Strength, Strategy and Single Payer

[ILMediaProgressives]

Run time: 03:04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHSKiDWHBFY   Posted on YouTube: April 15, 2010 By YouTube Member: IMProgress Views on YouTube: 29   Posted on DU: April 17, 2010 By DU Member: ILMediaProgressives Views on DU: 720

 
Representatives from dozens of organizations across Illinois gathered at St. Augustana Lutheran Church, in President Obama's old Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago, to talk health care. In a series of break out sessions hosted by Health Care-NOW's Katie Robbins, Dr. Quentin Young, Donna Smith and many others shared strategy in this day long event to plan the fight for health care for all.

[jotsy]

1. Welcome to DU

Spent some time last year trying to talk up the mad as hell doctors without much impact, but along the way learned of the unexpected passing of a research analyst for PNHP. I'm not sure I remember hearing much about why that was, can you shed any light? I think the health care discussion would have benefited the single payer cause, had he lived.

HR 676!

[ILMediaProgressives]

2. That man was Nick Skala

And we couldn't agree more.
He wrote the single payer bill HB 311 Rep Mary Flowers has put forth in the Illinois General Assembly.
He was a good egg and is deeply missed.

This is a video we made for his family and friends which we were honored to be among.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp2wU-DaHsM

Here is also more info on the bill from PNHP.

http://pnhp.org/blog/2010/04/12/illinois-lawmaker-to-reintroduce-single-payer-bill/

"Flowers plans to reintroduce her state-based single-payer bill, HB 311, next January. She has pledged to rename it the Nicholas Skala Health Care for All Illinois Act."

We also pushed hard for the Mad Docs here in Chicago where we did a live tribute to Nick for his parents.
Quite moving.

The battle continues.

Thank you!

[jotsy]

3. My concern is of a more specific nature.

I've thought a lot about Nick with Martin Luther King being discussed here much since Easter. The thought I always come back to is that true champions of the people die young, and not always as a result of natural causes. Last I heard, young Mr. Skala died in his sleep for reasons unknown. I am not local and therefore can't call in a favor to see if all questions regarding this matter were satisfactorily answered.

[ILMediaProgressives]

4. We are all unsatisfied

Since Nick passed. However, we will overcome. We have to. We are many and are becoming more.

Best.
-IMPs.