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    Eleven Dirty & Disgusting Questions

    Editorial

    Is there anything more grotesque than animals that feed on the sick and dying? Is there anything more unethical than stratospheric, sacrilegious profit sucked from those with the misfortune to become ill?

    Nationalize the healthcare industry.

    The moral disease that laid the foundation for the current healthcare crisis is greed. Its method of transmission is capitalism. The Covid 19 Pandemic has revealed the truth: it doesn’t matter if Harry and Louise have healthcare, if their neighbors don’t—and we are all neighbors. We are all cells in one body politic. We are all vulnerable to the sequelae of monopoly capitalism; rampant infectious disease that is the hallmark of the end of empires.

    Nationalize the healthcare industry.

    Even before the flowering of plague profiteering—‘in-the-know’ Senators off loading stocks just in time; a president who owns stock in a supposed cure—we had a healthcare industry whose primary mission has always been to make a profit. And it’s very good at making profit. *In 2018, the combined compensation for the five best paid healthcare insurance CEO’s was over

    $98 MILLION DOLLARS.

    The healthcare industry’s, other, minor mission, providing healthcare, it does badly. In spite of their filthy rewards the princes of healthcare insurance fiefdoms have not laid by enough masks, beds or ventilators to fight one of the oldest, best known, scourges on earth. The mechanics of fighting this disease are not a mystery; how the fabulously incompetent captains of the healthcare industry can believe themselves to deserve their riches, is. 

    Why do we not have the tools to win a winnable war?

    Should we ask that stooge of the 1%, Donald Trump, to stop whining about airlines—the little fingers of big oil—long enough to say something about health care, or should we ask those in charge? 

    Michael Neidorff, CEO Centene, $24 million, 2018,  “Why are there not enough ventilators?”

    Larry Merlo, CEO CVS Health, $22 million, 2018, “Why are there not enough masks?”

    David Cordani, CEO, Cigna, over $18 million, 2018, “Why are there not enough swabs?”

    David Wichmann, CEO UnitedHealth, $18 million, 2018, “Why are the old people dying?”

    Nationalize the healthcare industry.

    Somehow, amid news broadcasts of governors bidding against governors (and the federal government) for PPE, we’ve lost sight of who we’ve paid to do this job. We thought we were paying them to provide healthcare—but insurance companies don’t provide healthcare—clinicians do, and ours are at risk. 

    Bruce Broussard, CEO Humana, over $16 million, 2018, “Why are clinicians at risk ?”

    “Sirs, will you make more in 2020, than you did in 2019?”

    A healthcare system that fails to protect against infectious disease and which is not prepared to care for those felled by infectious disease is not a healthcare system, it’s a racket. And the people who own it are parasites. The only way to cure this disease is to remove the cause: for profit healthcare and the vampires that own it.

    Is it too late ?

    * https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/health-insurance-ceos-took-home-a-hefty-pay-day-2018-how-does-compare-to-their-employees

    RALLY 8/23/18–SUFFOLK COUNTY JAIL

     

    Nationwide, prisoners are going on strike from August 21-September 9, and we will rally in solidarity with them! We also choose the 23rd of this month to spotlight the 23 hours per day many prisoners spend in solitary confinement

    We take this moment to build toward abolition and an end to the atrocities our people inside face.

    Read endorsements at: deeperthanwater.org/strike

    RALLY

    Thursday, August 23, 7-8 pm
    Suffolk County Jail – on Nashua St (NOT SOUTH BAY)

    *nearest T stop: Science Park
    Meet by the parking lot at 125 Nashua St

    We will amplify the voices of our loved ones inside and send our love to those held captive at the Nashua St jail.

    Our coalition is just over 1 year old, and like the prisoner organizers of this strike, our supporters and organizers inside have been subjected to torturous and punitive solitary confinement, re-incarceration, harassment, and more.

