[[link removed]]

TIDBITS – MAY 8- READER COMMENTS: 50 YEARS AFTER VIETNAM WAR END;
LARGEST MAY DAY IN US; BIRTH RATES FALLING; ISRAEL WAR CABINET
APPROVED PLAN TO SEIZE ENTIRE GAZA STRIP; “IT’S TIME” PEOPLE’S
PEACE SUMMIT OF PALESTINIANS AND JEWS IN JERUSALEM; MORE  
[[link removed]]


 

May 8, 2025
xxxxxx

*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

_ Reader Comments: 50 Years After Vietnam War' End; Largest May Day
in US; Birth Rates Falling; Israel War Cabinet approved plan to seize
entire Gaza Strip; “It’s Time” People’s Peace Summit of
Palestinians and Jews in Jerusalem and 15 cities worldwide _

Tidbits - Reader Comments, Announcements, Shorts, AND cartoons - May
8, 2025, xxxxxx

 

* I DON'T KNOW ABOUT DUE PROCESS  --  CARTOON BY DR. JAMES MACLEOD

* RE: MAY DAY 2025: THE CURRENT INSTALLMENT OF AN ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE
 (DAN MORGAN)
* RE: THE BEST SIGNS OF THIS YEAR’S MAY DAY PROTESTS  (DAVID
BERGER)
* RE: LABOR GOES ALL IN FOR ABREGO GARCIA  (BILL ROGERS)
* INFLATION  --  CARTOON AND COMMENTARY BY NICK ANDERSON
* RE: A VIETNAM STORY: FROM OTHERING TO SOLIDARITY  (HAMILTON FISH;
BILL D)
* RE: WHY APRIL 30TH SHOULD BE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY  (DANIEL CHENKIN)

* RE: US DEFEAT IN VIETNAM  (DAN MORGAN)
* PAPAL CONSIDERATIONS  --  CARTOON BY RANDY BISH
* RE: LEARNING FROM THE 1990S LABOR PARTY  (FRED WHITEHEAD; MARK
PATTERSON)
* ELMO NOT ELON  --  DOODLE BY MEG
* RE: BIRTH RATES ARE FALLING. HERE ARE REAL SOLUTIONS.  (MARINA
COBLENTZ; STEVEN AULT; KATHA POLLITT; MODERATOR'S RESPONSE)
* RE: SCOTUS THINKS CHURCH-STATE SEPARATION IS ANTI-RELIGIOUS
BIGOTRY  (CASS LYNCH; GREG ANDERSON; DELL STROMEI; WILLIAM CUTLIP)
* TRUMP TRASH  --  CARTOON BY ROB ROGERS
* RE: RYAN COOGLER'S ROAD TO "SINNERS"  (JOHN WOODFORD)

.
SHORTS:

* ISRAEL’S WAR CABINET APPROVED A PLAN TO SEIZE THE ENTIRE GAZA
STRIP  (AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE)
* MEDICAL JOURNALS NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP ATTACKS
 (JEROME P. KASSIRER AND ROBERT STEINBROOK / BOSTON GLOBE)

.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

* THEY JUST PROMISED MORE OCCUPATION – HERE’S OUR ANSWER  --
 MAY 9  (STANDING TOGETHER)
* LABOR CAN'T FIGHT MAGA, WITHOUT FIGHTING RACISM"  --  NEW YORK
CITY  --  MAY 14  (THE LEFT LABOR PROJECT AND 1199 SEIU-UNITED
HEALTH CARE WORKERS EAST)
* OCTOGENARIAN POETRY TOUR - FEATURING KETU OLAWADU  --  SUITLAND
(PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY) MD  --  MAY 18  (METRO DC ABOLITION TASK
FORCE AND PRINCE GEORGE'S DSA)
* HEAL THIS SICK COUNTRY: ‘HANDS UP’ FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF
ACTION FOR SINGLE PAYER  --  MAY 31
* NO KINGS  --  NATIONWIDE DAY OF DEFIANCE  --  JUNE 14
 (INDIVISIBLE)

.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT DUE PROCESS  --  CARTOON BY DR. JAMES MACLEOD

 

Dr. James MacLeod
May 5, 2025
MacLeodCartoons
[[link removed]]

 

RE: MAY DAY 2025: THE CURRENT INSTALLMENT OF AN ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE

(posting on xxxxxx Labor
[[link removed]])
 

High time the US Labor movement joined the rest of the world (without
anti-communist bans).

