one payer system would solve a lot,but the powers that be dont want it . peace

what actually IS the single payer system. I haven't seen it defined or what the ramifications are or will be.

The ramifications are lower health care costs and no cherry picking from the large health care insurance providers. Insurance companies are totally against the single payer system. Last year I had a hernia repair, spent one night in the hospital, 1:00 PM until 8:00AM the next morning and my bill was $29,400.00. We went to Paris the year before last. I forgot to take my fresh $44.00 Combivent inhaler I purchased from CVS. I went into a drug store and showed them my empty inhaler and they kindly gave me a fresh one. The cost..... $7.00. What do these two things tell you?

jazz11 it tells me quite a bit and I have sinus allergies been to several medical places for help so far I've spent and lost (missing work) over $1000.00 and still no relief, never had any can't squirt a bottle up my nose every 15 minutes and doesn't get rid of the headache the aching teeth or help with my hearing. I think I'll start mixing the herbs and come up with my own medical care.

I heard Obama want's to tax insurance anyway.

Single payer would be a prudent use of tax dollars. As Call said, we are paying more than any other country for health care and only half the citizens are covered. It looks like we won't get an efficient single payer system in this country because the insurance lobby is just too strong. I wish they would be satisfied making money from insuring buildings and businesses and not have to rely on denying coverage to sick people for their profits. Mr Call is a Maine hero today. Thank you Mr Call for trying to expose this sham called health care reform.

This guy was shackled and put in jail for speaking his mind? Ummmm, isn't this a free country? This guy was just voicing an opinion in a public way and was not hurting anyone. I find it ridiculous that they really needed to shackle him and put him in jail for 30 hours. Our government is becoming a bit too full of itself I should say, expecting for certain voices to be heard, and not others. Just because they sit on the senate does not mean they need to get uber-special treatments. They should be understanding of the fact that WE THE PEOPLE helped put them there.

Here is a definition for some of you (sorry if you discredit wikipedia):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-payer_health_care

AND:

http://www.grahamazon.com/sp/

I think that Mr. Call has a problem with impulse control.

Sen. Max Baucus, sounds like a mealy mouthed wimp...

'kateindfcity' : you -must- speak low when you say those things.

Haven't you watched our - fair - reporters remind us 'The Chosen One' and His party know best.

Comrade 'kate' -so what if a few a thrown in jail for speaking their mind- it is for the greater good-a ''little'' erosion of our rights is small sacrifice for our new society.

A choice? How silly to think that way.

He was removed and arrested for "disturbing the peace". Yes, he has a right to voice his opinion, but not to disrupt a public forum. It is a civil form of disobedience, but one which normally lands you in jail.

Why the leg shackles? I do not know, but I would assume he may have had his feet involved in resisting his arrest in some way.

Why 30 hours in jail? Did he refuse his bond, etc....I do not know and the article does not say.

"Physicians for a National Health Program" a "16,000-physician-strong advocacy group with which Call is affiliated". How many physicians are there in the United States? Just wondering what percentage "16,000-physician-strong" is on a natioinal basis.

JD2008 - counting gas passers, general practitioners and the lot - there are about 305,000 doctors in the US. Mr. Call represents about five percent.

Single Payer is the best option for this country. Sen. Baucus is a bit of a blow-hard and Mr. Call did his organization a disservice by acting out and getting arrested. It is tough to be taken seriously with shackles on.

The loudest voice in the room often does not get their word across.

"We went to Paris the year before last. I forgot to take my fresh $44.00 Combivent inhaler I purchased from CVS. I went into a drug store and showed them my empty inhaler and they kindly gave me a fresh one. The cost..... $7.00. What do these two things tell you?"

Oh I don't know...Parisians pay taxes through the as# maybe?

I think of the people put them in tthe jobs they have then they should be a system in place where people can tell them and ask what they need to ask, Mr. Call stond up to the plate on this issus and they called the cops on him. Yet the people in that meeting just talk The need to listen to others. Too often they don't. Mr. Call is thinking of others. Are the people in that meeting. No. Maybe the don't like the fact he asked what needs to be asked. Thank you Mr Call . I think we have a right to ask them what is needed to be asked and said in a proper way. I am tired of the fear in this nation. Now a person can't talk to the people in the places. They haved talked about this issue and nothing gets done. Nothing. The govt has 3 houses. It seems that them houses have forgotten that we the people put them in there. A lesson bush never learnt. Just kow are the people to send the message to them that won't listen to the people. I am appalled that Mr Call's voice was denied. Who voted for them. The voters that is you and me. Don't like the way they do the people then then don't vote for them when their time comes is one way. Write them. They will say they too busy to read it and or write back. They are too busy too see you. So how do you properly tell them the message. It seems they trunt their backs on the people. Any meeting that the the public can go to then there should be a means where that body the public be allowed to have its say. Some things need to be addressed , That Sen. was wrong in calling the cops.as they didn't want he to have his say. Health care/the war or whatever needs to be dealt with. If they won't then the constution tells us we have a right to tell them . we are NOT being heard. Mr. Call find as way to properly do it. Thank you for stepping up to the plate.

