Why I went to jail for universal health care
On Thursday Nov. 5th, I joined eight other universal health care advocates in order to ask Senator Lieberman to stop taking campaign donations from the insurance industry. When our demand was not met, we sat on the floor and refused to leave. We were arrested for ‘unlawful entry’. I spent about six hours in the Capitol Hill Police station, then was released on my own recognizance until arraignment in DC
Superior Court on November 24th.
As I was being arrested and led away, I clearly stated my reason for participating in the demonstration, “Health care is a human right!”
Personally, I can not stay silent about the need for universal primary health care. I believe that spending public funds on fighting disease would save many more lives than fighting ANY war. In that context, it seemed perfectly appropriate for me to take a stand in a US Senator’s office. The status quo of political discourse in Washington DC makes me sick. Therefore, I feel that we should sit in the doorways and impede the normal business routines until the politicians elected to represent us start putting people before profits.
Midge Potts
Springfield, Mo.
Thank you for your patriotism Midge.
We often hear from corporate worshipers about the cost of universal healthcare to future generations…What we don’t hear from these corporate knee-benders is the projected cost of healthcare for our children and grandchildren if we keep the current “for-profit” and exclusionary healthcare system.
This year we will spend $2.5 trillion or $8,200 per family for healthcare.
In 8 years we will spend $4.3 trillion or $14,000 per family.
At the current “for-profit” rate, by 2018, healthcare costs will consume 21% of our GDP….
The Republicans who want to keep the current system are the same people who oppose unions and negotiated healthcare benefits, they oppose minimum wage increases, and favor deregulations of all free-for-all markets. And if you can’t afford to see a doctor it’s your fault.
Then they wave their Wal-Mart purchased American flags from China and call the rest of us Socialists.
Way to stand up (or sit down) for your beliefs, Midge!
And Garrison, well stated!
The repugs are NOTHING but business sycophants.
Hey Midge, now that Cindy Sheehans 15 minutes of fame are up, I hear there’s a ditch in Crawford just waiting for your tent. And Garrison, if I wanted a Union made flag, I’d need a bank loan. Funny how you pick on the Chinese when they’re funding all your boy’s spending.
Thank you Midge Potts. It is appalling that Congress can accept the outlandish campaign contributions. I almost wrote “our” representatives, but they’re not beholding to us, we don’t have the cash. Most people think they have good insurance. Just wait until a catastrophic illness hits. They will find how bad their “good” coverage really is. I am in my third year of breast cancer and reconstruction and have “great” insurance. My deductible is $500 and 20/80 up to $2500. That’s why I paidout over $7,000 last year and owe thousands more! Just wait to you hear, “the test was medically unnecessary.” It took months of fighting, but they eventually paid for the initial MRI - $2700! Why should only the rich have coverage? We are so far behind Europe, we’ll never catch up and why? Because of corporate greed. Gingrich should rot in hell for the partisan politics he started. I’m grateful there are people like Potts out there, who see the need and have the time. THANK YOU!
Midge;
Were you a part of a MSNBC orchestrated supposed “grass-roots” demonstration?? Obviously the PD and the usual Liberals here are all in support of you and your “patriotism”. Funny thing is though, if you were a TEA partier or this was a “Townhall Meeting” and you were speaking out against Big Government Spending, your reception here would be just a bit different. Don’t you think?
Midge, you said that your reason for participating in the demonstration was that, “Health care is a human right!”
Now, please state your reason for believing that health care is in fact a human right.
— rt”Bull”
12:20 pm November 10th, 2009
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A perfect example of “projection”.
Ya…Midge. Why in the hell do you think we should help the suffering?
You don’t see that kind of behavior in the rest of the animal kingdom.
Well…maybe with a few species, but not with us republican neocon magnon neanderthal sub-species.
Now, please state your reason for believing that health care is in fact a human right.
— Hugh
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Yeah, Midge. Just die already.
dweeb Garrison
You can’t do any better than that?