Dan Morgan
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

 

RE: THE BEST SIGNS OF THIS YEAR’S MAY DAY PROTESTS
 

Comrades, the writer of this article made a very serious mistake. A
mistake no leftist should make. When referring to the massive
demonstration at Foley Square in New York City, They wrote:

    "New York City, protesters congregated in Manhattan's Union
Square and Foley Square for rallies organized by The People's Forum
and the American Civil Liberties Union, respectively."

1) The earlier event, at Union Square, was indeed organized by the
ACLU and The People's Forum.

2) The larger event, at Foley Square, was referred to by the
participants as a demonstration and march, not a "congregat." The
demonstration began about 5:00 followed by a march down to the brass
bull just below Wall Street at 5:45. 

3) Most important: Th e event, attended by about 50,000 people, was
organized by the Central Labor Council, New York City's largest labor
organization. This was, as far as I know, the first protest openly
sponsored and led by a labor group.

4) This represents, within the first 100 days of Trumpism, already a
significant advance over the wonderful, but scattered protests so far.

In Solidarity,

David Berger

 

RE: LABOR GOES ALL IN FOR ABREGO GARCIA

(posting on xxxxxx Labor
[[link removed]])
 

#FreeKilmar and all deportees!

Bill Rogers
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

 

INFLATION  --  CARTOON AND COMMENTARY BY NICK ANDERSON

 

 

The Federal Reserve has once again hit the “snooze” button on
interest rates, keeping them unchanged at 4.25%–4.50% while
nervously eyeing the growing risks of both inflation and
unemployment—because apparently, the economy has decided to try
multitasking misery. The culprit behind this financial anxiety attack?
Surprise! It’s Trump’s tariff-palooza, which triggered a tsunami
of imports as Americans panic-bought before prices jump, turning Q1
into a bargain-hunting bonanza.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell tried to sound calm while essentially
admitting the central bank is flying blind through Trump’s trade
fog.

In short: the Fed is staying put, crossing its fingers, and hoping it
doesn’t have to choose between fighting inflation and saving jobs.
Meanwhile, Wall Street had a brief sugar high from the announcement
before remembering, oh yeah, the economy might spiral. Stay
tuned—monetary whiplash may be just a tweet or tariff away.

Nick Anderson
May 7, 2025
Pen Strokes [[link removed]]

 

RE: A VIETNAM STORY: FROM OTHERING TO SOLIDARITY
 

Deep gratitude to xxxxxx for picking up this fine recollection
[link removed]
[[link removed]]
by a writer deserving of recognition for this act of integrity and
courage so long ago. 

Hamilton Fish
Editor, The Washington Spectator
Like us on FB [[link removed]]

      =====

Thanks for sharing J. J. Johnson's reflections on his life and
anti-war efforts as part of the Fort Hood Three. J.J. has always been
a hero of mine for his early and courageous stand against the Vietnam
War. He was soon joined by countless other young people, inspired by
the activism of these three soldiers, who would also refuse to fight
in an unjust colonial war. There is a direct line from the Fort Hood
Three to the growing number of Israeli citizens refusing to fight in
the genocidal conflict in Gaza.

Bill D.

