A Scathingly Brilliant Idea on How To Get Real Healthcare Reform

(Good idea with some modifications. I listed some at the end.)

From Susie Madrak at "Crooks and Liars."
I have this idea. It's pretty simple and I think it will appeal to a lot of people.
Here it is. I want every uninsured man and woman who comes down with swine flu to go sit in the waiting rooms of their elected representatives.

That's it. Just sit there - coughing. Throwing your used Kleenex in their trash receptacles. If they want us to suffer, they should have to look at at the logical consequences of their inaction. Tell them you're going to keep coming back until they manage to pass something that's actually going to help people instead of lining the pockets of the insurance companies.

If the weather gets cold, set up a tent in the parking lot, put a sign on it that says "Waiting Room: Waiting for Affordable Health Care." Set up your lawn chairs and invite everyone who passes to sit there with you. Be sure to call your local media.

With apologies to Arlo Guthrie:

if you're in a situation like that, there's only one thing you can do and that's walk into the congressman's office wherever you are ,just walk in say "Congressman, we just want affordable health care". And walk out. You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's nuts and they won't pay attention. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're just odd and they won't take either of them. And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in saying "We just want affordable health care" and walking out. They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said fifty people a day walking in, coughing their heads off and saying, "We just want affordable health care" and then walking out. And friends, they may think it's a movement.

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/scathingly-brilliant-idea-how-get-rea

I wouldn't spread any disease.
I wouldn't say I had swine flu. Getting a group to pretend they are sick would be as effective.
People with all kinds of conditions who are uninsured should show up at their representatives offices with their bills in hand. The "Waiting Room" tent would be good.

A great principle - but they intransigents are mostly in the Senate and hang out in DC. Some of them may be starting to listen to the constituents. (Please don't laugh yet.)

We must continue to send faxes, emails, letters, calls - they can have no excuse to say they "didn't get it" - 'cause they don't get it yet.

nt

I think anyone who doesn't get healthcare should have to sign a waiver not to use any facility, like an emergency room, in case they get sick.

...Suburban Guerrilla.

http://susiemadrak.com/

I saw Arlo & Family sing this Tom Paxton song & it was great - we can play it over & over outside the tent.

I'm Changing My Name to Chrysler
by Tom Paxton

Oh the price of gold is rising out of sight
And the dollar is in sorry shape tonight
What the dollar used to get us
Now won't buy a head of lettuce
No the economic forecast isn't right
But amidst the clouds I spot a shining ray

I can even glimpse a new and better way
And I've demised a plan of action
Worked it down to the last fraction
And I'm going into action here today

CHORUS:
I am changing my name to Chrysler
I am going down to Washington D.C.
I will tell some power broker
What they did for Iacocca
Will be perfectly acceptable to me
I am changing my name to Chrysler
I am headed for that great receiving line
So when they hand a million grand out
I'll be standing with my hand out
Yes sire I'll get mine

When my creditors are screaming for their dough
I'll be proud to tell them all where they can all go
They won't have to scream and holler
They'll be paid to the last dollar
Where the endless streams of money seem to flow
I'll be glad to tell them what they can do
It's a matter of a simple form or two
It's not just renumeration it's a liberal education
Ain't you kind of glad that I'm in debt to you

CHORUS

Since the first amphibians crawled out of the slime
We've been struggling in an unrelenting climb
We were hardly up and walking before money started talking
And it's sad that failure is an awful crime
Well it's been that way for a millenium or two
But now it seems that there's a different point of view
If you're a corporate titanic and your failure is gigantic
Down to congress there's a safety net for you

where people would mail a frozen pound of ground beef to their congresscritter.

Of course, it wouldn't stay frozen...

When I went to Bill Nelsons office (minus theatrics) they had 1000 petitions show up 1 by 1 and 2 by 2 in one week alone

Mary was always getting "scathingly brilliant ideas." Loved her!