Maybe it was the hall. UAW Local 600 has been the birthplace of many great struggles. The 500 people who came to the Detroit Health Care NOW! Hearings might have been inspired by the rows of photographs of earlier fights. Or maybe it was the announcement, just days before, of the impending bankruptcy of Delphi Corporation, a major auto parts supplier. By the time that the Gratiot Avenue Presbyterian Gospel Chorus finished the opening number, there was a sense of movement in the air.
Spontaneous testimony from members of the audience moved people. All of the problems that you read about were being told by the people whose health and lives were being lost, right there before us.
Panelists were introduced by Steelworkers Representative, and Coalition co-chair Al Cholger.
Mark Dudzic, National Organizer of the Labor Party described the economic crisis, and said, “If you put any twenty American people in a room, just like those who testified tonight, they will define what the problem is, from their own family’s experience”.
Marian Kramer of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization reminded us, that “each of us is just one layoff away from becoming part of the 45 million without healthcare”.
Marjorie Mitchell, Chair of MichUHCAN, the State health care reform group talked about how to achieve a solution.
Dr. David Apsey, of Physicians for a National Health Program demonstrated a plan that serves all Americans, doctors, employers, patients, and workers.
SOAR President Lynn Williams brought the audience to their feet with his quick history of the birth of the Canadian Health System. Williams, a Canadian told the audience that the same interests that spread lies about Canada’s health care are the ones who reap huge rewards from the high cost of health care in the US.
The Hearing ended with a video greeting from Congressman Conyers, who introduced Joel Siegel from his staff, to give a summary of HR 676 “The U.S. National Health Insurance Act”
As the crowd filtered out, Commitment Forms were filled out and collected. Commitments are being followed up, to continue the education, organization and activism for Healthcare Justice.
For more information about this subject go to:
http://www.healthcare-now.org/aboutus.php?sid=1
www.pnhp.org
www.justhealthcare.org
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HEALTH CARE WORKERS COUNCIL
