Think globally, act locally: healthcare now!

(cartoon snagged from healthcare-now.org)

Maybe it's the fact that I was arrested on the steps of Sproul Plaza for protesting UC investments in apartheid South Africa back in 1985.

Or maybe it's talking to Nickie on the phone about his constant pain and how his body is deteriorating and his health declining while his appeals for proper therapy and medical equipment are denied time and again.

Maybe it's what I heard on NPR this morning about Barack Obama calling on all Americans to serve their communities. The story focused on the hundreds of Obama campaign volunteers who are taking up the call, regular people enegized by the success of the campaign, empowered by knowing they can make a difference.

In any case, since my baby bro Cyril invited me to watch the inauguration with him on Sproul Plaza on Tuesday, I've been thinking... What am I going to do to make a difference? What do I really care about?

And I decided.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, and refer you to Physicians for a National Health Program, the California Nurses Association, Michael Moore, Single Payer Now and this guy for more info on and arguments for single payer healthcare. I'm just going to tell you that I am joining the cause, and I hope you'll consider joining me.

If you're going to the inauguration (lucky you!) or attending a local inauguration event, hand out these flyers if you agree that the people of this country need and deserve health CARE, not for-profit health insurance. That's what I'm going to do on Tuesday, and I can hardly wait!

If you have time, watch this (and if you have even more time, Parts 2 and 3 on YouTube, too):