WHEN has the government run anything and done it right????? Medicare. Medicaid. Social Security. This "single payer" everyone is touting as the majic solution hasn't worked in any country in which it exists. People in Canada wait YEARS for elective surgery. In Great Britain there are hospitals re-using disposable items because of shortages. The biggest problem with the cost of pharmaceuticals here is that government regulations are so stringent that it takes forever to gain approval for new medications as well as generic equivalents. How are we to pay for universal coverage? Probably by taxing those who do have insurance, eliminating "cafeteria plans" which allow employers to not tax plans and eliminating tax breaks for companies which provide employee health benefits. Like everything else he's done since taking office, Barak Obama is charging off like a loose cannon, making decisions without any thought given to the consequences. The Fed is printing money like crazy- how in the hell do people think we are going to pay for all of these mandates? I came to loathe George W. Bush as much as everybody else, but do people not understand that Barak Obama has TRIPLED the deficit? Economists are now saying that at the rate we're going under Obama's plans the deficit is going to quadruple!!! The Chinese are refusing to lend us any more money. Look at the auto industry- we threw away all that money to keep it afloat and Chrysler has had to file bankruptcy anyway. GM is not far behind. PLEASE wake up people!! I am afraid for my country and the sovereignty of the people.

Nurse 54: I am afraid with you! When others realize what he HAD, they will wish we had it back. Once the government takes over, there is not gonig back........What has happended in Argentina should be a lesson for us all!

Health care is out of control in this country, why? because the shyster insurance companies are calling the shots. They never even thanked us for bailing them out.....I applaud Mr. Call and hope to someday shake his hand.

Here is a typical misleading statement about Canadian health care: " Medicare. Medicaid. Social Security. This "single payer" everyone is touting as the majic solution hasn't worked in any country in which it exists. People in Canada wait YEARS for elective surgery".

I am Canadian and I don't know any Canadian that would accept the American model on health care, which is mainly organized as a profit making enterprise. It includes a plethora of plans and CEO's earning huge salaries. Medicine & health should be non-profit. This is essentially the meaning of "single payer". Why should people make a profit for taking care of others? Most hospitals in this country were organized originally by religious organizations and educational institutes as non profits. Some Americans seem to believe that profit driven health care represents traditional medicine when the very opposite is the reality.

The American model for health care is twice as expensive as any other developed country and is ranked 14th in overall health care. The old argument used by profit driven health care advocates is that "Canadians have long waiting periods for surgery" so they come down to the U.S. It is true that there is a waiting period due to a shortage of specialists in Canada but mostly because some specialists are drawn to the U.S. for higher paying jobs. More recently there is a turnaround as many specialists are remaining in Canada because they prefer the healthier life style for their families.

Also keep in mind that surgical procedures make up a very small part of overall health care so to portray surgical procedures as the arbiter of better health care in America is skewing the reality of the overall quality of health care.

By the way,someone mentioned something about Chrysler a few comments back, the latest about Chrysler is that they have had another plan all along, they have a facility already built to go online in MEXICO, there are our stimulus dollars working for us, we gave them the money to bailout and then THEY bailout of the USA. I see a boycott coming.

As far as the healthcare, I have not much good to comment on the system we have now, I have been through times that I couldn't afford care or prescriptions, one of them being currently. I to have inhalers that I am suppose to be on both for sinuses and lungs and the only one i can afford is my basic proventil, which is not doing all the work I need for my breathing and doesn't do a thing for my sinuses, I cant say ANYTHING good about healthcare so I will say nothing, for I may be in shackles and cuffs before my head hits the pillow tonight.

Did Mr. Call think this stunt was going to leave people with a positive impression of his message? I'm guessing that the impression that he left on most mature rational adults was that he's a kook.

I can't see how hiding the cost of individual people's medical bills in a big government program is going to fix anything. When people think they're getting something for free do you think they're going to act more responsibly?

That's what got us into this mess in the first place. When employers were paying for insurance, and the insurance companies were paying for most services there was no incentive for people to avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor, or request generic equivalent drugs. Everyone wants the latest and greatest wonder drug they see on the soap opera advertisement but they want someone else to pay for it.

