Health care is in the air–and there are somewhat dueling camps here in Denver, which reflect what’s happening day-to-day in labor. Last night, I attended a lively reception hosted by a variety of groups–the California Nurses Association and Progressive Democrats of America–who support HR676, the bill that would enact essentially a single-payer system. The bill’s major champion is Rep. John Conyers. Conyer was at the reception but I couldn’t stay to here is remarks.
At the reception, besides Conyers, were CWA president Larry Cohen, Greg Junemann, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and, though not officially on the program, Karen Ackerman, political director of the AFL-CIO. Readers here know that I don’t quite understand why the labor movement isn’t solidly behind single-payer…but, regardless, it’s good to see some folks are ready for the fight. At least for the time I was there, nothing unusual was said other than to emphasize that the polls show that the people would embrace a single-payer system. So, you kind of wonder, "what the fuck is holding us back?" Pardon my french but this is a particularly annoying thing to me.
Today, other pieces of labor will hold two rallies on health care. The first one will be a morning "parade the politicians" affair hosted by SEIU and Families USA at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.Besides Andy Stern and SEIU Secretary Treasurer Anna Burge (you can see her address to the convention last night here), other speakers include SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera and a slew of elected officials, including Hillary Clinton. Later on, at 3 p.m., there will be an outdoor rally and march, including Chuck D, Ben Gibbard and Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie. That particular rally is sponsored by SEIU, Healthcare United, Health Care for America Now (HCAN), the National Education Association (NEA), Colorado for Health Care, Families USA, the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), and Jobs With Justice.
If you were to characterize this constellation of folks, you would say that they are not wedded to single-payer and would support some form of universal health care that kept the private insurance industry in the game. I think that’s a mistake. BUT–I hope we can have a debate that doesn’t pit slogans like "naive/unrealistic" versus "sell-outs"–it will just feel like the trade debate which falsely pits the debate as one between "free trade" and "protectionism". It doesn’t shed much light on the topic.
Anyway, I’ll get some details on the rallies–might not be til later.
