How do you organise a march in Washington, DC?

[mwooldri]

Because if Congress goes on summer break without coming up with a DECENT plan to fix healthcare, then perhaps I should get involved in some kind of movement to organise a march (hopefully with hundreds of thousands of people...) on the day Congress re-convenes so that they can hear our voice. If there is no movement, then perhaps I should start one.

The insurance companies may have purchased the Congressmembers (a few exceptions of course) - and especially the ones in the Senate - but they can't purchase us people.

I don't know how effective I could be personally. I'm just one person. I'm one of the lucky ones, I do have quite good health care coverage, I have a home, a job, a loving family (with enlargment any day now), and more. But I'm getting to the point that I can't just sit by idly doing nothing other than just pestering my congresscritters.

So how do you get a "Million Sickos March", or a "Sickday for Healthcare March" going?

[BlooInBloo]

1. 1) Learn the moves to the Hammer dance, 2) buy a bunch of gold pants...

3) ????
4) PROFIT!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfsa2zdJ-JY

[anigbrowl]

2. Like any other startup - website, press releases and so on

I suggest you start by writing down you basic ideas, then take a look at the volunteer section on craigslist and see if you can find a webmaster and a publicist. Then call the DC tourist bureau, and the city government of DC to find out what permits you need if you plan to hold a rally.

[tabatha]

5. I found this an interesting, inspiring story.....

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200907140005
(Eric Boehlert writes very well.)

We should hope the Alaska bloggers turn to healthcare now.

Would not a big site on healthcare with lots of bloggers debunking right-wing lies be effective as well?
And pressure the bluedogs?

[timeforpeace]

3. "but they can't purchase us people." Just for grins, how much we talkin about here?

[1]

4. in this economy? it would be hard to get people to and from dc. and care for them...

[mwooldri]

8. I imagine it would be hard to get people to/from DC - period, whatever the economy.

Maybe a teabagger type effort - yes I know not the best of examples but they managed to get some decent media coverage, didn't they?

I know there was enough to get the civil rights march going on in the 60's, and I think there was a million mom or man march at one point... health care IMO *is* a civil right and it's worth fighting for. How the heck do you fire up enough people to WANT to go to DC and march, whatever state the economy is in? If we had the economy we have now back at the time of Dr. King and the civil rights march then... my guess it still would have been that big and still would have had that same result. Yes I am comparing the rights for all humans to be treated equal regardless of what race or skin colour to the demand to access affordable healthcare, well maybe equal treatment is slightly higher than healthcare but it's damn important.

[1]

9. movements start small and local. you have to build momentum before you can assualt dc...

[abumbyanyothername]

6. Cross-thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6136103

[mwooldri]

10. thanks... I missed that one...

but to discuss the mechanics of doing it... well... someone addressed up thread.

I don't care if health care comes out single payer or not really... what is needed is affordable health care for everyone and my sticking point is this: "free at point of delivery". One should be able to walk into any hospital or doctors' office, get treated and not have a bill there and then... and later to not even worry about the bill in that way. IMO the fairest way is a "National Insurance" system where everyone pays a percentage of their income above a set exempt amount. That collects the money. Whether private insurance schemes, private health care providers are involved does not matter to me. Effectively my employers' health care is a mini single-payer scheme; we can choose from 3 insurance carriers but my employers pay the health care bills.

[abumbyanyothername]

7. There is a facebook group

Single Payer Action. 2,471 members.

Ed Schultz is a member.

[stuball111]

13. Just joined... lots of links to other sites and groups..Thanks

[annm4peace]

11. maybe you should help with a March already being planned

they could use your help. Many marches, many protests in DC.
try googling.

[stuball111]

12. I'd be up for helping you!!

Let's talk... I have some ideas... there was another thread a bit back there that had the same Idea...

[stuball111]

14. Here's a good start

http://www.1payer.net/about-us/whats-next.html

[KharmaTrain]

15. Free Beer...

I'd love to see a million people on the mall just like we did last January, but we live in the NIMBY age...one where too many people have too many other things to do.

In many cases getting the time off of work and finding the money to travel is out of the question...especially in these hard times.

The best shows of strength belong on the local level. A couple hundred people at an upcoming townhall with a Congresscritter or Senator would do much more to show local strength and support than a million annonymous faces. I'm planning on attending at least one if not several public appearances by my Congresscritter in the upcoming break...and I'll be there with a group of people who have worked on her campaigns over the past 8 years. I expect we'll have more of an impact that way...and I encourage all to get in the faces of their legislators...let them see a face up close rather than the lobbyists and the corporates.

[abumbyanyothername]

16. The Vietnam protest on the mall

scared Nixon and Kissinger and led to the end of the war.

We can do the same with single payer now if we mobilize.

[KharmaTrain]

17. 1968 Isn't 2009

I was around for the protests...and there was a good reason so many showed up. They faced being drafted into a meatgrinder war...a lot more urgent than dealing with insurance. Also, it was a lot cheaper and easier to travel at 18 or 21 than it is at 40 or 50.

There's no way to compare what was going on in 1968 and today. Too many special interests...including on the left. Truth be known I wouldn't march for single payer...I don't want it.

[annabanana]

18. A National Sick Day!. .I like it!. . . n/t