I'm sure a lot of you have seen this picture.

[WilliamPitt]

Her name was Stephanie Sautter.

She died peacefully this morning.

The health care crisis in a nutshell.

[dipsydoodle]

1. So sad

'nuff said.

[warrior1]

2. This shouldn't be happening.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Well, Republicans, there is your "freedom" right there.

[BlueJazz]

23. Boy...isn't that the truth. They love spreading those "Action Words" around:

Freedom
Choice
Responsibility
Liberty
Our Flag
Sacrifices
Victory !!
Values
Citizenship
Equality
Rights

And the only words that they truly Love are: Money, Power

[IkeRepublican]

46. You forgot Benghazi

That one really gets them wet, thus, it is an action word.

[robertpaulsen]

69. That's always a bone of contention I have with those who don't consider health care a "right".

If, as the Declaration of Independence asserts, we have the right to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness", how exactly can you exercise any of those rights without your health?! If you've got your "freedom", or "Liberty" to pursue happiness, you can't exactly pursue it without your health! You certainly can't pursue it if you're dead! Does it not follow that to protect our right to life, to protect our right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the government has a direct responsibility to protect our health?!

[MADem]

4. Sucks. Too young. Wrong.

Where's the "but...but... Obamacare BAAAAAD!" crew?

If she had lived in Massachusetts, she'd have gotten that care, quickly, too.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. What's your point?

Thanks.

[MADem]

8. My point is that this sucks, she was too young and what happened to her was wrong.

If she lived in Massachusetts she'd have gotten that care the second she was diagnosed, and she'd still be alive today.

Come on--you're jerking chains on THIS thread? Not cool, Manny.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Do you see anything ironic in what you just wrote? nt

[MADem]

11. No. Obamacare is based on Commonwealth Care, as you well know.

I know people whose lives have been saved by Commonwealth Care.

It ain't "perfect Single Payer" but is GOOD, it's what could be sold to the public, and it provides an affordable safety net for all citizens of the Commonwealth.

Had this woman been a Bay Stater, I wouldn't be posting in this thread.

And it's not being shitty or snarky to point out this bitter truth--some facts are just facts, and people who come on DU and gripe about Obamacare like the damn sky is falling and who insist they never get sick and tell us they never had any need for a womb so they shouldn't have to pay for anything to do with 'em (they forget about that whole being born thing) and cry about how they're gonna get "screwed" out of their riches .... well, they are talking out their behinds and ignoring the needs of the least of their brethren.

If people weren't so damn mean and cheap, we'd have had the ACA on line years ago. That's the simple truth.

A healthy society uplifts us all.

[MannyGoldstein]

21. You called out those people who have concerns about ObamaCare

Then turned around and chastised me for using this as an occasion to "jerk people's chains".

All of us Democrats want affordable universal health care. Some people feel that ObamaCare will be a step in the wrong direction. Some, like me, feel that it will probably be better than nothing. Some think it will help tremendously. In any case, we sure don't know yet. So why don't we all refrain from criticizing opinions until there's some results to point to?

Massachusetts already had the lowest rate of uninsured people before HeritageRomneyCare, and for chrissakes, it's Massachusetts - we don't do the #%^* they do in other states, we almost always figure out how to take care of our own first, then ask about payment later. I'm not sure that extrapolating anything about Massachusetts applies to much of the rest of the country.

[uponit7771]

29. Strawman noted, the poster said nothing about "concerns"

[rhett o rick]

36. She said, "Where's the "but...but... Obamacare BAAAAAD!" crew? " Shame on her

for using this thread to attack some "crew" and then turning on Manny and accusing him of it. Projection 101.

[MADem]

34. I didn't "call them out." I pointed out that they are selfish, and the delaying and obfuscation of

everyone and anyone who held up this legislation and dragged their feet and pushed for failure contributed to the death of the woman in the photograph. And the people who continue to try to fuck with it as it rolls out will have the deaths of others on their consciences.

It's based on Commonwealth Care which morphed into PPACA, it's to be administered, managed and run in similar fashion, and have the same panoply of benefits.

We may have "had the lowest rate of uninsured people" but let me tell you, in my travels when I was providing support to feeding centers and homeless shelters and what-have-you, I met a shit load of them. And yes, they weren't denied help, but they most often did not get a full range of care--it was minimum standard of care--patch 'em up, toss 'em out-- and back out on the streets. Now people are treated with dignity and their health and wellness needs, as well as their illnesses, get appropriate care.

