With all the negative attention given to the current health care reform bill, some local citizens said they wanted to highlight the positives of the legislation.
The Augusta branch of the NAACP sponsored a Health Care Roundtable Discussion on Thursday for people to do just that.
"I have trouble understanding why those of us who are insured, and who can vote, refuse to insure those who don't and provide health care for them," said gastroenterologist Ronald Brown said.
Dr. Brown was one of the supporters on the panel who spoke about the benefits of health care reform and why it is necessary at the Henry Brigham Center.
Dr. Brown said he has had many patients cancel critical medical procedures over the years simply because they could not afford the hospital costs.
Shavon Arline, the national health chairwoman of the NAACP, spoke at the meeting through a teleconference call.
Ms. Arline credited the involvement of local grassroots organizations throughout the country as an important factor in the recent passage of the health care reform bill.
Much of the discussion at the meeting focused on what local citizens could do to help ensure passage in the Senate.
"Regardless of your political philosophy, we must address the issues of health care reform from a patient-centered perspective," Ms. Tyra Newton, a registered nurse said at the forum.
Dr. Charles Smith, president of the local NAACP branch, said he is hopeful about the overall prospects of health care reform.
"There will, in our opinion, be a compromise of some sort so this bill can pass," Dr. Smith said.
"America's ready, and it's time, and I think we are going to continue to move forward with our movement here in the community, we are going to continue to network with the community, we are going to continue to try to talk to our congressmen to make sure that they do the right thing."
Reach Jonathan Overstreet at (706) 823-3708 and jonathan.overstreet@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
"I have trouble understanding why those of us who are insured, and who can vote, refuse to insure those who don't and provide health care for them," said gastroenterologist Ronald Brown said. Well maybe it's because I pay $450 a month for just myself to be insured Mr Brown. I work full time and pay my taxes and my insurance every month so people that choose to stay home can have emergency care. Tell their lazy butts to work and contribute to their heathcare and maybe I will support healthcare reform.
The NAACP is nothing but a legal racist organization catering to people that want something for nothing. The worst part is they believe white people owe it to them.
Time for the NAAWP.
Social-ism.... Commune-ism. This month bears witness to the experiment of Jonestown... remember those folks who followed their articulate, charismatic leader? That, my friends, is an ideal example/study of a 'Micro-America' being lead by a socialist bent on control of his people. Control and power over a people. Today's administration is just like the administration of The People's Temple. 900 plus dead; men, women and children ... blacks, whites and browns all turning that bloated OD green color of death in the 'paradise' he created. It is not about your health and well being... it is about controling you and making you a slave to the 'man'.
no surprise here. next story
Well phrased, jebko. Blunt, but straight to the point. Unfortunately, what the most foolish of voters see is the free ride.
I know Dr. Brown, and he is a very nice man. But, Dr. Brown, you missed the boat on this one and that statement you made shows that you might be VERY out of touch with what is going on in society. I recommend that you ask people..not the ones you work with, because you are their boss...ask people at some of the endo spots you work at and seek their honest opinion on how they feel to provide FREE healthcare to people who won't/don't work. With statements like that, you will not win over the supporters that you seek. I'm thinking you wish you had not said that or had rephrased it.
How could the AWM right such an article or even care what the NAACP and ABG thinks? What is this world coming to? This group probably aren't racists but certainly are discriminatory in nature and it is long overdue to be disbanned. Equal right is something we as a county should stive for with all of our citizens but if one group continues to dissassociate theirselves from all other races, they will never be properly included and yet will continue to complain about discrimination. As for the health care, it is idiotic for anyone to think the govt. can do a better job of managing our health care. For the many of you who HATE Republicans, think of it this way...they will be back in charge again one day soon, do you really want them in charge of your health care? Frankly, I don't want any politicians telling my Doctor what he/she can or can't do and I certainly don't want to rely on them for my health when they can't even get the flu shots out. Bush failed in this area a few years ago and was blasted for it by Clinton, Libermann and many others and rightfully so. Now, Obama has failed miserably as well and although many aren't complaining, this is the type of health care offered
yeah, yeah, yeah, who cares? what i wanna know is: what does the ASIAN community think of the health care reform? we all know what this bunch wants; let's hear from someone else for a change.
