‘Sicko’ energizes health care debate

Over 1,000 nurses and supporters braved sweltering heat to join Moore at a June 12 rally in Sacramento, Calif., sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee. The rally was preceded by a news conference and an informal briefing for legislators, and followed by a screening of “Sicko” for the nurses and an official evening premiere.

Wearing bright red “Sicko” T-shirts, the rallying nurses chorused, “Hey ho, hey ho, private health care is sick-o,” and “What do we want? Single payer! When do we want it? Now!”

Rally participants urged adoption of the single-payer bill now before the state Legislature, SB 840, the California Universal Healthcare Act, sponsored by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, and HR 676, the U.S. National Health Insurance Act, introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich).

“There is no room for the concept of profit when it comes to taking care of people who are sick,” Moore told the crowd.

Also addressing the rally were Drs. David Himmelstein and Quentin Young, leaders of Physicians for a National Health Program.

Other previews were slated for this week in Chicago, New York, Washington and Manchester, N.H.

Read More