 

RE: WHY APRIL 30TH SHOULD BE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY
 

The forgotten genocide the US military committed in Southeast Asia

The Filipino Genocide
[[link removed]]
Andrew Clem

Daniel Chenkin
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

 

RE: US DEFEAT IN VIETNAM
 

Please do not try to soften the language to hide truth, as the
imperialist media do. The regime in the south was not 'US-backed'. It
was US created, a puppet regime.

Dan Morgan
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

 

PAPAL CONSIDERATIONS  --  CARTOON BY RANDY BISH

 

Randy Bish
May 5, 2025
Bishtoons [[link removed]]

 

RE: LEARNING FROM THE 1990S LABOR PARTY

(posting on xxxxxx Labor
[[link removed]])
 

Not even mentioned that Mazzocchi early on decided that the LP would
not run candidates in elections, a fatal mistake of course...

which meant the whole project was a stillbirth.

Fred Whitehead
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

      =====

LPA shut down chapters, like the one in NYC, to prevent them from
standing candidates in elections. In reality, LPA refused to confront
the Democrats & instead wanted to focus on legislative advocacy. Once
it became clear that the leadership wasn’t interested in tolerating
descent, it lost momentum. By the time Mazzocchi passed, the LPA was
already moribund

Mark Patterson
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

 

ELMO NOT ELON  --  DOODLE BY MEG

 

 

Doodle By Meg
March 7, 2025
@doodlebymeg.bsky.social‬
[[link removed]]

 

RE: BIRTH RATES ARE FALLING. HERE ARE REAL SOLUTIONS.
 

Please allow me a comment: whatever the negative reasons for the
falling birthrate, falling birthrates are a positive trend.  The
world is overpopulated which is one of the causes for the depletion of
natural resources, increased climate change and decrease of
ecosystems, i.e. destruction of the environment, and huge shantytowns
where people live miserably.

Marina Coblentz

      =====

Whereas the solutions proposed should be enacted, it should also be
noted that there are already over 8,000,000,000 people on this planet.
Not increasing but rather lowering that number is desirable.

Steven Ault

      =====

There is a serious error in  "Birthrates are falling."  The author
claims that insurance coverage for infertility treatments increased
births by 32%. That is not what the article she linked to says.  It
said it increased births by 32% in white women over 35, not all
women. 

There are other errors also.  Russia's birth rate is falling not
rising, for example.  Indeed, most of the strategies she claims boost
birthrates don't do much. 

I don't think you should use the author's work.  it seems awfully
slapdash.

Katha Pollitt

      =====

Moderator's Response:

Thanks for your careful reading of the article. We do aim to be
reliable, and in this case the author stepped outside her domain of
expertise.

RE: SCOTUS THINKS CHURCH-STATE SEPARATION IS ANTI-RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY
 

Yep. Can't have christofascism without the churches.

Cass Lynch
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

      =====

If Catholic schools teach the basics and make separate religious
classes that are optional for students that might be okay.

Greg Anderson
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

      =====

Establishment clause, says who they are!!! but people are not going to
pay taxes to a minority group who thinks they can rule over the masses
and trample our rights, and I’m sure the founders are rolling in
their graves, they were adamant about it! Equal protection under the
law means EVERYONE regardless of race, sex, or RELIGIOUS belief, and
if they teach Christianity get ready for every other religion to be
taught too! It’s not the governments place to dictate BELIEF systems

Dell Stromei
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

      =====

Tax churches then

William Cutlip
Posted on xxxxxx's Facebook page
[[link removed]]

 

TRUMP TRASH  --  CARTOON BY ROB ROGERS

 

Rob Rogers
May 6, 2025
robrogers.com [[link removed]]

 

RE: RYAN COOGLER'S ROAD TO "SINNERS"
 

"Sinners" is reactionary, degenerate, racialist trash regardless of
the technical skills of its director,  the artistry of its actors or
the allure of its soundtrack.

