Updated: Schakowsky Health Care Town Hall

Yes, Let's Promote Single-Payer! (0.00 / 0)

I think this is a great idea! I've always been a believer that the right stunt at the right time will bring good attention.

I'm hesitant to do anything that even remotely resembles the wackjobs, and especially any reference to violence, even reacting against it, seems like the wrong direction. We have positive and constructive symbols on our side.

I think your mindfulness of a Jewish audience is wise, so maybe a symbol that honors community and generosity among Jews? I'm not an expert, but one idea I had was to bring a lot of empty chairs, each with a sign that says, "Elijah deserves healthcare too." We could even tape an Elijah sign on some of the chairs in the audience.

I'll be curious to hear reactions and other ideas.

---

by: Thomas Westgard @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 15:56:02 PM CDT

I'm assuming that this is a forum for the entire (0.00 / 0)

10th district. Maybe I'm wrong and in that case I should focus on a different one.

But a ruckus is what is needed. The media loves high emotion and even hints of violence gets their juices running.

So forget the chairs thing. No emotion. No ruckus. Plus it's not much fun for the participants.

Give me some ideas with pizazz.  

Jeff Wegerson

---

by: wegerje @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 19:56:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

oh my god, NO. (0.00 / 0)

Those suggestions are obviously well-intentioned, but they're based on misperceptions.

Resorting to lies and exaggeration is only going to alienate people ("doesn't even matter if it's true or false"? seriously??).  Let alone burning stuff - outside a small local school, where you are a guest.

The "media images" here would only help opponents of reform on the right. You think reporters are going to give you a 20-min. interview to explain the elaborate symbolism? No. You'd just contribute another dramatic, angry image to a framing device that says this issue is too difficult, emotions too heated, for any serious, careful reform to occur.

Skokie does have a strong Jewish community. But it's not exactly "a very Jewish community" in the sense of being a demographic monolith. Its overall makeup is more diverse & heterogeneous... thus, probably more receptive to a respectful approach. Burning effigies and making folks uncomfortable doesn't play well in communities where people try to bridge religious/ethnic/cultural differences.

Might not be "totally fun" in quite the same way, but why not just show up as a fellow Illinoisan, who cares about this issue? Don't pretend to know Skokie if you've never been, don't treat their community forum as your personal stage; just share what you know, politely, and be willing to listen too.

---

by: i.m.h.o. @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 17:12:50 PM CDT

i agree with you about burning stuff... (0.00 / 0)

however:

i would probably be more inclined with bringing signs that said things along the lines of:

"support socialized medicine -- fully fund medicare!"
"don't let republicans destroy medicare -- i like socialized medicine"

something completely mocking and pointed like that.  if you want to gain attention for single payer, the best testimony comes from those who already have single payer -- our seniors.  may as well remind them of that fact...

"We did not come to fear the future. We came here to shape it." - President Obama, Sept 9, 2009

---

by: bored now @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 17:47:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sure signs are important. (0.00 / 0)

That's where our one shot at identifying that we are protesting from the progressive side is likely to be noticed.

Don't Let Republicans Kill My Govt Medicare

Keep private Insurance hands off my Govt Medicare

Single Payer Govt Medicare - YES
Private Profit Insurance - No

We're not there yet but getting closer.

And if no burning then what? Giant puppets? I supplied the easy burning ideas, you need to come up with the hard ideas. :)

Jeff Wegerson

---

by: wegerje @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 20:04:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Giant Puppets, Yes! (0.00 / 0)

---

by: Thomas Westgard @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 14:17:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

See that's why lies can work (0.00 / 0)

Reporters are never even going to investigate what is implied or barely expressed on signs much less give us 20min. Besides, I bet Hitler did want to weaken the German universal health system of the day.

I figure we will the barest of shots to get the very simple message out that "single-payers don't like 'Obamacare'". I'm calling it Obamacare here which is, I think, their meme, but you get me right?

Oh and how I would love to burn an effigy of Hitler in Skokie. I fully understand that Skokie is by no means monolithicly Jewish, but I think that "very Jewish" is reasonably accurate. So burning Hitler and Nazi flags would be downright fun in Skokie. Over the top yes, but so deliciously fun as well. Remember all those neo-Nazi marches there. I suppose that was the time to do it.

I assume that it's a 10th district forum and not a Skokie forum and as such it's my, and my community's forum as well.

But polite will not make the media and that's the real point. Jan is already very strongly in the single-payer court. We don't need to convince her. But to have her have to contest things from the progressive side would be a boost in her efforts at getting a strong public option.

Jeff Wegerson

---

by: wegerje @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 19:52:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

right on to the signs (3.00 / 1)

Well, Schakowsky represents the 9th. So I'm guessing the forum is primarily for her constituents. But I think it's probably safe to say most of us would totally welcome neighbors (esp. concerned fellow Dems) who have something constructive to contribute.  'Constructive' being the operative word.

