Health! I Need Some Answers!

Health worries. It was one of the major issues of the 2008 elections. It's also the theme of the three presentations offered at this month's Meetup.

Our big panel will be devoted to a discussion of paths for reforming the way health care is insured and administered in America. Can a single-payer insurance system be established in this country? Is a public insurance plan competing in tandem with private insurance plans a more realistic option? How can costs be contained while insuring access to as many people as possible? Our panelists offer some ideas in what will hopefully be a lively discussion. Confirmed at this point are Don Bechler of Single Payer Now and Michael Lighty, Director Of Public Policy for the California Nurses Association, consultant SA Kushinka of Full Circle Projects, and San Francisco State University Professor Emeritus Debbie Le Veen.

A different sort of health problem, fiscal health, is the subject of a presentation on the current conditions of California state government's fiscal crisis. Are further spending cuts a realistic option? What options, if any, are available for raising revenue for the state government? Will Grover Norquist and his California legislative followers succeed in bankrupting California's government? Senator Leland Yee will offer his perspective.

Finally, Bob Gordon from the California LGBT Tobacco Education Partnership will speak about his organization's efforts to get anti-tobacco industry legislation passed in San Francisco.

Big health issues or (relatively) small, this month's Meetup promises to offer something for everyone.

Where: Schroeder's German Restaurant, 240 Front Street (nr. California St.), San Francisco, CA

RSVP link: http://dfa.meetup.com...