John Woodford

 

ISRAEL’S WAR CABINET APPROVED A PLAN TO SEIZE THE ENTIRE GAZA STRIP
 (AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE)

 

Last night, Israel’s War Cabinet approved a plan to seize the entire
Gaza Strip. The plan would forcibly transfer hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians who are already in extreme hunger and crisis because of
Israel’s systematic refusal to allow any lifesaving supplies to
enter Gaza. Israel plans to shut down all existing humanitarian
infrastructure and replace it with highly surveilled and militarized
zones overseen by a U.S.-based private security company where only a
limited amount of aid will be distributed. UN agencies, international
humanitarian organizations, and the Palestinian NGO Network have all
condemned the plan as a egregious violation of basic humanitarian
principles.

As an organization providing humanitarian relief in Gaza, AFSC stands
with our partners in opposing this plan and any weaponization of aid,
which is legally and morally reprehensible. We are calling on the U.S.
and the international community to take immediate steps to stop the
seizure of additional land in Gaza, reject the militarization of aid
and the internment of those seeking it, and end the ongoing genocide.

American Friends Service Committee
post on Facebook
[[link removed]]
May 5, 2025

 

MEDICAL JOURNALS NEED TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP ATTACKS
 

By Jerome P. Kassirer and Robert Steinbrook

May 3, 2025
Boston Globe
[[link removed]]
 
As physicians who have spent much of our careers as medical journal
editors, we urge leading journals to take on the administration  (H.
Hopp-Bruce/Globe Staff; Adobe)
_Dr. Jerome P. Kassirer is a professor_ _at Tufts University School
of Medicine and a former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of
Medicine. Dr. Robert Steinbrook is director of the Health Research
Group at Public Citizen and a former editor at the New England Journal
of Medicine and JAMA Internal Medicine_.

Strong-arm tactics by the Trump administration brought Columbia
University and distinguished law firms to their knees. Medicine —
its science, its practice, its educational efforts, and its control
over its own agenda — is similarly under extreme threat. 
[[link removed]]Expertise
and experience throughout the Department of Health and Human Services
have been replaced with conspiracy theorists, nonscientists, and
nonphysicians, leading to mass layoffs and targeted firings, the
hollowing out of entire agencies, and billions of dollars in canceled
grants and contracts.

Promising clinical research and programs to prevent infectious
diseases have been eliminated, replaced by bizarre recommendations for
unproven and potentially dangerous drugs and anti-scientific
attacks on the safety of long-proven vaccinations
[[link removed]].
The assault on the nation’s medical and public health infrastructure
is already having profound negative effects on the health, welfare,
and medical care of millions of people.

Given that the Trump administration punishes its perceived enemies and
withholds funding, it is no surprise that many leaders and
organizations in the medical community have hesitated to openly push
back against Trump’s attacks on medicine.

Even editors of the leading United States medical journals, such as
the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA, have not thoroughly
assailed the radical changes affecting the medical profession.
Instead, they have offered rather tepid critiques of what we see as a
dire emergency. The muted responses did not deter the interim US
attorney for the District of Columbia from sending
[[link removed]] menacing
letters to the NEJM, CHEST, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and at least
two other journals, questioning their content.

As physicians who have spent much of our careers as medical journal
editors, we urge leading journals to take on the administration.

A few are leading the fight. The executive director of the American
Public Health Association called
[[link removed]] on
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign or
be fired, citing multiple examples of “implicit and explicit bias
and complete disregard for science.” The Lancet, an international
medical journal, also called
[[link removed](25)00814-1/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email] for
Kennedy’s resignation, noting that “science and medicine in the
USA are being violently dismembered while the world watches.” It is
obvious that Kennedy is unqualified for his position so where are the
other medical journals in pointing that out?

We acknowledge the desire of medical journals to remain above the fray
whenever possible. Yet leading medical journals have great credibility
and a proud history of speaking truth to power. They have a special
stake in advocating for the best medical care for patients, advancing
medical knowledge, and protecting the profession. In 1980, Dr. Arnold
S. Relman, then the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of
Medicine, famously warned
[[link removed]] about
“the medical-industrial complex,” a “huge new industry that
supplies health-care services for profit,” and the necessity of
ensuring that the interests of the public come before those of
stockholders. Nearly 50 years later, in the era of private equity
investment in health care, that warning has never been more prescient.

