From Illinois to Indiana to Kentucky and the Hills of Tennessee, we (the Healthcare-Now-SICKO Road Show Bus Tour) have worked to spread the word about the existence of a Single-Payer Universal Healthcare Plan. A New and Improved Healthcare System that will make Healthcare a Human Right for all in the US - EVERYBODY IN - NOBODY OUT! - H.R.676, the United States National Health Insurance Plan, introduced by Congressman John Conyers, Jr., House Judiciary Chair, will make it so that the first question you are asked at the healthcare provider of your choice, after your name and date of birth is "What is the matter? How may I help you?" not "What kind of insurance do you have?" or “Do you have insurance?"

The 1980 School bus (with Healthcare-Now.org and the 800 number to call painted on its sides) has ridden into town in some twenty cities and continues to cross this land, educating citizens that there is an answer to this broken healthcare system that turns its back on 18,000 Americans each year, who die due to lack of access to healthcare. By now many of you are tracking our journey and that means our mission is crystallizing into a reality. We all know that 47 million Americans are without health insurance and more than fifty million Americans are under insured, ranking us 37th in the world in providing benefits to our citizens. Upon leaving Tennessee and entering Mississippi, we met with the staff of Congressman Taylor, Ms. Jerry Martin, who listened to our plea and promised to alert the Congressman of our message to support the bill. Continuing south, we were graciously hosted by Mississippians in Oceans Springs, Shelly and Prasod who are spreading the word about H.R.676. As the Healthcare-Now bus churns down the Highway towards New Orleans, we are reminded of how our present system of government has failed us and the need for change now, as a sea of thousands of empty new motor homes line the Highway in open fields, reminding us that FEMA is still on the mend but not fixed. As we pulled into New Orleans, where the homeless live on the Highway underpass and thousands of destroyed homes have raped the citizens of their heritage, memories of their families and a city so rich in culture, I ask myself, "Why can't we figure out, as a country, how to help our citizens?” or “Why don't we want to figure out how to help our countrymen in need?" 

The bus pulled up to a huge concrete structure that seemingly had little damage from Hurricane Katrina, due to its solid foundation and yet Charity Hospital remains an empty shell, awaiting demolition, not only of the brick and mortar but of the reminder of the poor that it once serviced. The tour bus met with Doctors and Medical Students, the SICKO movie was shown and the citizens met some of the victims that bravely told their story in the movie. Many of us do not realize that participants are not paid to be in documentaries. So although money is being made, it still leaves the participants basically where they were in the beginning – with the present healthcare system and struggling to survive. That is, if, you are lucky enough to survive, as some of the participants in the movie have since died, due to a system still struggling with the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. 

With more touring of the blatant reminder why we need H.R.676, the Ninth ward remains on the mend, as we meet Pat, the nurse who donated her home to become the Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic and Nurse Alice, Executive Director of the Clinic. Clearly, we recognize that these citizens are still in need of assistance and as we watch the few volunteers attempt to help to rebuild the city, we are again reminded that there are the best of us who can help but only the few who do. We are told that we just missed Brad Pitt and his family who are graciously rebuilding an area of the Ward. It’s a further example of how the wealthy can make a difference and if all were required to contribute to a Universal system, that they would still be able to continue their lavish lifestyles.

Leaving Louisiana, we hope the energy we have seen will flourish and activist/leaders such as Brad Ott and State Representative, Ken Odenet, Sr., will continue to fight for the rebuilding of this wonderful city, and the restoration and reopening of the inner city Charity Hospital. We hope that Congressman Melancon will exercise the wisdom to support the reopening of the hospital and co-sponsor H.R.676, a bill that will give every American healthcare, no matter what the tragedy. It's on to Florida - back on the bus to the road to a single payer-system, H.R.676l.You will hear from me soon. -Haddie

How to get on the bus?  More Road Shows are being planned for next year in other parts of the country – and local groups and state organizations are also planning their own Sicko-Cure Road Shows across their own states to help promote H.R.676.  Call us to learn how to do it.  1-800-453-1305 or Click here to contact Ms. Knuff and Healthcare-NOW.

Click here to read any of the articles in this special BC series on Single-Payer Healthcare.

Your comments are always welcome.