Health Care not Wealth Care
Good morning Engaged Durhamites for Democracy!
Happy birthday to my loving partner Mark today!
Happy to say the Avelo protest at RDU happened despite the rain. Thank you, John for the great report. And thanks Mike for sending a picture. So great to see Beth, Betty, Mike, Eric, Sue-Anne, Clark, John, Judy, and a few more out there with rain gear. Dedication like this speaks volumes to our community as they know you are willing to be out there in the rain. Due process matters that much! Many thanks all!!
We arrived in Helsinki yesterday and learned that there was a protest about climate change. It made me wistful in a way that climate change was what they were protesting because that used to be one of our biggest concerns. We now have bigger fish to fry, but we also can’t forget how this administration is destroying the environment. I’m glad to see that Finland hasn’t forgotten.
Great news that keeps the anti-not-my-president wave globally going. Romania elected a centrist rather than right-wing president. Our having a dictator as a president is helping the rest of the world reject right-wing fascists. Wow!
Great news! The narcissist cannot escape our criticism. Protesters gathered outside the not-my-president’s DC-area golf club last Thursday night, yelling “shame!” These folks were there for his corrupt meme coin party. Folks loudly booed many of the 220 “investors.”
Saturday, protestors let their voices be heard at the West Point graduation. The not-my-president was speaking (why in the world would they invite him given what Hegseth has already done to botch up our national security??). The protestors showed their support for the graduates while also holding up signs that focus on the real issues. “Defend Democracy,” “Beat Tyranny,” and “Beat Fascism.”
The not-my-president has no right to any respect. Protestors let it be known.
And folks are protesting his lackies too as JD Vance spoke at the US Naval Academy’s graduation (what were they thinking inviting him??). Demonstrators “Hey hey! Ho ho! JD Vance has got to go!” Yes activism warriors! We are here. We are not ok. We are shining a light on your shameful behavior!
Same thing happened with Kristi Noem spoke at the Coast Guard graduation. Protestors made their voices heard while supporting the graduates. Why are they inviting these unqualified speakers? I would go with Kermit the Frog like the University of Maryland did rather than a lying, unscrupulous, sycophant!
More great news! Even though small, it is significant that a NY Senate seat was won by a Democrat when the district voted for the not-my-president by a 55-point margin. The Blue Wave is happening locally and internationally! There is a silver lining to our having a fascist leader I guess.
Even though the Senate is out of session, we need to keep the pressure on about this big bad bill. There is a hint that it might have trouble in the Senate, but some want bigger cuts and others want less cuts.
I loved Jess Craven’s phrase: Health Care not Wealth Care. I am so going to use that when talking to folks about the massive cuts to both Medicaid and Medicare that the House proposed. We will hold every one of them accountable if that bill passes.
I love Hubbell’s spelling it out so clearly. This is what is in the big bad bill from the House. We will not be fooled by their lies about how they are not cutting these important programs.
A few numbers to keep at hand:
· $500 billion: cut to Medicare
· $700 billion cut to Medicaid
· $267 billion cut to food assistance (SNAP)
· 8.6 million: Americans who will lose Medicaid coverage
· $3.8 trillion new debt for the US
· $7 trillion in tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the top 1%
Few media outlets are discussing the cut to Medicare—because that cut is not in the bill itself. Instead, according to the Congressional Budget Office, a different piece of legislation—the PAY-GO Act—will require mandatory “sequestration” of Medicare funds to “pay” for tax cuts in the reconciliation bill that are not “paid” for by other cuts in spending.
We have had great leaders during times when so many suffered.
1934, FDR:
“I see one-third of a nation ill-housed, ill-clad, ill-nourished…..The rest of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of these who have so much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little”
1961, JFK (one of the respectable Kennedy’s): (speaking on behalf of the Peace Corps)
“To those peoples in the huts and villages of half the globe, struggling to break to bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required — not because the communists might be doing it, not because we need their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few that are rich.”
We need to stand up for those who have less. We are supposed to be the land of opportunity. Give us your poor. We have an obligation to take care of all our people. Let our voices be heard!!!
Please keep calling about the budget. They need to hear from us. Please also consider making calls for Down Home NC on Thursday night as they are focusing on not cutting Medicaid.
Have a wonderful Tuesday. I hope the protest on the bridge happens this am and Gabriel’s protest on the corner also happens. I know there is rain in the forecast. Both hosts have said that the rain will not stop them (only thunder will). Thank you activism warriors!
Warmly,
Kathryn