There have been senseless cuts in federal health personnel and
programs and on efforts to reduce health disparities and programs that
advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. The research reports and
other types of articles that medical journals typically publish go
only so far. Responding to these unexpected circumstances requires
that medical journals have a trusted and compelling editorial voice,
for the profession and the wider audience of patients and the public.

After weeks of silence, more university leaders, emboldened by Harvard
University’s stand against the Trump administration, are organizing
in opposition. Medical journals should show courage, individually and
collectively. Silence only encourages more bullying.

If medical journals and some of our leading medical schools and
professional organizations are unwilling or unable to passionately
speak out, who will advocate for patients and the profession? Doctors,
nurses, and other health care professionals should use our collective
voices to try to convince medical associations and societies of
medical specialists to speak up and influence change and side with
others against the mess that has been foisted upon medicine.

Standing up for patients and the profession is public service, not a
partisan political activity. Our patients need better care, not flawed
theories, further fragmentation, or continued shredding and disruption
of federal health programs.

 

THEY JUST PROMISED MORE OCCUPATION – HERE’S OUR ANSWER  --  MAY
9  (STANDING TOGETHER)

 

THIS IS MADNESS. Just a few days ago, Israel approved plans to expand
the war and occupy the Gaza Strip. This is happening as Palestinians
are killed in daily airstrikes, as trucks of food aid wait at the
border since Israel barred entry two months ago, and as dozens of
hostages are still captive. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN US – AGAIN –
THAT IT DOESN’T CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ANYONE LIVING HERE and
that it prefers territory over human life. But we can’t accept that.
That’s why WE’RE TAKING ACTION TO BUILD AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS
UNBEARABLE REALITY.

We’re proud to be a senior partner in bringing thousands of
Palestinians and Jews together for an URGENT CONFERENCE ON
TRANSFORMING OUR SOCIETY AND CREATING THE POLITICAL WILL TO DEMAND,
AND ACHIEVE, PEACE. The “It’s Time” People’s Peace Summit
will take place on Thursday and Friday in Jerusalem as an
unprecedented gathering of 60 peace organizations and civil society
groups committed to building a peaceful and prosperous future for
everyone on this land.

Register to WATCH THE CONFERENCE
[[link removed]] VIA
LIVESTREAM ON FRIDAY, MAY 9TH, or JOIN AN INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
ACTION
[[link removed]] IN
YOUR CITY. We’re so proud of our Friends of Standing Together groups
which have already organized actions in 15 cities worldwide, and we
can’t wait to see the upcoming events planned.

We’re fighting hard everyday, but we’re not doing it alone.
Friends of Standing Together support our movement by donating whatever
amount they wish each month and get exclusive content, meetings with
our movement leaders, and join global solidarity networks raising a
voice for peace. They enable us to make a lasting difference on the
ground. Our fight for long-term change simply wouldn’t be possible
without them.

[[link removed]]

SIGN UP - CLICK HERE
[http:// [link removed]]

 

LABOR CAN'T FIGHT MAGA, WITHOUT FIGHTING RACISM"  --  NEW YORK CITY
 --  MAY 14  (THE LEFT LABOR PROJECT AND 1199 SEIU-UNITED HEALTH
CARE WORKERS EAST)

 

The Left Labor Project and 1199 SEIU-United Health Care Workers East,
are co-sponsoring a forum entitled "Labor Can't Fight MAGA, Without
Fighting Racism". Keynote speaker will be former SEIU Executive V.P.
Gerald Hudson, with panelists Hae-Lin Choi, Area Director, Legislative
& Political Department, Communications Workers of America,District1;
and Christopher Dols, President, Federal Union Network. 

