"SiCKO" Offers Activists a Cure

[LSK]

If you’re an activist for single-payer “Enhanced Medicare for All,” you may be feeling a bit depressed and irritated that such an important solution to our healthcare crisis is so often marginalized. Having long campaigned for single-payer healthcare and HR 676 (“The United States National Health Insurance Act”), PDA has the cure for you: Michael Moore’s new movie, “SiCKO.”

The movie gives single-payer activists a chance to promote HR 676 to a much broader audience: mainstream movie-goers as they exit the theater. As they question why – unlike all other advanced industrialized countries -- U.S. healthcare is dominated by private insurance companies and corporate greed. You can be there offering a common-sense solution. So download the flyer here, put on your PDA shirt or button, go to a theater near you, and spread the word! But first, email your member of Congress to co-sponsor HR 676.

On Moore’s recent trip to Washington D.C., he participated in a well-attended press conference in support of HR 676, along with dozens of lawmakers including PDA Board members Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. John Conyers, the bill’s primary author. See the video.

The PDA Healthcare for All Issue Organizing Team (IOT) is organized to promote single-payer healthcare nationally and at the state level. The team developed the PDA "SiCKO" campaign with the hope that single-payer healthcare activists nation wide will join with us to advocate for the passage of HR 676. The next conference call for this IOT takes place Wednesday, June 27, to discuss next steps in the “SiCKO” campaign. Please contact Diane Shamis to learn more and get active on this important issue.

Activists who flyered at the sneak previews around the country are reporting overwhelming support from the movie-goers--waiting lines formed just to get a flyer! Hook up with other activists at the premier near you by contacting local and state PDA coordinators.

http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2007-06-23-11-17-02-news.php

Link to Flyer: http://pdamerica.org/tools/pda/hcfa.pdf

[LSK]

1. PDA Flyers flew at SiCKO Sneak Previews

The response from SiCKO movie-goers has been overwhelmingly positive—not only to the movie but also to our PDA single-payer health activists who have been flyering at the sneak previews.

Mike Fox of the Pinella Pines PDA chapter in Sarasota, FL offered this brief report in what he believes is just the first in a long line of successful SICKO promos in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Pete, and Sarasota:

A partner and I drove down from Clearwater/St. Pete (35-50 miles) and arrived 1 hour before the sneak preview showing for a location scout. There were cheers, tears, and laughs during the showing, and three instances of applause. As the credits rolled, I stood up in the theater and shouted, “If you want more information on how we all can make single payer healthcare happen, see me out in front of the theater.” Some people applauded.

We ran out front to distribute the flyers so we wouldn’t causing a bottleneck in the theater. Virtually every person was happy to take info. New PDA sign ups were accompanied by lots of positive energy. We’re following up with management to see if we can get indoors. Best case scenario: they pass out one flyer with every SICKO ticket sold.

PDA Sarasota members have committed to doing this through the film’s official run. I’m looking forward to doing it again anywhere SICKO plays throughout the central Florida area. Not only did we have a great time, this is a great opportunity for us to build our chapters. (After our first experience, we’ll station two people per exit door—one to pass out lit, one to take names and recruit, preferably in male/female teams.)

Cathlyn Daly reports from Sacramento, CA:

The SiCKO event was amazing. There was laughter, tears, applause and quite an ovation at the end. We passed out flyers (7 of us) that went like hotcakes…no one refused our flyers. People actually stood in small groups waiting to receive our flyers. The movie was sold out…I believe this theater held at least 500 people. Our team was so energized that we decided to hand out flyers for every showing of SiCKO at this theater complex and other complexes around the city.

And, from John Selig in Dallas, TX:

All I can tell you is that I was blown away beyond my wildest expectations. Watching the audience’s reaction to the film was almost as exciting as watching the film itself. This is Moore’s best film. It will appeal to everybody (except the pharmaceutical companies. insurance companies, HMOs and politicians receiving bribes, I mean … donations, from the medical industry).

I urge you to run, don’t walk to see “Sicko” ASAP. And take a bunch of PDA flyers with you. Get the experience of seeing it fresh before others start talking about it (because unlike me I am sure that most people will discuss the plot). I will say this much, the movie should be seen by Democrats, Republicans and Independents. None will be politically offended. All will be outraged. Drag your family members and friends to the movie with you and urge your coworkers to see it.

http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=1185

[helderheid]

2. well of COURSE you know I'll kick and rec this!!

:hi:

[LSK]

3. props are due, you posted this earlier in the week

Figured it cant hurt for more to see it.

:hi:

[helderheid]

4. Pishaw :) I send these out anyway - may as well post them here too while I'm at it!

:hi: