The Billionaires' Latest Guerrilla Musical

When CIGNA Representatives refused to speak with protesters at their offices last Wednesday morning, the Billionaires For Wealthcare decided to speak on CIGNA's behalf, and a guerrilla musical entitled "Profits Before People" broke out.

The group conducting the protest was Mobilization for Healthcare for All. They are demanding that CIGNA "immediately cease all spending on lobbying, political ads, and campaign contributions and use that money to pay for all doctor-requested treatment for member patients with life-threatening illnesses."

The rally featured Dr. Matt Hendrickson who spoke about some of the people who have died because CIGNA refused to pay for life-saving procedures. Among these was Nataline Sarkisyan, a high school student who succumbed after CIGNA refused to approve a liver transplant for her. Dr. Hendrickson led a group of 6 other demonstrators into the CIGNA lobby to conduct a sit-in. They were all arrested by Glendale Police.

After Dr. Hendrickson and his group departed for the CIGNA lobby, Laura Flanagan, the main organizer of the event, announced that "someone is coming out to speak with us."

At that point, a group of five CIGNA 'representatives' emerged to address the justifiably angry crowd. Even after they began singing, some folks were so incensed by CIGNA's intransigence that they continued to vent their rage. By the end of the song, however, the Billionaires had won the crowd over. It was a really satisfying street theater performance. The Billionaires serve as the mustache-twirling villain who elicits boos during the curtain call.

The only ones in on the joke were some of the organizers and the folks who were engaging in Civil Disobedience (it was important that they know that their sacrifice and commitment weren't being made sport of).

Here's the video:

And here's the lyrics:

Profits Before People

How dare you criticize this industry we're serving!
You dare accuse us of a monstrous crime!
We're only guilty of commitment that's unswerving:
To maximizing profits every time!

Profits before people:
It's the better business plan.
So we deny your coverage when we can.
We must preserve our way of life
from the approaching storm.
Yeah, that's why we've been crushing health reform!

Profits before people:
The Insurers' bottom line.
And up 'til now it's served us mighty fine.
'Cause jacking up your premiums
is how we're keeping warm.
Yeah that's why we've been crushing health reform!

We gotta stop the Public Option! (Or limit access to it!)
We gotta stop the Public Option! (Let the states opt out!)
We gotta stop the Public Option! (Just put a trigger on it!)
We gotta stop the Public Option!

Yeah, profits before people!
Profits before people!
Profits before people every time!
Oh yeah!

Follow Clifford J. Tasner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TheBillionaires

Comments

[SamFPark]

Bravo! More!

[Andrew Rasmussen]

Dear Henious, This is your brother Felonious, I am so proud of the work you and the Billionaires have been doing to accelerate the concentration of wealth. And In such perfect harmony ! I remember when you began in the late 90's, plutocracy had just reemerged. Look how far we have come ! Today the nation's top 1% control more than $16 trillion in wealth. But Please tell your friends on the chair of Citibank to keep tighter control of their documents. We don't want Michael Moore to get a hold of another memo outlining the threats of the one person one vote system.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6674229/Citigroup-Mar-5-2006-Plutonomy-Report-Part-2

"Our whole plutonomy thesis is based on the idea that the rich will keep getting richer. This thesis is not without its risks. ..... Whilst the rich are getting a greater share of the wealth, and the poor a lesser share, political enfranchisement remains as was– one person,one vote (in the plutonomies). At some point it is likely that labor will fight back against the rising profit share of the rich .... This could be felt through higher taxation (on the rich or indirectly though higher corporate taxes/regulation) or through trying to protect indigenous laborers, in a push-back on globalization–either anti-immigration, or protectionism. We don’t see this happening yet, though there are signs of rising political tensions. However we are keeping a close eye on developments."

[niyah 2010]

I love the Billionaires for Wealthcare guerilla musical. Its so funny to watch the unsuspecting protesters realize the suits are really singers. Great music and very funny. It helps to laugh.

[JJKelly]

Grinning ear-to-ear after 2-1/2 mins. of this video; goosebumps & all. Extremes garner attention. It's time to be less submissive and make our points with intelligence and humor. Thank you Billionaires for Wealthcare for making a difference in a positive way.