<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="country-region" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="PostalCode"
downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="Street" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalampft-com:office:smarttags"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="address" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="State" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="City" downloadurl="http://www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place" downloadurl="http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Forte;
panose-1:3 6 9 2 4 5 2 7 2 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
panose-1:2 11 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>Dear Healthcare
Activists and Friends:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span
style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>The list of people working
for guaranteed national healthcare continues to grow.</span></font></u></b>
Many of you are working with new coalitions to move forward toward a national
single payer healthcare system. We want comprehensive coverage for
everybody – leaving out the insurance company middle men – the middle
men who don’t provide any healthcare to anybody.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>As Michael Moore put it last week on Oprah “The more care they
give you, the less their profits.” The healthcare for-profit
industry is required to return the highest level of profits to its
stockholders. It is easy to understand. Healthcare is not their primary interest.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>That’s why Michael Moore’s film<b><font color=maroon><span
style='color:maroon;font-weight:bold'> SiCKO</span></font></b> is under attack
by the Bush administration and why the corporations that are least interested
in providing healthcare for their workers are creating all kinds of coalitions
with the Chamber of Commerce, the AARP and others. They are trying hard
to block the program that most Americans want – single payer, a simple,
non-bureacratic delivery of healthcare, paid for by all of us on a
sliding scale, into a single structure such as Medicare, a program that
would provide much better benefits for everybody in this country. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>So, GET READY! We have so much work to do, and it is going to be
a lot of fun. Michael Moore is going all over the country helping people
to understand that our biggest healthcare problem is the insurance companies,
more than 1,500 of them with thousands of different plans. And
he is not just preaching to the choir. We need a single payer plan.
We have single payer police; single payer libraries, single payer schools and
roads, single payer fire departments – Why? Because it is just
common sense. We care about ourselves and we care about our neighbors.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>Here are our
plans: Get ready to participate.<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>I. Organize around the opening of
SiCKO in every city and hamlet.</span></font></u></b> Go see the
film. Take a bunch of friends and relatives. Have an event to talk
about it and activate an even bigger movement soon after you’ve seen the
film. Look at our website to see what you can do to get Congress to pass
H.R.676, the single payer bill now. <b><font color=maroon><span
style='color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>Talk to your Senators and your Members of
the House.</span></font></b><font color=maroon><span style='color:maroon'>
</span></font>Let them know that you want action NOW, not after the
election. Unfortunately, we can’t wait for these candidates to do
the right thing—.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Yes, it is a victory for our side that everybody is talking about
universal healthcare. It is on the radar -- whereas a couple or three
years ago, the only thing they talked about was the protection of child health
and Medicaid. Some are still stuck in the belief that there is nothing
else we can. And even though childrens’ health coverage, covering
the uninsured, overturning the Medicare “Modernization”
(privatization) Act of 2003 and other incremental measures are important, lots
of people are beginning to focus more of their time on the broad strategy of
changing this system – getting single payer, guaranteed, national
healthcare for all. I believe SiCKO will help make this happen. This
is the way we have won strategic victories in the past. As Rabbi
Michael Lerner said this week, <font color=maroon><span style='color:maroon'> <b><u><span
style='font-weight:bold'>“If you want to change <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region>, don’t
be reasonable!”</span></u></b></span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color="#993366" face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#993366;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>SHOWING THE MOVIE FREE</span></font><font
color="#993366"><span style='color:#993366'> </span></font>– We need some
extra bucks to provide the film free to people around the country. If
someone can help us with this, we’ll try to do the same thing the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Vermont</st1:State></st1:place> people are doing
– providing the film to free health clinics and doctors’ offices
nationwide. The <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vermont</st1:place></st1:State>
poster is attached. They have offered this strategy for us to use too.
<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>We are having a <font color=maroon><span
style='color:maroon'>Benefit Sneak Preview of “SiCKO”</span></font>
in Atlanta at the Plaza Theatre on the night of June 28<sup>th</sup> along with
the US Social Forum where there will be 10,000 activists working together on
the most critical issues of our times. We hope the benefit will raise a lot of
organizing money, and we are grateful to Michael Moore and his crew. We are
also trying to work out a time for Michael Moore to speak to the
body. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>IF YOU ARE COMING TO THE
SOCIAL FORUM,</span></font> Healthcare-NOW and the rest of the healthcare
community have a great set of programs every day. A National Truth
Hearing, a bird-dogging training to challenge the presidential candidates, a
forum on solutions, and other events -- see our website.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>BUT, if you are coming, <font
color=maroon><span style='color:maroon'>bring a hat, and sunscreen and
sunglasses</span></font> and a little hand held fan – and ice! It
will probably be a hot and humid few days. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City> in June – haven’t
experienced it since the Civil Rights Movement, but it will be an exciting time
together.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>THE People’s
National March is in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newark</st1:place></st1:City>
on August 25<sup>th</sup></span></font> -- the anniversary of Dr. King’s first
national march. It will be an excellent time to raise our voices together
on the issues that clearly link together – war and justice and human
rights. One of the major demands is the passage of H.R. 676, the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> National
Health Insurance Act. More information coming. Check our
website for the call. <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Be in touch with us at
Healthcare-NOW. We are working with the Business Coalition for Single
Payer and a new network of faith groups talking about<font color=maroon><span
style='color:maroon'> “Healing Healthcare”</span></font> in this
nation. Go to our websites, join healthcare-now or make a pledge to this work, become
a national healthcare organizer in your area. We’ll help you do
it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="http://www.healthcare-now.org/">www.healthcare-now.org</a> or
<a href="http://www.medicareforall.net/">www.medicareforall.net</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=maroon face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:maroon;font-weight:bold'>“SiCKO”
opens nationwide on June 29<sup>th</sup> – Be there! </span></font> And
take someone with you.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>You are a great friend and a constant
inspiration to us here at Healthcare-NOW. Keep ON!<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face=Forte><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Forte'>Marilyn Clement,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>National
Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>Healthcare-NOW<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig align=center style='text-align:center'><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street
w:st="on"><font size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>339 Lafayette Street</span></font></st1:Street><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>,
<st1:City w:st="on">NYC</st1:City> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">10012</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:address><font
size=2 face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS"'>1-800-453-1305<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><a
href="www.healthcare-now.org">www.healthcare-now.org</a></span></font><font
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>