do..Medicare,It gets me all the care i need for cronic back pain ( 3 surgerys , no help ).all the health care i need at the mental health clinic.i'm bipolar and without health care i would be living on the streets i guess,because i would not have the medicine that keeps me stable......he has done so much
he had a sister that mental illness that was in instutions all her life..
now is the time for health care like he wanted for all americans...single payer...everyone deserves it.
we all need it now , not another 40 years from now..
peace to all of his family
Not one of the Gang of Six will have that said of them upon their passsing.
I think many Americans would agree with that statement, even though they have never lived in Massachusetts.
I think that it is amazing that his passing is mourned by not just the residents of his state, but people all over this country.
When will the media play this?
This was incredible!
I watched it !
It was something!
God Bless You Senator also.
RIP Teddy!
TeddyCare- NOW!
TeddyCare
Pass it now!
Check out Sept. 13 plans for Health Care rallies: http://www.marchforhealthcare.com/
We cannot let the scare tactics dissuade us from reaching our goal!
While many of us are struggling to afford medical insurance/medical bills.
While Congress people try to stop healthcare reform.
While Congress people accept large contributions from lobbyists to prevent health care reform.
Our elected officials in Congress receive health care mostly paid for by us tax payers, yet many are trying to make it impossible for us to purchase an affordable plan of our own.
http://www.petitiononline.com/PubOp676/petition.html
I'm guessing the public option will be totally dead soon.