I’m a single payer activist with the Wellstone Democratic Club. It’s clear that our attempts to get the single payer message across has been pretty ineffective. We’ve picketed, marched, phone banked, leafleted risked arrest, done street theater. I’ve come to the conclusion that part of the problem is that people need to hear the message from a trusted person from a demographic they can relate to. We’re mostly older white women and people don’t really hear us. Is there an organization of doctors who would be willing to step up and treat this like the public healthcare emergency it really is. Could these doctors take a minute of time to deliver the single payer message to each of their patients? I think if enough primary care doctors were organized to inform their patients about single payer that we could make real progress. Anything less than this is futile. We don’t have the money to fight the corporate message machine.
I’m not sure what the problem is. Maybe we haven’t glamorized it enough for California. (haha) I’m actually 23 years old, female.. I’ve been to a couple single payer meetings… none of them have been particularly enriching. In any case I’ve been following single payer for about a year now and I’ve made a sincere attempt to involve the younger crowd to single payer (speeches in classrooms, at work, tables at schools). But then I feel there’s a problem because a lot of young people simply don’t DEAL with health insurance… and they don’t care enough to get out of their daily routine for it.
Despite the doom and gloom.. I have really spiked interest in some of my peers.. and I’m only one person working by myself. So.. I think it’s well worth the effort to start going to UCs Cal States and Community Colleges to spread the word in rallies INSTEAD of gathering ourselves into small groups in corners of LA.. going over things we already know O_O. I also think (it might sounds.. bad… ) that we need create a connection to our audiences by having our speakers BE PEERS of our general audiences. As petty as it might seem… making the face of single payer look “cool”, accessible and RELEVANT TO OUR AGE GROUP.. will most definitely help!!
And I think Barbara..down there.. is also correct… if California can get just a little leverage we can do it.. and i KNOW we can get that leverage from our youth!!
Great ideas Sophie! I recently graduated from CSU, Chico and agree our generation really needs to get involved in this push. We may not have a lot of money to donate but we have motivation, enthusiasm and desire to do what it takes to see real change NOW! We also have votes…lots of them…we just need to get out there and make them heard. I think working with colleges, CSUs, and UCs is a great approach. We could work with nursing and/or pre-Med or other future health care professionals. All schools have some sort of “pre-med” club always looking for service and community outreach projects to list on med school applications. We could tap into this excellent resource and work with them throughout the state to provide information though all the ways you mentioned and try to get enough interest to hold more formal forums involving faculty, staff and community members, etc. I agree that this campaign could be a bit “hipper.” It’s not going to be an easy road but we can DEFINITELY do this!!
I’m a 54 yo male physician, and Ive taken a year off to participate in healthcare reform. I see on these posts that there isn’t a lot of messaging, but the messages here are very compelling. I have been active in PNHP, and I’m now networking with other groups. I have a message that will reframe the one payer view for conservative minds – something that is badly needed. I also have a plan to organize a demonstration against doctors who are not participating in reform activities or supporting healthcare for all. Can I get discussion going here, or references to people who are interested? I want to make this year count. Thanks
Joel Weddington MD joelwedd@yahoo.com
I’m a single payer activist with the Wellstone Democratic Club. It’s clear that our attempts to get the single payer message across has been pretty ineffective. We’ve picketed, marched, phone banked, leafleted risked arrest, done street theater. I’ve come to the conclusion that part of the problem is that people need to hear the message from a trusted person from a demographic they can relate to. We’re mostly older white women and people don’t really hear us. Is there an organization of doctors who would be willing to step up and treat this like the public healthcare emergency it really is. Could these doctors take a minute of time to deliver the single payer message to each of their patients? I think if enough primary care doctors were organized to inform their patients about single payer that we could make real progress. Anything less than this is futile. We don’t have the money to fight the corporate message machine.
We will pass Single Payer Healthcare in California first; then the rest of the nation will begin clamoring for it. Keep the faith!
I’m not sure what the problem is. Maybe we haven’t glamorized it enough for California. (haha) I’m actually 23 years old, female.. I’ve been to a couple single payer meetings… none of them have been particularly enriching. In any case I’ve been following single payer for about a year now and I’ve made a sincere attempt to involve the younger crowd to single payer (speeches in classrooms, at work, tables at schools). But then I feel there’s a problem because a lot of young people simply don’t DEAL with health insurance… and they don’t care enough to get out of their daily routine for it.
) that we need create a connection to our audiences by having our speakers BE PEERS of our general audiences. As petty as it might seem… making the face of single payer look “cool”, accessible and RELEVANT TO OUR AGE GROUP.. will most definitely help!!
Despite the doom and gloom.. I have really spiked interest in some of my peers.. and I’m only one person working by myself. So.. I think it’s well worth the effort to start going to UCs Cal States and Community Colleges to spread the word in rallies INSTEAD of gathering ourselves into small groups in corners of LA.. going over things we already know O_O. I also think (it might sounds.. bad…
And I think Barbara..down there.. is also correct… if California can get just a little leverage we can do it.. and i KNOW we can get that leverage from our youth!!
Great ideas Sophie! I recently graduated from CSU, Chico and agree our generation really needs to get involved in this push. We may not have a lot of money to donate but we have motivation, enthusiasm and desire to do what it takes to see real change NOW! We also have votes…lots of them…we just need to get out there and make them heard. I think working with colleges, CSUs, and UCs is a great approach. We could work with nursing and/or pre-Med or other future health care professionals. All schools have some sort of “pre-med” club always looking for service and community outreach projects to list on med school applications. We could tap into this excellent resource and work with them throughout the state to provide information though all the ways you mentioned and try to get enough interest to hold more formal forums involving faculty, staff and community members, etc. I agree that this campaign could be a bit “hipper.” It’s not going to be an easy road but we can DEFINITELY do this!!
Keep up the hard work!
I’m a 54 yo male physician, and Ive taken a year off to participate in healthcare reform. I see on these posts that there isn’t a lot of messaging, but the messages here are very compelling. I have been active in PNHP, and I’m now networking with other groups. I have a message that will reframe the one payer view for conservative minds – something that is badly needed. I also have a plan to organize a demonstration against doctors who are not participating in reform activities or supporting healthcare for all. Can I get discussion going here, or references to people who are interested? I want to make this year count. Thanks
Joel Weddington MD joelwedd@yahoo.com