On Saturday WFP was in Times Square for a rally in support of health care reform. The mood was terrific, the rain stayed away, and the speakers were inspiring. Since not everyone showed up, we’ve gathered some photos and links so you can feel as though you were. I’ll open with my personal highlight. At a certain point I wandered around the crowd with my Working Families sign. Quite a few people stopped to say hello! It’s nice to meet the folks on the recieving end of our emails.
First up is the Flickr slideshow with photos of our team:
The New York Times didn’t have a story in the Sunday paper, but they did put up a nice photo essay on their health care blog.
And here’s another local report, via Gothamist: 1,000 Attend Health Care Rally.
As Congress gets ready to reconvene – what do you think will happen? I’m opening up the blog comments for your optimistic – or pessimistic – predictions.
August 31st, 2009 at 11:52 am
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September 1st, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for compiling this report! Sorry I couldn’t make it. As for the future – I’m optimistic. We can get this done people! Just wait and see….
September 1st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
The polls show that Americans want a single payer system similar to Medicare, and similar to other Western nations. However, the right wing and the corporations fight very dirty and never surrender. I believe we will once again be denied. The corruption in this nation goes right to the core. Changing the system will be a monumental job, but as long as the influence of money in our political process goes unchecked, nothing is ever going to change substantially.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers had a good delegation for the rally.
The timidity of the Democrats over health care and the Employee Free Choice Act should make it clear that we should take advantage of next year’s Senate cmapaign to try to elect someone truly progressive. In the mean time, we should be pressing Congressional Democrats to hang tough on the public option.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pm
The only compromise I will accept, is one that has teeth in it for reform. It must do away with the donut, it must include all people, it must not discriminate about previous conditions, and it must be available wherever you go and whatever job you have.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 am
I have serious doubts that meaningful health care reform will be possible despite our best efforts. The health insurance and pharmaceutical industries have a stranglehold on moderate voices in congress through campaign contributions in addition to extreme right wing opposition. The deck is stacked and time is running out, with a midterm election year coming up in which typically, litle can be accomplished. The real problem is to find a way to get at the moneyed interests which oppose this reform. According to a recent news report on “Lehrer”, we rank 23rd out of the 23 wealthiest countries in the world in terms of life expectancy after age 60.We need to make a lot of noise very soon.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Something big will pass, because Obama’s presidency and the democratic majority in the House are toast if it doesn’t. The question is: what’s the something?
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
It all comes back to the need for public financing of campaigns. Until the corrupting influence of money is removed from the political system — or at least countered by public financing — we will be fighting an uphill battle, and, like Sisyphus, we’ll be condemned to pushing that damn rock up the hill over and over again.
Money is also the root of the “dysfunctionality” of the state legislature.
How about pushing for public financing for state-wide and federal offices this year!!! Maybe people are disgusted enough to finally take action!
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:00 pm
I think we should organize a march on Wahington to show our strength, with buses for the disabled like myself. It’s not what they will do it what we will do.
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it. My cat decided to get ill with Pancreatitus that day. He’s ok now, thankfully!
Is there any way that we could get 1 million people to march in Washington for a public health care option? We need to drown out the very loud, very false, very lied to voices against it. Let’s all write the various organizations to coordinate a huge march!
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Happy to march after 9/15; please let me know. My Cobra is almost as much as my monthly rent contribution. We can do better; I know we can. Ted Kennedy had it right; if Congress and Senate have good care, then we can too; it is time!
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
The health care reform MUST have a strong
public option, and it can be done. It can
be passed without Republicans if necessary
and that is what must be done if they won’t
act reasonably. I am actually for Single
Payer, but a strong public option is a step
toward it. That is why reactionaries and
the insurance giants are against it. Imagine, they would really have to “compete” instead of just gouging all they
can.
September 6th, 2009 at 11:06 am
WE NEED TO ORGANIZE A MARCH ON WASHINGTON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ONLY HUGH NUMBERS OP PEOPLE FOR SINGLE PAYER WILL GET RESULTS.