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DEMOCRATIC
SOCIALISTS
OF
AMERICA
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January 8, 2008 |
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NEWS FROM DSA |
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DSA Joins Health Care Alliance
DSA has
joined the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health
Care (LCGHC). The Leadership Conference is
a clearinghouse and umbrella coordinating organization for groups promoting
comprehensive reform legislation to guarantee health care for all
Americans. The Leadership Conference helps member organizations
utilize their respective resources, capacity and constituencies to educate,
advocate and agitate to pass H.R. 676, the National Health Insurance
Act/Expanded and Improved Medicare for All.
H.R. 676, introduced by
Representative John Conyers is the focus of single payer healthcare
reform in the United States. DSA supported single payer health care 15 years ago when health care
dominated the political agenda; and now with reform possible in this new
administration, it's the perfect time to again urge those who will lead our
country and our states to support the best plan for achieving genuine
national health care. Single payer national health care is an important part of
DSA's Economic Justice Agenda. During this past election campaign, health
care reform was again a hot topic, and a lot of promises were made. Now as
we transition to a new administration, the discussion continues as the
President- and Vice President-elect, along with members of Congress, begin to
set priorities. As the economy worsens, with close to two million workers losing
their jobs in the past year, more and more families are losing their health care
coverage. So this issue cannot be simply placed on the back
burner.
With health care cost inflation soaring,
companies are dropping their increasingly expensive health insurance plans and
self-employed individuals find insurance almost impossible to afford. A tragic
fact of our failing system is that at least half and perhaps as many as 68
percent of personal bankruptcies are due to extraordinary medical
costs.
Single payer health care addresses the
fundamental problem with our health care system -- the absolute need to control
costs while providing quality care for everyone. According to Physicians
for a National Health Program, streamlining our country's system by paying
through a single non-profit entity would save more than $350 billion per
year.
DSA has
supported activity organized by the Leadership Conference in the past, most
recently the national call Congress day last month. Joining this coalition will
help DSA be a vigorous and effective proponent of national healthcare for all as
the fight for reform moves from the election campaign to
Congress.
In
solidarity,
 Frank
Llewellyn
National
Director
Special P. S. We are
happy that many non-members want to receive these reports, but we would be even
happier if more of you became members of DSA. We are in the first phase of what
may be the greatest financial and economic crisis that the United States has
faced since the Great Depression?a crisis that severely challenges
corporate-dominated globalization of the economy. The election provides a new
opening along with the political space for progressives to pressure
the incoming administration to carry out real reforms. This is a time that
cries out for a strong socialist organization and a movement for genuine reform.
So if you are not a member of DSA, now is the time to become one. Or, if you are
not ready to join, you can still make a tax-deductible contribution to support
our educational work, including our work in support of single payer national
health care. To join, or to contribute, simply click one of the options
below.
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Paid for by the Democratic
Socialists of America, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 505, New York, NY 10038.
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