The event will be on Wednesday May 14 at 6:30 at the 1199 auditorium
498 7th Ave, [37th St.]

RSVPs requested but not required.

 

OCTOGENARIAN POETRY TOUR - FEATURING KETU OLAWADU  --  SUITLAND
(PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY) MD  --  MAY 18  (METRO DC ABOLITION TASK
FORCE AND PRINCE GEORGE'S DSA)

 

 

HEAL THIS SICK COUNTRY: ‘HANDS UP’ FOR THE NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
FOR SINGLE PAYER  --  MAY 31
 

Over 70 local and national organizations have endorsed the National
Day of Action. On May 31, focus the outrage to move the engine of
change and put single payer on the nation’s agenda and remove profit
from healthcare.

 
An advocate holds a sign during a news conference on Medicare
Advantage plans in front of the U.S. Capitol on July 25, 2023 in
Washington, D.C.  (Photo: Alex Wong  //  Common Dreams)
By Judy Albert, Ed Grystar, Ana Malinow, Kay Tillow, Claire M. Cohen
April 27, 2025
Common Dreams
[[link removed]]

On Jan 17, 2025, on the heels of the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO
Brian Thompson, we wrote
[[link removed]] about
the failed system of our corporate controlled healthcare and the
outrage against the health insurance industry the shooting spawned. We
mentioned the possibility of setting a National Day of Action in 2025
to demand freeing healthcare from profit and covering everyone under a
national single payer plan.

Today, we call on people across the country to gather on May 31, 2025,
to put their “Hands Up” for:

* The recognition by our government that healthcare is a human
right;
* The elimination of private health insurance and the banning of
for-profit delivery of care;
* The enactment of a publicly financed, national single-payer
program that would provide comprehensive coverage to everyone; and
* The transformation of care delivery from profit-seeking ventures
into services organized to serve the people of our country, a system
in which all caregivers are freed from corporate control.

President Donald Trump’s inauguration has introduced the prospect of
severe hardships to working class and low-income people, people with
disabilities, the elderly, and children with proposed cuts to
Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security necessary to fund tax cuts for
the wealthy. This moment demands more than the protection of our
public programs; it demands a national, single-payer healthcare
program, free from profit, for everyone. One people, one plan.

The complicity of our government in the profit-making enterprise of
health insurance has been exposed once again when, on Monday April 7,
the Trump administration raised payment rates
[[link removed]] for Medicare
Advantage
[[link removed]] insurers by
5.1%, significantly more than the Biden administration’s proposed
increase of 2.2%, which was bad enough. This rate increase has the
potential to increase payments to MA by $25 billion next year.
However, the final sum will be closer to $60 billion
[[link removed]],
when the impact of gaming the system through risk scoring is included.

Paying health insurance premiums to a for-profit company that has been
given permission to restrict and withhold necessary care is the great
scam of modern U.S. healthcare.

As predicted, Medicare Advantage continues to gain enrollment because
they offer lower premiums compared to Traditional Medicare. Now they
can expect payment from the Medicare trust fund at a higher rate as
they have almost every year
[[link removed]] under
Democrat and Republican administrations since 2016. Early this month,
while the rest of the market spun out of control due to the
announcement of tariffs, insurance stocks soared
[[link removed]] after
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced the Medicare
Advantage rate hike.

Despite rate increases, Medicare Advantage will continue to operate
within narrow networks that often don’t include specialty care, such
as Cancer Centers of Excellence. Unlike Traditional Medicare,
beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage must accept pre-authorization
requirements to receive care that create the delays and denials of
care. Many seniors are unaware that in all but four states, once they
have enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, they cannot change to
Traditional Medicare without being subjected to underwriting and the
potential of very high premiums if they have preexisting conditions.
Paying health insurance premiums to a for-profit company that has been
given permission to restrict and withhold necessary care is the great
scam of modern U.S. healthcare.