    We are accepting endorsements for this action! Endorsing means:
    – your organization must accept the national strike demands (below) + call for the total end of solitary confinement in any circumstance
    – committing to turn out 4-10 (or 100, or 1000…) of your members
    – share this event on your email, social media, etc lists

    To endorse email: deeperthanwater@protonmail.com

    Coalition members:
    Black Lives Matter Boston
    Black and Pink
    SURJ Boston – Showing Up for Racial Justice
    Toxics Action Center
    PSL Boston – Party for Socialism and Liberation
    Young Abolitionists
    individual current and formerly incarcerated organizers

    Endorsing organizations:
    National Lawyers Guild – Massachusetts Chapter
    Boston Democratic Socialists of America
    FIRE Boston
    Workers World Party-Boston
    Jericho Movement: Boston Branch
    Harvard TPS Coalition
    Jewish Voice for Peace Boston
    Free Siham
    Harvard National Lawyers Guild
    Boston Liberation Health
    Boston May Day Coalition
    —-
    Full Strike Demands (http://sawarimi.org/national-prison-strike)

    These are the NATIONAL DEMANDS of the men and women in federal, immigration, and state prisons:
    1. Immediate improvements to the conditions of prisons and prison policies that recognize the humanity of imprisoned men and women.

    2. An immediate end to prison slavery. All persons imprisoned in any place of detention under United States jurisdiction must be paid the prevailing wage in their state or territory for their labor.

    3. The Prison Litigation Reform Act must be rescinded, allowing imprisoned humans a proper channel to address grievances and violations of their rights.

    4. The Truth in Sentencing Act and the Sentencing Reform Act must be rescinded so that imprisoned humans have a possibility of rehabilitation and parole. No human shall be sentenced to Death by Incarceration or serve any sentence without the possibility of parole.

    5. An immediate end to the racial overcharging, over-sentencing, and parole denials of Black and brown humans. Black humans shall no longer be denied parole because the victim of the crime was white, which is a particular problem in southern states.

    6. An immediate end to racist gang enhancement laws targeting Black and brown humans.

    7. No imprisoned human shall be denied access to rehabilitation programs at their place of detention because of their label as a violent offender.

    8. State prisons must be funded specifically to offer more rehabilitation services.

    9. Pell grants must be reinstated in all US states and territories.

    10. The voting rights of all confined citizens serving prison sentences, pretrial detainees, and so-called “ex-felons” must be counted. Representation is demanded. All voices count!

    Brunch with Humph…!

    Election Day is coming up and Mass Alliance candidates across the state are starting up their campaigns. Every day is important and every event can make a huge difference, especially in local races. We need your help to ensure that progressive candidates can get out the vote. Join us and help fight for the issues you care about by volunteering in your local community and beyond.

    Below is a list of candidate events and volunteer opportunities for July. Please take a moment to look through and try to sign up for an event near you. With your help we can move one step closer to a more progressive Massachusetts!

    Wednesday July 18th
    Michael Armano Volunteer Kickoff Canvassing
    8:30am
    Relief’s In, 1 Market St., Lawrence, MA 01843

    Segun Idowu- Bingo and Board Games
    1pm
    Blake Estates Community Room
    For more information reach out to: talk@segunforma.com

    Saturday July 21st
    Phone Banking for Sabrina Heisey
    Sign up at https://www.sabrinaheisey.com/volunteer
    Email the campaign directly at Heiseycampaign@gmail.com.

    Canvassing for Maria Robinson
    B. Sisters 680 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01702
    10:30 am
    Email the campaign at info@votemariarobinson.com for more details

    Canvassing for Natalie Higgins
    Canvassing in Leominster
    Contact Natalie Higgins at (978-602-3772)/NatalieMarieHiggins@gmail.com or Isabelle Alera (978-833-3358)/ialera98@gmail.com for more information

    Canvassing for Michael Armano
    11am
    Relief’s In, 1 Market St., Lawrence, MA 01843

    Canvassing for Jason Lewis
    1:00-4:30 pm, Location TBA
    Contact Field Director Nick Lennox for more information at nick@electjasonlewis.com

