Single Payer, Pesticides and Gun Violence
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Single Payer Learning Opportunity
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024 05:00 PM Pacific Time learn about Universal Healthcare from an expert. The event sponsored by National Single Payer. Register here, https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9x38GBHuR_qKbs9OgpvvCw#/registration
Dr. Margaret Flowers, renowned single payer activist and humanist, was one of the 13 single payer activists, doctors, and nurses arrested at the Senate Finance Committee meeting in 2009, when the U.S. attempted to reform the health care system and came up with the Affordable Care Act. Hear her reflections on what we have accomplished in the fifteen years since its passage. Why does the U.S. health care system continue to be the worst, by a wide margin?
Dr. Margaret Flowers will discusses true health care reform: a bold, beautiful, national, single payer health care system free from profit-seekers, where everybody is in, and nobody is left out.
Pesticides and Health
There are some pesticides that are reasonably safe to use and many that are not. Paraquat is a dangerous pesticide that has been linked to both Parkinson’s and cancer. It is currently banned in 60 countries.
One study found that farmers who use paraquat, even with full safety precautions, are 2.5 times more likely to be stricken with Parkinson's Disease. (Angela Spivey, "Rotenone and Paraquat Linked to Parkinson's Disease: Human Exposure Study Supports Years of Animal Studies," National Institute of Health, June 2011)
Still other studies have linked paraquat to lymphoma and childhood leukemia. (Hayley Smith, "California moves to ban the use of paraquat, a powerful weedkiller," Los Angeles Times, April 8, 2024)
The evidence is clear: There is no safe way to use paraquat.
QUICK ACTION
Click here to tell the EPA it is time to ban paraquat in the United States as well.
Guns and Health
The Commonwealth Fund has published a new analysis on the cost of gun violence. It is astonishing and I highly recommend it to you. Here is a link.
With far more people dying of gun-related causes annually in the United States than in other high-income countries, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., officially declared firearm violence a public health crisis on June 25, 2024. In his advisory, Murthy noted that over half of U.S. adults have either experienced gun-related violence themselves or have a family member who has. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S. and are the weapons used most often in domestic violence against women.
Leading up to the surgeon general’s 2024 declaration, there had already been 248 U.S. mass shootings — incidents where four or more people were shot or killed, excluding the shooter — in just a six-month period. In the preceding year, there were more than 650 mass shootings and more than 43,000 deaths linked to firearms.
Some of the key points of their analysis are:
The U.S. ranks at the 92nd percentile of all countries and territories for child and teen firearm mortality.
Death rates from physical violence related to firearm in U.S. states are closer to rates seen in countries with the highest mortality rates in the world and experiencing active conflict.
U.S. states have higher firearm mortality rates than most other countries in the world.
Gun deaths, which are largely preventable, contribute significantly to rising rates of preventable mortality and continue to drive down U.S. life expectancy. While data limitations make it difficult to calculate accurate numbers of firearm-related injuries, studies suggest the number of firearm-related injuries is roughly double the number of reported deaths each year.
By some estimates (NIH) , firearm violence cost the U.S. around $557 billion in 2022, with $2.8 billion spent on health care costs, mental health services, and emergency services. The largest proportion of this total was made up of costs related to quality-of-life, pain and well-being lost by those injured or killed, and costs to families. Combined with billions in other losses, firearm deaths cost roughly $274,000 per victim and each injury costs over $25,000 per patient, equaling an average cost of $1,700 per taxpayer annually.
I’m pretty sure our elected representatives in Washington D.C are unaware of the financial cost of gun violence. We need real background checks on every transfer, mandatory training and licensing, and mandatory liability insurance. Let’s let them know
Action - What We Can Do
Let’s tell our member of Congress and our senators about the cost of gun violence and what they can do about it. You can reach them here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Or use your cell phone to send a text message SIGN PLJGCX to 50409 (RESISTBOT) to send this message.
“I am your constituent and I want you to know that gun violence in the US is a public health and finance crisis and there are things you can do to make it better for your constituents.
Gun violence in the US cost $557 million in 2022 according to this report at the NIH, https://nihcm.org/publications/gun-violence-the-impact-on-society with $2.8 billion was spent on health care costs, mental health services, and emergency services. Combined with billions in other losses, firearm deaths cost roughly $274,000 per victim and each injury costs over $25,000 per patient, equaling an average cost of $1,700 per taxpayer annually.
I know guns are not going away but how about making sure that they are kept in responsible hands. Close to 50,000 people die in our country every year from firearms. They are the leading cause of death for children, we have more than 650 mass killings yearly that’s almost TWO EVERY DAY. I know this doesn’t sit well with you and I want to to help all of your constituents implementing background checks that are meaningful for every transfer of a firearm with mandatory licensing and training and liability insurance to make sure that people take their ownership seriously. Thank you.”
RESOURCES
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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I love your column! I am put off by dressing animals… sorry.. I just had to tell you. 😞
Thank you!