New Huffington Post Column

If only it just sucked: it kills.There are Civil Disobedience actions scheduled across the nation going after the insurance industry.This was the first one, at AETNA in NYC.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOB1zOBr7IM&feature=player_embedded#The next one is tomorrow, in Chicago.For information and updates:http://www.mobilizeforhealthcare.org/Last week I was in DC in support of the Mad As Hell Doctors and their rally for Single Payer. While there I went to the office of Dennis Kucinich who supports HR 676 (Single Payer). While outside of Kucinich’s office, I saw and greeted Alan Grayson! It was pretty exciting!My trip also included a visit to the House of Representatives while it was in session — very thrilling. I was there in the balcony when Dennis Kucinich spoke on the floor in favor of HR 676 and acknowledged the Mad As Hell Doctors.I was lucky to have had dinner with the MAHD on the last evening and personally know and am in frequent contact with Dr. Paul Hochfeld, the most vocal and public Mad As Hell Doctors.On Monday, October 5th President Obama held a staged and crafted photo op with cherry picked physicians in the Rose Garden. The Mad As Hell Doctors — although they sought a meeting with Obama before their cross country tour began — were not invited.Dr. Paul Hochfeld — although uninvited — went to the White House gates in advance of the physician meeting and requested entrance and participation to the event. Much to his surprise, he was let in.While there, he delivered a letter to President Obama outlining the case for Single Payer. He also made use of the opportunity and spoke with about 24 of the physicians there who were selected from the group, “Doctors for Obama” which was established during the campaign.Dr. Hochfeld was surprised to learn that the doctors at the Obama event supported Single Payer but worried that such a bill cannot pass, and like many Americans, are settling for something “less than” (a very weak, ineffective, lame) public option remnant.That night, Dr. Hochfeld appeared on Olberman:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NzK-VX3z9YMost recently the MAHD — with their tour now concluded — are strategizing their next post-tour move.They may affiliate, to some degree, with this group:http://www.republicansforsinglepayer.org/That's right: there are republicans who want Single Payer.One argument is that if the gov’t pays for health care, small and large businesses will not be burdened with employer-based health care and will be better able to compete in free market capitalism, which Michael Moore shows us is so beloved! Employer based health care is a burden to businesses and some republicans do want that burden lifted!Politics often makes for strange bedfellows.Talk about bi-partisan! One issue: factions from each party coming together for a common cause.The MAHD tour is over, but the movement for Single Payer is very much alive.Dr. Hochfeld will likely devote himself full-time to the health care cause, which he sees as the Civil Rights issue of the day.Stay tuned! The fight for REAL health care reform: single payer, is far from over.