    Phone Banking for Sabrina Heisey
    1:00-3:00pm
    Contact heiseycampaign@gmail.com for more information

    Door Knocking for Steve Leibowitz
    1:00-4:00 pm
    Contact stevenforstaterep@gmail.com to sign up

    Sunday July 22nd
    Canvassing for Maria Robinson
    B. Sisters 680 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01702
    1 pm
    Email the campaign at info@votemariarobinson.com for more details

    Canvassing for Natalie Higgins
    Canvassing in Leominster
    Contact Natalie Higgins at (978-602-3772)/NatalieMarieHiggins@gmail.com or Isabelle Alera (978-833-3358)/ialera98@gmail.com for more information

    Canvassing for Michael Armano
    11:00am
    Relief’s In, 1 Market St., Lawrence, MA 01843

    Lindsey Sabadosa- Southampton Dems 2nd Annual Family and Friends Picnic
    1pm to 4pm
    Conant Park Pavilion, 30 East St., Southampton
    Facebook event

    Tuesday July 24th
    Lindsay Sabadosa- 1st Hampshire Candidates Radio Forum
    Tune to WHMP 101.5 // 7-10am

    Wednesday July 25th
    Michael Armano Canvass/Phonebank
    9:00 am-Canvass  4:00pm Phonebank
    Relief’s In, 1 Market St, Lawrence, MA

    Lindsay Sabadosa-1st Hampshire Candidates Forum on Food Insecurity
    6:30-8:30pm
    World War II Club, 50 Conz St, Northampton

    Thursday July 26th
    Segun Idowu- Bingo and Board Games
    1pm
    Blake Estates Community Room
    For more information reach out to: talk@segunforma.com

    Saturday July 28th
    Door Knocking for Steve Leibowitz
    1:00-4:00pm
    Contact stevenforstaterep@gmail.com to sign up

    Canvass and Phonebank for Jason Lewis
    1:00-4:30 pm, Location TBA
    Contact Field Director Nick Lennox for more information at nick@electjasonlewis.com

    Sunday July 29th
    Michael Armano Canvass
    11:00 am
    Relief’s In, 1 Market St, Lawrence, MA

    Monday July 30th
    Lindsay Sabadosa- 1st Hampshire Candidates Forum
    6:30-8:30pm
    JFK  Middle School

    General 
    Canvassing for Chelsea Kline
    Join our enthusiastic team as we canvass everyday in July and August in the Pioneer Valley
    Text or call Field Director Carolyn at 413-559-9933 to get involved

    Canvassing for Sarah Hewins
    Help canvass Wareham, Middleboro and Carver for Sarah Hewins! Contact Sarah at sgh@sarahhewins.com or at 508-866-2342

    Canvass for Steven Leibowitz
    Contact us at this email to sign up for canvassing!
    stevenforstaterep@gmail.com

    Phone banking for Jason Lewis
    Every TuesdayThursday from 5:30-8:30pm at 137 Pleasant St, Malden
    Email the Field Director at nick@electjasonlewis.com for more information

    Canvassing for Lindsay Sabadosa
    Come stand out with us every Saturday from 10-11am and then canvass with us after!
    We meet at the office at 76 Gothic Street
    Can’t make a Saturday? Email info@linsaysabadosa.com for training, information and weekly assignments!

    Door Knocking for Segun Idowu
    Sign up to volunteer at volunteer@segunforma..com
    Every Monday5:30-8:00pm (meeting at Dunkin Donuts)
    Every Tuesday to Friday5:30-8:00 pm (meeting at ZAZ Restaurant)
    Every Saturday10:30am-2:00pm (meeting at ZAZ Restaurant)
    Every Sunday4:00-6:30pm (meeting at Dunkin Donuts)

     See you there!

    Contact us

    Occupy Boston Media <Media@occupyboston.org> • <Info@occupyboston.org> • @Occupy_Boston