The Daily Galaxy

Single Payer supporters & doctors excluded from a Senate finance committee 'roundtable' on healthcare reform.

The healthcare industries -- insurance and pharmaceutical companies -- have enjoyed similar successes to the auto, food, oil and financial industries in lobbying publically elected representatives to remove legislation that provides value and protection to consumers.

But once again, the US government turned to the corporations and their lobbies in an effort to find answers to the healthcare crisis that they all helped create. No supporters of single payer healthcare systems were involved in the discussions, nor were any patient representatives invited to the discussion.

Twisted Facts By Elected Representatives

Senator Jim Bunning (2008 campaign contributions):

When I look at Sweden, look at Canada and look at the United Kingdom, where we have government single payer we have a tax rate of 60% or higher in those countries.

What was the value to insured and uninsured US patients of unchecked assertions such as these?

Taxes paid by a single average worker compared with the implied total labour cost for the employer. This "tax wedge" measure is said to represent the extent to which the tax system discourages employment.

Corporate Lobbyists Dominate Public Policy

Watch this video by ANP on corporate lobbyists at government scientific discussions for school food programs.

Congress and the Department of Agriculture approve what foods can (and can’t) be served to over 30 million American school children who get daily meals from the National School Lunch Program.

Despite the enormous nutritional and financial stakes at play, ANP was the only media to cover a recent panel set up to discuss the school menu. While nutritionists outnumbered the press, corporate lobbyists outnumbered everyone.

Related articles

• Protesters Disrupt Health Care Hearing (VIDEO) (huffingtonpost.com)
• Order in the Senate! Single-Payer Advocates Disrupt Hearing (blogs.wsj.com)
• New Report Examines Public Plan Option (medicalnewstoday.com)