So what's the government going to do, implement wage and price controls on the medical industry? I don't know about you, but if I ever need a doctor I want the best and brightest people to be attracted to the profession. Controlling the amount that they can make is going to drive out the smart people who can earn a better living in alternate careers. A similar situation exists if you want the best scientists developing life saving drugs, or the best engineers building the next generation of testing equipment.

hcurran...I have also spoke with many Canadians and they paint a different picture. Why do Canadians come to Cancer Care of Maine in Bangor every day for treatment? What is the Provincial Sales Tax for purchase made in the Province you live in? What is the National Sales Tax for Canada?

I typically visit Canada yearly and have for the past 3 - 4 years. I have had many conversations over coffee and I would say it is about a 50/50 split for the Canadian system.

it isn't even close to being a free country. anything can be done in the name of probable cause, even if nothing is found afterwards and you have to spend time in jail, getting a lawyer and fighting your rights being broken. Thats guilty until proven innocent, all the stuff in between robs you of your rights from handcuff to jail cell to courtroom. You can't speak your mind. We censor all different sorts of speech. You can ride a motorcycle without a helmet but have to wear a seatbelt in a car. The police can do whatever-- and even if it is found they are wrong they are not even punished and you get nothing. I digress. People think its a free country until they have a b*tch. If it affects them then they magically care. Fair weather Americans, or NIMBY for the pundits.

All these jackasses that were for the war and are now against it need a royal slap. They are the same nummies that love the laws and policies until they get the sharp end of the knife. Most of them so called Republicans, but really didn't listen to jack of what the forefathers/founders/framers had to say and stood for. They have no guts, don't let them fool you.

Disinformation makes the world go round. Think about it next time you change your views on something that you used to believe differently about. Now go catch a bank robber and let Madoff and the non-tax payers alone.

Well done btw to HCurran!

"Single Payer system" is...Medicare! No wonder the insurance co.'s are against it, it would be all one company. Personally, since being eligible for Medicare I've found it much simpler. No doctor co-pays, most everything is covered. Once you pay the deductible there's no more bills for that year, if you have a supplemental policy that picks up the 20% that Medicare doesn't pay. Some supplemental policies even pay the deductible. Pretty good deal, I say.

It would be a great system if Medicare paid the bills of the providers, hospitals, etc...Medicare owes Millions to providers and hospitals in Maine dating back several years.

"Financial Health of Social Security, Medicare Worsens in Past Year - Medicare is in even worse shape. The trustees said the program for hospital expenses will pay out more in benefits than it collects this year and will be insolvent by 2017, two years earlier than the date projected in last year's report.....Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the head of the trustees group, said the new reports were a reminder that "the longer we wait to address the long-term solvency of Medicare and Social Security, the sooner those challenges will be upon us and the harder the options will be....The findings in the trustees report, the annual checkup given the two benefit programs, did not come as a surprise. Private economists had been predicting that the dates the programs would begin to pay out more than they take in and the dates the trust funds would be insolvent would occur sooner given the economic recession. Source - http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/12/social-security-medicare-seen-failing-faster/

Official: Blue Hill hospital layoffs certain - "Meanwhile, Michaud said, the state’s recent increase in Medicaid recipients — currently about one in every five Mainers is covered by MaineCare, as the program is called here — continues to drive up the percentage of care delivered to that population. But MaineCare reimbursements are significantly lower than private insurers’, and the program still owes Maine hospitals an estimated $400 million in backlogged payments dating to 2005, Michaud said...Blue Hill Memorial Hospital is owed about $3 million in back payments. Brenda Harvey, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, said the hospital is scheduled to receive a payment of slightly more than $300,000 at the end of this week, the balance of what is owed from 2005. The remaining $2.7 million owed from 2006, 2007 and 2008 could be paid off over the next two years if the Legislature approves the biennial budget to be submitted by Gov. John Baldacci, she said."

Source - http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/96720.html

I have no issue looking to make things better, more affordable and accessible to all. But $400,000,000 backlogged payments dating to 2005! How many businesses could stay in business with that kind of money owed.

I know, I know you are going to say "It will be cheaper if the government is the administrator of the program." Really, name me one program, item, tool, coffee maker, toilet seat that was "cheaper" when the government administers it, develops it or buys it.

Of course insurance companies are agaist single payer, becasue they are the big losers, at least on the forprofit side. They would probably be kept on as not-for-profit entities but there would be no more stock holders and big bonuses and huge salaries and golden parchutes and exclusionary care and ways to increse profits by denying care or coverage. For the super rich in the country, low six figure sarlaies are not enough as they usually have seven figure incomes and they have all the lobbying power and thus as long as money equals political power the have-nots (the entire middle class and poor will forever lose.

