Health Care: A Right, Not A Commodity

opinion by Brian King

A Right to Health Care for everybody in America needs to be on the ballot this November in Seattle. The Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans and Health Care For All-Washington are working together on a campaign to make this a reality. This effort consists of two complimentary projects; a petition to the Seattle City Council and a health care conference to be held this May 22 at Plymouth Congregational Church.

The petition, now circulating in Seattle, simply states: "Quality Health Care; It's Everybody's Right!" There are already 5000 signers, and plans are set to have large crews gathering signatures at Seattle's upcoming major public events like Folklife and the Gay Pride March. We plan to gather thousands more signatures at these events.

Additional petition wording calls on our city council to place the idea of "Health Care is a Right" on the November city ballot. This will give Seattle voters a chance to agree (or disagree) with the idea. A large 'yes' vote will help move the national health care debate away from talk of more cutbacks and less coverage, and toward agreement that everyone should have access to high quality health care. A yes vote will not obligate the City Council to provide health care to residents. It will encourage voters in other cities across America to mount similar efforts and call upon Congress to implement this basic human right.

The Campaign is attracting growing support. Both the King County Labor Council and the Church Council of Greater Seattle have endorsed the petition and the conference. The list of endorsers also includes several local unions and community groups. Two of the largest unions are SEIU 1199NW and Machinists District 751.

It is especially encouraging to see elements of organized labor climbing on board. In the past, unions have been reluctant to support electoral health care reform efforts, perhaps out of a concern that the contractual health benefits of their members might be jeopardized. The wording of the petition, calling for a right to health care for everybody without prescribing exactly how this is to be accomplished, was designed to answer these types of concerns. The goal is to organize a national movement to make health care a right, and at the same time call on our leaders in Congress to make this fundamental right a reality in our country.

The May 22 conference is planned to be the highlight of the campaign. It will be a great event for activists to come and get their batteries re-charged. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Illinois) will be keynote speaker. Jackson has authored a proposed constitutional amendment for a right to health care of equal high quality. His bill for this amendment, HJR 30, is currently before Congress. In addition to Jackson, a number of other speakers and panels will present views on solutions for the current health care crisis. The conference will adjourn at 1:30 PM so that attendees can participate in a march to Westlake Park and an 'Affordable Health Care for All' rally at 2PM. Through the efforts of Jobs with Justice, the Westlake rally is attracting participation from several unions now engaged in difficult negotiations with employers, including United Food and Commercial Workers )UFCW grocery workers) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU health care workers). Jesse Jackson Jr. will be speaking at the Westlake Park rally.

Anyone who would like to help gather signatures for the petition should call 206-526-8169. The more the merrier! Let's show our City Council that Seattle voters want to make their voice heard on this vital issue! See you this May 22nd.