Announcement from Missourians For Single Payer
Missourians For Single Payer (MoSP)
Presents
“WE WON‘T BE FOOLED AGAIN“
April 1, 2, 3
April 1 - April Fools’ Day Street Theater Actions around the St. Louis Area on “The Absurdities of Rationing Health Care Amidst Great Abundance”.
April 2 - Citizen/Congressional Hearings on “Solutions to the National Health Care Crisis”, with focus on single payer as a both equitable and affordable solution.
The first of several nationwide citizen/congressional hearings on solutions to the national health care crisis will be hosted by MOSP in conjunction with the Campaign for a National Health Program NOW (cnhpNOW) and the Congressional
Universal Health Care Task Force. U.S. Representative John Conyers, (D-MI),
chairs the 46-member committee and will encourage members to attend. Citizens
will testify regarding their problems with health care access, the quality of health care, and its affordability. 9:30 AM-1 PM, THE HEIGHTS, 8001 Dale Avenue, Richmond Heights, MO 63117.
April 3 - Platform Address on Health Care Ethics by Ohio Congressman Dennis
Kucinich, former U.S. presidential candidate, our nation’s leading proponent
for universal single payer health care. Program: 11 AM-12 PM, Reception: 12PM-1 PM, Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63117. Public Reception to follow.
Only one Congressman has been a longtime, outspoken and eloquent supporter
for single-payer health care: U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and
presidential candidate during the last election.
We’re proud that he’s agreed to give the main speech on Sunday, April 3, the
finale of our Health Care Weekend. His talk will be about 30 minutes on health
care ethics, followed by a 15-minute Q & A period, and a public reception, all at the Ethical Society of St. Louis.
Many of you know what makes Dennis Kucinich “a progressive’s progressive.” One of seven children born to working class parents in Cleveland, he scrubbed
floors as a boy to help pay his way through Catholic schools. He paid his way
through Case Western University by working as a proofreader at two Cleveland
daily newspapers, and as a surgical technician at a city hospital. He was elected
to Cleveland’s City Council at age 23, held various city posts and his strong labor- and blue collar- support made him mayor of Cleveland at age 31, the youngest ever to become mayor of a major city.
His refusal to privatize Cleveland’s municipal power system brought the wrath
of banks and corporate leaders, who forced the city into bankruptcy by calling in a few million dollars in bank loans. That cost him reelection as mayor and no company would give him a job. He ended up as a radio talk show host, TV
reporter and then started his own media consulting firm. He returned to elected
office as a State Senator in 1994, then as U.S. Representee from Cleveland in
1996.
As a presidential candidate, he joined union picket lines, attended antiwar rallies and advocated canceling trade pacts such as NAFTA. In Congress, he voted against the war, against Bush’s $87 billion war budget and the Patriot Act. He continues as one of the chief critics of Bush’s foreign policies and goals of privatization of Medicare and Social Security.
This is the third year MoSP has sponsored a health care weekend of educational programs to highlight single payer and to generate support for our cause. We are especially proud of this year’s program. As you have seen it is a very ambitious program schedule. We are grateful for Congressman Kuchinich’s participation. I know that you are proud of your officers and board for securing this very important program. This is the time for MoSP to shine! In order to have the very best success we need your help in many ways. This is your chance to “walk the walk.” Show your support!
MOSP asks for your support in any or all of the following ways:
1. Volunteer to help with the programs. We need many willing hands to complete these projects. Contact Julia or Roger Signor.
2. Attend our free programs. Do attendance building — bring friends.
3. Promote these events to all your friends, coworkers, organizations, church, etc. .… via emails, mailings, or newsletter. We have a video and printed materials for your use.
4. Recruit members to testify at the health care hearings. More about this later.
5. Make a donation to be a cosponsor of the Health Care Weekend Program. Your
name will be listed as a cosponsor on the program literature. As you can imagine, this program will be a costly affair. We believe that we can support it.
MoSP operates on small yearly membership dues and special donations. This
is the time for special donations. Members of MoSP spend many hours and donate freely of their resources to help present our message. If you believe in what we are doing please show your support by donating towards this programming.
Make checks to: MoSP and mail to MoSP at 438 N. Skinker, St. Louis, MO 63130.