Workers’ Center to protest outside healthcare forum
For the first time in many years health reform has become a central policy discussion in Washington.
And it so happens that this national spotlight will be shined on Vermont tomorrow afternoon for the Obama Administration’s Health Reform Forum, which is being hosted by Governor Douglas and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at the University of Vermont at noon this Tuesday, March 17 outside the parking lot side entrance of the Davis Center.
The Vermont Workers’ Center, who for almost a year has been organizing a “Healthcare is a Human Right”campaign designed to change the way Vermonters think about healthcare, plans to take advantage of this opportunity and demand real change now: a universal single-payer system.
Hundreds of protesters, including union members, nurses and healthcare activists will be outside the Davis Center. Media members are encouraged to take photos and interview protesters.
While the forum will discuss national reform, state-wide reform efforts will no doubt become central to the debate. Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont, and Gov. Deval Patrick, both lead states that have had similar circumstances: 1) a problem with uninsured citizens and escalating costs; 2) efforts at reform that have failed to stop the crisis; and 3) budget deficits that are may lead to more cuts to public health services.
Massachusetts is now three years into a flawed “individual mandate” plan that, according to today’s New York Times, is on the verge of collapse due to the rising costs associated with health insurance companies in the private sector. Likewise, Vermont’s Catamount Plan, has failed to insure most Vermonters in need and may well be further eroded by Gov. Douglas’ misguided and cruel reaction to the state’s budget crisis: cutting the budget on the backs of the neediest.
As a result, the Workers’ Center is eager to get the following message out: healthcare reform should be done (in the state and federal governments) in adherence to the principal that all human beings deserve healthcare as a human right.
Further, it is important to emphasize that other alternatives will not prove fiscally sustainable, as leaving the private system in place inevitably causes excessive administrative waste. This is precisely why the United States spends twice as much per capita as most other countries (16 percent of our GDP, as opposed to about 8 – 12 percent in European countries and Canada) and yet still leaves millions uninsured or underinsured.
On the statewide level, Vermont has been unable to insure the 66,000 who lack coverage, or control costs. Municipal employees in the state, for example, saw their health insurance coverage go up more than 21 percent according to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. Yet, a study commissioned by the Legislature in 2006 showed that a statewide single-payer system would save Vermonters more than $50 million. Why not demand the only system that covers everyone and deals with the affordability crisis?
This is a really great opportunity not to be missed. We will tell Obama and the governor that healthcare is a human right, and build to our “call in sick” rally on May 1, at the State House .
Also please consider reading the Workers’ Center’s report, “Voices of the Vermont Healthcare Crisis.” In this document, available at Workerscenter.org, we see that after interviewing 1,400 people across the state, more than 95 percent said they thought healthcare should be a human right.
For questions or interviews call: 802-272-0882.