Who we are as a community, or a nation, is reflected in the way we care for those who have nothing, or even--like that poor woman in the damn topic starter, those who are just scraping by. How anyone can read her story and whine that they're being charged for mammograms when they don't need the story is just ... well, I can't fathom that kind of penny pinching. We'll all be dead one day, and we can't take it with us.

[pnwmom]

45. Who among progressives thinks it could be a step in the wrong direction?

People differ on how big they think the step is, but I haven't seen anyone arguing that helping millions more to purchase health insurance is a step backwards.

[bvar22]

63. I believe that enthroning the "For Profit" Health Insurance Industry..

..as the only Gateway to Health Care in America,
and then subsidizing them with $Billions of Taxpayer Dollars/year in Corporate Welfare
[font size=3]IS a "Step in the Wrong Direction".[/font]

It is natural for any FDR Democrat to believe this.
Democrats used to believe in Publicly Owned/Government Administered programs,
and NOT opening the door to the Public Treasury to the RICH Corporate Owners.

[pnwmom]

68. The ACA also included a large expansion of Medicaid,

and it's providing funds for any states that want to to experiment with single payer and co-ops.

So it is hard to argue that it "enthroned" the for-profit industry as the only gateway to health care.

[uponit7771]

28. That OCare detractors are missing the forest for the trees

[MannyGoldstein]

5. So very, very awful and sad

Fixing health care is synonymous with fixing our economy. We must do both. We must insist on both.

[okaawhatever]

7. How sad. Bless her family, I hope they will be able to heal. nt

[NuclearDem]

9. She's dead, but the war criminals and economic saboteurs are running around free and healthy.

[sabrina 1]

64. Well, they had free HC paid for by people like her. Cheney, eg. A perfect example of how

Government paid HC can save lives.

Every day, right now, people are dying for lack of access to HC. It is a National Emergency. But people are arguing over politics.

A responsible government would issue an emergency ruling that every citizen in need, as she was, of care, must get it and they will be covered.

Meantime let's go on fighting over politics as people die.

[Jefferson23]

12. It was not long ago stevenlesser put up an OP about her. Now she is gone, unnecessarily.

RIP

This should be beneath the United States to allow such a thing to occur.

[Blue_Tires]

72. +1

[Babel_17]

13. Rest in Peace

Link to an older thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023716907

[mike_c]

14. this happened because EVERYTHING is for sale in the U.S....

It's all about corporate profits. I'm sure her illness and death made money for someone. Way to go, citizen!

[DeSwiss]

15. We need more than just healthcare......

...we need to know the TRUTH. And they ain't going to tell us, all they know are LIES.

- If we want to know the TRUTH, we'll have to find it for ourselves.

K&R

Marijuana And Cancer: Scientists Find Cannabis Compound Stops Metastasis In Aggressive Cancers

[lunasun]

62. That is $$$ currently too

Though I would agree it doesn't have to be..........but out of reach of many right now
although it could help so much

""While marijuana advocates will surely praise the discovery, Desprez explained that it's not so easy as just lighting up.

"We used injections in the animal testing and are also testing pills," he said. "But you could never get enough Cannabidiol for it to be effective just from smoking." "


I believe it takes a lot to make the oil /cbd for constant treatment

The amount of oil you get will vary from strain to strain; an ounce will usually produce 3 or 4 grams of oil.
About 28 g to an oz oil
and can not be hemp

My understanding but I could be wrong
enlighten me if I am
I am healthy now but never know who, or when it could help......

[DeSwiss]

66. Yep, you're wrong.

- But don't feel badly because most people are. That's why they made it illegal because it cures cancer and a host of other ills. I fully expect Big Pharma to succumb to it over a sufficient amount of time (a couple of years at most after universal legality). And I have no idea what the CIA and the banks will do for illegal cash now. Maybe they'll package old pharmaceuticals into derivatives like they did with real estate.

But I know cannabis works because I'm LIVING proof.

[jazzimov]

16. So very, very sad.

[Heather MC]

17. My 88 year old Great Aunt's Funeral is tomorrow, and I am Sadder about Stephanie Sautter Death

She didn't get to live to 88 because we live in the wealthiest country in the world, that go that way off the backs of the 99%
And yet for all our we are the stupidest country in the world because our "leaders" don't give fuck about the rest of us

[Stuart G]

18. This picture and caption says it all.....

[ReRe]

19. Exponentially sad...

... as this is going on all over this country. Dear Stephanie Sautter: You may have been one of the 99%, but indeed you was one in a million for standing up with your message to advocate for health care. Rest in peace.