Imagine that, with their membership being made up mostly of the 'entitilement" crowd--why wouldn't they support it, HA!
FEDUP, Start a chapter or STFU. There is a big difference between cannot work and will not work. I believe that we should help those that cannot work. Also fed up, you should be fed up with hanging out with lazy low life because the working people that I work with do not believe the government owe them a thing.
BLACKJACK, yeah but ironic part is that more whites will be taken care of than those that make up the majority of the membership.
LOL OMG one thing about it I don't think ONE person at that meeting cares what any of you local haters say. I bet NONE of you everyday haters would say anything you spew in their faces let alone in their presence.
ispy, your reasoning on your 6:34 misses a lot of points. White America, (defined as not black) is 87% of the country. Are they 87% of the subsidy crowd or 87% of the free medical coverage crowd? We ALL agree on helping those that can't help themselves, we just disagree on who they are.
Unless we stop paying the way for people(yellow, purple, black, green, white or all shades of gray!) who are capable of working but refuse to work (for whatever reason) then this snowball is going to continue until we are all poor. There HAS to be some sort of bar raised and limits set for receiving funds. I agree that everyone should have medical care, but how is this our governments job to provide it? I do refuse to take my hard earned money and be mandated by law to give it away to those who are ABLE to work, but do not, or those who continue having children when they cannot afford it. That many could be spent on the elderly or critically ill who honestly DO need it.
That's a might hateful post, Notreally.
That's a might hateful post, Notreally.
We need to help the ones who can't afford insurance. We can do it without 2000 pages of fine print and $1 Trillion, which even Obama says we cannot afford. The problem with the Democrats is their goal. It is not to provide medical coverage to the needy.
congratulations to the Augusta branch of the NAACP. You have managed to take a DETAILED and EXTENSIVE reform policy and have reduced it to a case of white vs black. I implore everypne who can to research this proposed reform and discover the truth about what will happen if it is passed. Small business owners across America will have to bend over and give the government waht they want...full control over their business. I know of companies (all jof ewhom currently porvide health care plans for their staff) who can not afford to take the financial hits that the government is proposing and will have to fire employees to get their payrolls down low enough to afford the mandatory insurance coverage the government is proposing. Then what? Then you have LOST JOBS. Then you have people who were previously covered through their jobs UNINSURED and broke. Then we who are lucky enough to remain employed will be forced to support even more indigent. You don't solve a problem by creating more problems. Yes, everyone should be able to receive the health care they need. Let's work first on controlling the costs by limiting lawsuits and reigning in the drug companies.
Anyone receiving any type of entitlement should take a drug test on the 15th of the month, and if they come up clean then their entitlement is in force for the following month. This is repeated each and every month so that our tax money is not going to support someones drug habit. If they are unemployed, then they have to actively look for a job AND attend training courses to update/upgrade their skills to make them more employable. If they fail to abide by the rules, then they will not recieve any entitlements.
Dead on sooner, It would never work tho--dems don't want to lose their major voting base!
wow, just noticed all my errors in spelling....gotta stop typing with my toes.....
There is already help for the people who can not work it is called Medicaid. But it is abuses and people not willing to work or falsely report there income get the help first. That system is Government run and it is a mess.
here is one of the reasons the bill is so long: http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/11/the-100-million-health-care-vot...
Ispy...
Those that cannot work are probably covered by disability so they already have healthcare provided by taxpayers.
they are fooled into thinking that its free,and that good enough for them.the naacp use to be a good organization but now its nothing more than a racist mob.the so called boycott of south carolina what a joke hasn't hurt a think but its on.
If the republicans were for the health care and the dims against it, what do you think we would be hearing from the libs?
Carefull workingmom- The real haters above are going to think you are a HATER too. I couldnt agree more with you though. I'm a racist for not wanting to support those who wish to sit and drink 40s all day on yours and my tax dollars. Perfectly cabable White people sit and drink 40s on the gov't dime too. The ispys and fruits of the world will gloss over that and say I'm being racist. Are there truly poor White and Black people who need our help? Yes! Please explain how not wanting to fund laziness is being racist?
Is any one surprised. At last check the NAACP is composed of Democrats.
Way to go NAACP.."For the People and By the People"