Medicare is only one part of the privatization of government sponsored
health insurance: Medicaid is now largely privatized in 42 states,
subjecting children from low-income families and low-income adults to
the delays and denials that are the mainstay of cost controls in
managed care private insurance plans. Seventy five percent
[[link removed]] of
all Medicaid beneficiaries now are enrolled in a Medicaid Managed Care
Organization (MCO), and Medicaid MCO denials are twice as high
[[link removed]] as
denials in Medicare Advantage. Five _Fortune_ 500 health insurance
companies enroll 50% of all Medicaid beneficiaries, all publicly
traded and high performing profit makers.

Over 90 million Americans eligible for government supported
healthcare, both Medicaid and Medicare, are now captives of private
insurance managed care schemes that control their access to
healthcare. Many more millions on Traditional Medicare are being
“aligned
[[link removed]]”
by CMS into profit-seeking Accountable Care Organizations. The
underlying profit extraction inherent in these schemes prevents
critical services from reaching the right people at the right time.

The same can be said for employer-based insurance where workers are
paying excessive premiums to health insurance companies to be given
the privilege of paying deductibles and coinsurance that make
accessing care so expensive that many forgo needed services. According
to the Commonwealth Fund, premiums and deductibles consume 10%
[[link removed]] of
the median household income in the U.S. This means that every
household with employer health insurance making $80,610 per year or
less is underinsured. Employers are faced with increasing insurance
premiums for their employees that challenge their ability to stay in
business, or in the case of public schools, the ability to keep
schools open.

Enough is enough! Over 70 local and national organizations have
endorsed the National Day of Action. On May 31, join an action
[[link removed]] or plan an
action in your community. Focus the outrage to move the engine of
change and put single payer on the nation’s agenda and remove profit
from healthcare. On May 31, put your “Hands Up” for National
Single Payer—an Improved Medicare for All free from profit with
everybody in and nobody out. Nothing less can heal the nation.

_[DR. JUDY ALBERT is a retired reproductive endocrinologist and
medical director of the Reproductive Health Specialists. Her
experience includes practicing and teaching at the Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania and at the University of Pittsburgh Medical
Center's Magee-Womens Hospital, where she served as medical director
of the in-vitro fertilization program and as a medical executive
committee member. She is a founding member of the Physicians for a
National Health Program Pittsburgh chapter and sits on the Board of
Physicians for a National Health Program._

_ED GRYSTAR has decades of experience organizing and negotiating
contracts for healthcare employees. He is co-founder and current chair
of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single Payer Healthcare.
Served as the President of the Butler County (PA) United Labor Council
for 15 years._

_DR. ANA MALINOW is a retired pediatrician living in San Francisco.
She is one of the lead organizers for National Single Payer, an
organization that works locally for national single payer health
care._

_KAY TILLOW is the coordinator of the All Unions Committee for Single
Payer Health Care, which builds union support for national single
payer healthcare. She is also a member of the steering committee of
National Single Payer. She lives in Louisville, Kentucky._

_CLAIRE M. COHEN is a child psychiatrist in Pittsburgh, PA who is a
member of National Single Payer, PNHP and the Western PA Coalition for
Single Payer Healthcare. You can contact her at [email protected] ]_

 

NO KINGS  --  NATIONWIDE DAY OF DEFIANCE  --  JUNE 14
 (INDIVISIBLE)

 

 

JOIN OUR NATIONWIDE DAY OF DEFIANCE TO SHOW THAT ORGANIZED PEOPLE
POWER IS STRONGER THAN TRUMP’S AUTHORITARIAN ASPIRATIONS.
[[link removed]]

[[link removed]]

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PLEDGE [[link removed]]

On June 14—Flag Day—Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a
made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant
to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It
rises up everywhere else.

No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small
towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action
to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really
looks like.

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The flag doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us. We’re
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On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no
thrones, no crowns, no kings.

NO KINGS [[link removed]]  
 

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