I'm not telling anyone what to say.  What I am trying to explain is the reaction that certain behaviors are likely to elicit.  I lived in Skokie briefly, as kids we heard a lot about Holocaust survivors who had settled in our town, about the difficult issues stirred up when the Nazis tried to march there, etc.  And I have to say that I, personally, find some of those statements careless and offensive.  I think anyone who's never lived or spent time in a place, and doesn't know much about it, shouldn't be putting their personal "love to burn an effigy" above the discomfort that kind of over-the-top disruption can stir up for other people -- or what's best for the overall cause of reform.  If you really just want to burn an effigy of Hitler, stay home, do it in your backyard.

Surely you don't think it's fine to lie so long as "reporters are never even going to" check?  If you're willing to sink to that, you'll have to stop badmouthing the demagogues on Fox... because that's playing the same game, just wearing a different jersey. Spreading misinformation discredits & effectively neuters whatever message you want to get out.

Now, the signs, those sound perfect. I think the signs are an excellent idea. I really love all of the suggestions above.

I just meant: what I don't love is rude, disruptive behavior from anyone (much less folks from other districts).  If you're only trying to "make the media" and pull stunts like that, you're more likely to wind up undermining reform, and getting portrayed as an ignorant loon by any media willing to egg you on (seriously).  What the debate needs most right now is de-escalation and reasonable discourse, not more dramatic stunts. We can't control the wingers or the talking heads, but we don't have to buy into their M.O.

---

by: i.m.h.o. @ Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 22:11:46 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

First of all (0.00 / 0)

I happen to live in the district, so it's my forum. Granted this blog is an "Illinois" blog so the inference is that we are talking beyond the district. But for the purposes of this post, when I say me or we, I mean 9th districters.

Next I grew up in Evanston and Wilmette and I have lived next to Rogers Park for the last 22 years and I had a business partner for a few years who lives in Skokie and for a few years after 9/11 I read Ha'aretz daily. What I'm trying to say is that while I am not Jewish, I am reasonably attuned to Jewish concerns, given whatever societal anti-semitic baggage I may still have uncleaned out and lying about in my attic. And further I know the geographical territory reasonably well as well.

As for the lying stuff, I was and am totally wrong on that count and we should stick 100% to the truth.

But there is no other reason, that I can see, for going to the forum other than to put a message into the mass media and if we can't do that then it's not worth going. Jan will do a wonderful job of making a good progressive message available for the mass media. So that leaves only two issues for us to address with our presence and those are making sure that Jan's message actually appears in the media and getting our meta-message, that the public option is already a compromise of single-payer and that there is very strong support for single-payer amongst people when they fully understand what it means: i.e. Medicare.

So I am quite happy to give up my newly found cherished dream of burning Hitler in effigy especially if you have another really good way to get our simple message, single-payer is better and the public option is a line in the sand, on tv and in the daily papers.

You and I are clearly allies. I have no intention of crossing you. I would just like to see single-payers show up clearly in the news as unhappy, but willing to compromise, with the current health care proposals.

Jeff Wegerson

---

by: wegerje @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:57:50 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The right wing can get away with lies. (0.00 / 0)

The media won't call them on it. Not so for us.

"In order for somebody to win an important, major fight 100 years hence, a lot of other people have got to be willing -- for the sheer fun and joy of it -- to go right ahead and fight, knowing you're going to lose." -- I.F. Stone

---

by: Gary Kleppe @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 08:20:56 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

If I were still pushing (0.00 / 0)

the burning effigy idea I would wonder if the media could even track down whether Hitler tried to dismantle or degrade the German health system or not.

Jeff Wegerson

---

by: wegerje @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 10:11:42 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think Jeff's suggestions sound like perfect 'Abbie Hoffman'-like... (4.00 / 1)

prankster stuff, which I appreciate, but, which seems to fly over the heads of the '-baggers' and, unfortunately, because they're the filters of what a major segment of the populace knows about what is going on, most of the MSM.

In other words, they can't take a joke, mostly because they don't get it.

---

by: BobB @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:43:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't really care if the baggers get it or not, (0.00 / 0)

I just would like some of the media time they are hogging for my own partisan views. Even if only NPR or BEZ. "That's the teabagger side, now for the single-payer side here's..." But maybe NPR can't handle a "three-sided" issue. Too complex for them.

Jeff Wegerson

---

by: wegerje @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 10:09:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

health care reform, or Obamacare ........ (0.00 / 0)

Headlines the world over came out reading about townhallers riot. This speaks all about medical care.People wonder who is behind the town hall riots when anyone discusses health care reform, or Obamacare - the answer is Conservatives for Patients' Rights. Conservatives for Patients Rights, or the CPR, is headed by one Rick Scott - who isn't a doctor - but used to be the CEO of a hospital, and under his watch, his medical administration defrauded Medicare of $1.7 billion through a practice called upcoding, wherein a Medicare patient gets treated, but Medicare is billed for additional tests that never took place.  (That's fraud.) Realistically, Conservatives for Patients Rights  and Mr. Scott will never need short term loans, and the only reason why they oppose the bill is that they want the money from the program for themselves.

---

by: LalaM @ Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:07:05 AM CDT