My name is Jerry Call, I am the subject of the article and these comments.

First let me thank all of you that supported my actions at Senator Baucus’ Roundtable; they are greatly appreciated.

I would like to respond to the comments of JD2008 and PJRAMSAY for their sake and others reading this article.

The idea of this civil disobedience (a time honored tradition) was to draw attention to the injustice being perpetrated on the American people. Senator Baucus has flagrantly shown disrespect to the more than 60% of American’s how have voiced their desire for a National Single Payer Healthcare System. After repeated requests from highly respected professionals, Senator Baucus continued to demonstrate his contempt for the American people by restricting his panel of 15 to the profiteering insurance, drug and equipment manufactures.

I have to give JD2008 credit for a vivid imagination as to why I was in leg irons. The truth is that when you have 40 to 100 detainees moving around a very small area with only a handful of U.S. Marshalls to maintain order, that type of restraint ensures their safety and ours.

Let me state very clearly and emphatically that I have the utmost respect for all of the Capitol and Metropolitan Police and U.S. Marshalls with whom I came in contact. They were courteous, respectful, helpful and honest to not only me but to all detainees – which is far more than I can say about Sen. Baucus.

The Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) is an old and venerated organization of 14,000 physicians dedicated to ensure that the American people are aware of the overwhelming benefits of Single Payer Healthcare. Poll after poll by reputable organizations like Maine Medical, CNN and Time Inc. shows that almost 60% of ALL physicians support Single Payer.

The original 8 courageous protesters signed their release forms after 6 long uncomfortable hours of being in handcuffs. I went into the hearing room knowing that, and the fact that Sen. Baucus still refused the American people a seat at the lobbyist’s table. I therefore made the decision to take our protest to the next level and declined to sign the release forms.

Two sergeants, a lieutenant and a captain of the Capitol Police tried to talk me out of it and informed me of the conditions I faced, but I felt it too important for America not to proceed. My only regret is that I could not withstand the conditions longer than 30 hours to make an even bigger impact.

If JD2008 thinks I did a dis-service and by being put in leg irons I will not be “taken seriously”, then that is his opinion. However, I feel totally outraged that I had to endure that and listen to Sen. Baucus’ disingenuous, dismissive and arrogant contempt for the American people. His actions and words demonstrate who he works for.

Baucus5. ( mr call ) Sadly your NOT the subject of these comments. The truth is our healthcare system IS severly flawed. For you travel to Washington in protest,and get arrested is your own call. Your on these PUBLIC comment forums running your face about how F ed up things are, and defending yourself against negative comments on the subjectr of your dumb ars in cuffs. Wake up man. No one cares. Not the insurance companys, not the police. Im sure most of the general public could give a sh&t for you disrupting a meeting by way of protest. Yes, you are fighting a just cause. Im sure your intentions are good. Just save this "Hero" BS for the people of america that deserve it. You are a kook. Leg irons and cuffs you sissy. Next time you waste your time in Washington drive yourself down to 2nd and crawford.

I commend mr call and his group as well as the nurses who stood backs to the so called 'round table.

Again, to those that think they will scare folks about the canadian HEALTHCARE system, two words, life expectancy! Canadians now live 3 years longer than US citizens.

Also I work for a fortune 500 company with 100,000 employees world wide. HEALTHCARE is provided by bcbs in most of US and by mainly national plans where ever my colleagues live outside US.

Now not only are employees outside US living longer, they also have less stress related health issues such as the survey where US employees take the lead in high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, and as a result die earlier. So as we maintain our sovereignty and free market healthcare., we guarantee will can help to reduce world over population.

And too this week, the Presidents spokes people were circulating a "swift-boating healthcare" campaign to raise $ 5.00 minimum donations to the cause. Trouble is with this 'round table' fiasco, I like to say who is sb who?

One final comment. A very visible community leader in bangor will have allot to say in the next few weeks a about his healthcare experiences of late. He has a platinum healthcare plan, and too even as a celebrity in this area, so that he is very well know when he checks in for care, and too with his close friends with our senators, gov., congressional leaders, etc. He gets the best care the US can offer, and when he sheds some light on one the 'premier' healthcare facilities quality if care hear in BANGOR, let's hope people realize how insane the system has become.

JD2008, ask your friend Brenda Harvey, what ever happened to that $170,000,000.00 of our money she lost back in 03.

JeffDubay - who is "Brenda Harvey" and why is she "my friend"?