"Creative" rallying for health care @ Westake Park in Seattle (with photos)

"Above, the 10-foot "Count Bleed Ya Dry" vampire with "U.S. Health" on a stretcher and a giant syringe wielded by Insurance Companies sucking up cash. Street theater created by The Backbone Campaign."
dinazina (Daily Kos diary):

Yesterday's peaceful rally was at Westlake in Downtown Seattle, 6pm. I'm guessing 300-400 pro-reform demonstrators and about two dozen counter-demonstrators.

Above, that's me at left with Craig Salins, Director of Washington Public Campaigns and Alice Woldt, WPC Board member. The Organizing For America signs said "Thank You" on the reverse, which is nice.

The pictures speak for themselves, but I'll add comments. You can view larger versions on the Flicker pages
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Above, Roger fulton of WPC, which always connects the dots between HC reform and campaign finance issues.

Above, vivacious Antonia of Washington Public Campaigns.

Above, the 10-foot "Count Bleed Ya Dry" vampire with "U.S. Health" on a stretcher and a giant syringe wielded by Insurance Companies sucking up cash. Street theater created by The Backbone Campaign.
The BB puppets are great in a march, but in a crammed area like the Westlake plaza with police barriers on several sides, the towering Count & Company had some difficulty maneuvering.

That is The Backbone Campaign Director Bill Moyers at lower left.

Above, proud papa Chad Lupkes, Chair of the 46th District Democrats and Dem Party techno-wizard.

That's Dwight Pelz, Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party. I didn't make the sign just for him - we happened to run into each other on the light rail coming in - but it fits!




Police kept a close watch on Pine Street, the area between the rally and the counter-demonstrators. This is Seattle, so not much happened except for some dueling chanting. I'm glad this man was on our side. He stood behind me and had a voice like a foghorn. Said he'd had "voice training".

Congressman Jim McDermott spoke briefly, but I was so busy taking pictures, I missed him. It's okay because I've heard his HC events talk many times. He's a member of the Progressive Caucus.

Above, Rep. McDermott at a recent 34th District Democtats' Health Care forum.


Below: opposing demonstrations wave signs on opposite sides of Pine Street.

Above: On the same side of the street, but separated by a police barrier and mounted cop.
Let's consider the messages on those signs.

1. STOP SOCIALISM - because it's BAD

2. NO NATIONAL HEALTH CARE - because it's BAD, except that national health care payments aren't the same as socialized medicine, but that's a fine distinction, don't bother making it.

3. NO HELLCARE - because having your medical bills paid, instead of piling up on the table and eventually bankrupting your family, would be hellish indeed.

4. MY DOLLARS - MY DOCTOR - MY CHOICE - Except if the bills are paid with private insurance money, THEY will be making many of those choices for you. That's not the case if ALL your bills are paid with your own funds, but then you're wealthy I guess?

5. REFORM YES, SOCIALIZE NO! - Explain your reform please?

6. YOU MANAGED MEDICARE & SOCIAL SECURITY INTO THE TOILET AND WANT TO MANAGE MY HEALTHCARE? NOT!!! - Because private industry has managed everything so well! They make an obscene amount of money to plump up their fat cats while cutting services, dumping sick people, and maximizing rates for the proles.

7. GOV'T MEDICINE KILLS - CANADA AND UK PROVE IT - Because their populations are way healthier than ours, and go to bed each night knowing they won't be bankrupted by medical bills! Oh, wait...

8. IF WE SOCIALIZE MEDICINE...WHERE WILL THE CANADIANS GO? - See above.

9. BRITISH STYLE HEALTH CARE MEANS BRITISH STYLE TEETH [with a picture of Austin Powers] - A fictional character makes your point perfectly! Cause Americans like you have EXCELLENT dental health. Oh, wait...when was the last time you visited a dentist, ma'am?

9. HEY GOV'T: FIRST DO NO HARM - because helping average folks pay bills and get desperately needed medical services is VERY harmful.

10. THE GOV'T DOES TOO MUCH ALREADY - Yes, damn that Social Security! I can take care of my OWN grandparents and great-grandparents. They don't mind living in the attic and eating leftovers once a day.

11. SOCIALIZED HEALTH CARE MAKES ME SICK - I think the IDEA of it makes you sick, but actually getting medical treament and bills paid would make you better...oh, never mind.

12. YO, 'BAMAS...MIND IF I HOLD ONTO MY FINGER SANDWICH? - I give up on this one...anybody?

13. MY DOCTOR WORKS FOR ME! - But your private insurance company works for their own profit at your expense.

14. THERE'S FREE CHEESE IN A MOUSETRAP - Yes, once this universal health care kicks in, the trap is sprung...all white people will be rounded up to be enslaved in internment camps, ground into soylent green, set adrift on ice floes...or? (Insert fantasy scenario here.)

15. If HR 32(something) is SOOO GOOD FOR US WHY IS CONGRESS EXEMPT? uhh..Congress does get government health insurnce...I don't get this.

16. OBAMA's PLAN: TRICKLE UP POVERTY - Those trash in the ghetto and barrio and trailer parks will get only the best medical care, while us decent white folks will be dragged down by skyrocketing taxes to support their lazy asses.

17. DON"T TREAD ON ME [flags] - this just makes me feel good to wave it, cause I'll patriotically rattle my ass and then strike you dead if you oppress me.

18. SINGLE-PAYER: BELGIANS DO IT, WE CAN TOO! SO DO Australians, Austrians, French, Canadians, Germans, Hugarians, etc. - Oh, looks like there's an infiltrator in their midst!