[Boomerproud]

20. Speechless

R.I.P.-this could (and has) happened to someone you love.

[calimary]

22. Damn.

Just damn.

[BlueJazz]

24. Sad, hurt and pissed. Poor Woman.

[rurallib]

25. I hope at her wake that people speak of her courage to step out

Even having a picture like that scares many people. Notice how many people that picture affected.
Thank you Stephanie Sauter. Your action helped us move a little closer.

And I hope all of us pass on, your loved ones will have a toast in memory of your stepping out.

[cantbeserious]

26. Rest In Peace Stephanie

eom

[colorado_ufo]

27. Stephanie, I hope thousands see your picture and hear your story.

May your death, so sad, so unnecessary, be the catalyst that moves others to action and changes the minds of the ignorant.

[Lifelong Protester]

30. I want to live in a country

in which I never see another pickle jar with a posted picture and notice, asking for donations for some suffering family. Please, take my tax money and give health care to those who need it! (and give them food, and shelter, and lots of other necessities) they may lack, in the name of humanity!!) People should not have to rely on convenience store pickle jars to get help!


This kind of stuff makes me see red. I am so sorry for this loss, and the suffering she went through and her family went through.

[LibDemAlways]

40. I saw one of those signs by the register at the local market the other day.

Employees were soliciting funds for a co-worker who has cancer and no insurance. She is a single mom who works only part-time and has no benefits.

My 90 year old mother received a request not long ago to help a great-niece whose toddler was undergoing chemotherapy. The family has insurance, but their portion of the bills had become overwhelming. The child is in remission now, but the family remains heavily in debt.

There's no way the US can pretend to be a great country as long as a single one of those appeals is necessary.

[Dane]

31. Really sad

And I find people to not be human who would want to deny anyone healthcare, or think its some kind a luxury.

[blue14u]

32. You are so right Dane...

Welcome to DU...

[SoCalDem]

42. Non-wealthy people die quietly..one-by-one

They have no powerful lobbyists working on their behalf. They have to rely on the kindness of strangers putting pennies in a jar...(and family/friends)

[mountain grammy]

33. I've buried friends who died from manageable diseases,

as long as one has insurance or the money to manage them. They weren't as young as this lovely woman, but they were too young to die, and they were so close to Medicare. If they just could have hung on a little longer.

[sibelian]

52. Hi grammy, this is something I hadn't thought about, not being American...

Are you saying that they died before they qualified for Medicare?

[FlaGranny]

53. That's what she's saying.

Many Americans are in this situation in their 50's and early 60's. If you have no employer provided insurance at this stage, the cost to buy it becomes prohibitive for the average American. My husband and I were in this situation and went without insurance for some years. I was lucky I did not get sick. I was making about $300 a week and insurance for me would have been $1200 a month for me and about $1000 for my husband $2200 a month for the two of us about 10 years ago. During this time my husband (a non-service connected veteran) was unfortunate enough to have developed cancer on his tongue. Luckily the doctor we went to see knew the head doctor at the VA hospital and called him. He was admitted to the VA under a "special dispensation" for critically needed care. His life was thus saved. Most likely he'd be dead now if he had not been a veteran. Either that or we'd be hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt with no way to pay. This has been normal operating procedure in the US for hundreds of thousands or millions of us.

[sibelian]

56. My god, I think that's absolutely HORRIBLE. Nearing the close of play... shit like THAT

fuck... I hadn't thought about that at all, I think it's HORRIBLE. Not only has it got to be tougher than it needs to be it's got to be twisted and ironic as well! And all resolvable and avoidable through a little bit of pride in the nation and a few dollars out of the pay packet... I feel quite ill just thinking about it...

I don't understand it. The UK decided after WWII that the populace deserved better. "Let's fix this!" was the feeling. Something had been acheived at great cost and it was time for the ugliness to end. I simply can't understand it.

I'm very glad you and your husband had the good fortune to dodge that horrible bit of the game. You must have felt so relieved!

[mountain grammy]

55. Yes, exactly what FlaGranny said..

In America, 65 is the magic age. My husband will be 64 next year. He's gone a year with no insurance, but he is a veteran so is eligible to use the VA. The poor VA is so overburdened with vets who have no where else to go.
Under the ACA, we will insure my husband for about $100/month. My 25 year old daughter will have insurance for less than $100/month. This is a huge relief, as our savings could never cover the expenses of a big illness or accident.
America may be the "land of the free," but that means free to die for millions who can't afford health care.

[sibelian]

58. Well, thank goodness for the ACA.

I think the situation sounds AWFUL.

[gopiscrap]

35. OMG RIP

[musical_soul]

37. Too sad.

She was a beautiful woman. I hope she rests in peace and that her family finds peace.

[Aaron8418]

38. My thoughts

You know what, this government needs to get it's out of it's own big butt, that is TERRIBLE!! what happened to that poor woman. We have to many people worried about their bank account than being fare and treating each and every person in this country equally. It's unethical to make a decision as to who gets health care before some one else or who gets the better treatment. Do you know how many people on this world let alone the USA would be better off if they could get the treatment they need. It's possible, just need people to get it together and stop this civil war in our government and over seas, it's crap and unreasonable. This woman's life was taken from her because MONEY, PIECES OF PAPER!! Means more than a LIFE!!! How do you sleep at night!

[In_The_Wind]

48. Hello ~ Aaron8418

[img][/img]

Many good people have sleepless nights worrying about this.

[rhett o rick]

39. The ruling class dont wish us to die, they just dont care if we do. nm

[oasis]

57. GOP solution to health care for the poor: "Die quickly". Alan Grayson nailed it.

The former Dem congressman caught a lot of flak for telling it like it is.

[Joel thakkar]

41. She was accepted to medi-cal

This shows that poor people are most vulnerable. Thus, instead of subsidies, Govt should have expanded medicaid more.

[Half-Century Man]

43. Never should have happened.

We are diminished

[GeorgeGist]

44. Death panels courtesy of ...

Wedontcare.

[jtuck004]

47. Thank you Stephanie. Rest in Peace. n/t

[Enthusiast]

49. K&R. This is the outcome Republicans favor.

Except if it were up to Republicans, they would also do away with Medi-Cal.

[onlyadream]

50. And Palin has the nerve to say death panels.

May this courageous lady rest in peace.

[B Calm]

51. RIP, so sad. . .

[marble falls]

54. k&r - Thanks for putting a real face and person on it.

[burnsei sensei]

59. For those demanding only "market-oriented" solutions to the health care crisis,

and crisis it is, my contempt and anger KNOW NO BOUNDS.
Expand medicare/medicaid.
Nothing should have been changed but this.
Single payer and the intent to do what is right, care for these people, will save lives.
The market will condemn people needlessly year after year.
Our country is not poor.
If we behave as if we are poor, then look out, that's what we will become.
Republicans have had the psychological edge for too long, they've sold fear and many people have bought it.
They've sold injustice as "reciprocity" and even more people have bought it.
Well I don't buy it.
Compassion, compassion now. WE must choose a different basis for acting on problems like these.

[workinclasszero]

60. Here is the republican death panel in action

Sarah Palin can go to...where all tea-taliban liars go!

RIP poor lady.

[prairierose]

61. It is terribly sad that this beautiful young woman died ...

but it is not just the lack of healthcare access that is the problem in this country. The dirty little secret that no one talks about is that our "healthcare" system is "for profit". The civilized countries of the world and most of the rest of the world too, feel that it is immoral and obscene to profit off of the pain and suffering of people who are sick and need help. In this Hobbesian country created by the neo-liberals, people die at a young age for lack of medical care, lack of food, lack of.....

[lark]

65. Fuck the 56% of Americans who think that health care should not be a federal right.

They are stupid sheeple who only care about themselves and who watch FAUX snooze. Couldn't believe the graphic with I saw it on MoJo this am. Hopefully it's not accurate, didn't catch the source.

[FatBuddy]

67. fuck a federal right

it IS and SHOULD BE a human right.

HEALTHCARE

not HEALTH INSURANCE.

[stevenleser]

70. Kicking. Thank you William. I found out this morning and was going to post.

[neffernin]

71. My mother's story isn't too much different

Worked long hours at the factory doing quality control on car parts so she could keep insurance. Then she got too sick to keep insurance and during the middle of her treatments had to switch to Medicaid from the company plan. Her reluctance to go to the doctor due to cost is likely what stopped her from getting yearly mammographys. She died at 47 from breast cancer.

[Jefferson23]

73. That is just as wrong as anything can be in this country..my condolences. n/t