By 2019, the Urban Institute concludes that a single payer health plan would save $20 billion annually based on a projected 6% annual increase in baseline health care cost ($130 billion for single payer vs. over $150 billion for the present system).

In other words, instead of one year of death and destruction, all Americans could enjoy one year of single-payer health coverage. That includes the nearly 45 million people who can’t afford health coverage of any kind, even if the new laws mandate universal purchase of insurance by the very same people who are unable to afford it.

This tradeoff is a stark reminder of the choice either for life or for death. It is probably not going to be offered the American people any time soon, although a recent CNN poll shows that close to 60 percent of the public is now opposed to this war.

The question needs to be raised: Why is this society producing a kind of global toxicity through its foreign policy, when it could equally be espousing a life-affirming position?  Is there something about our national character? Or does public policy have nothing to do with accurately representing the will of the people? Does it only reflect the interests of the people in charge? And who are the people in charge?

The healthcare bill now emerging from committee seems to be a clear giveaway to the health insurance companies. The wars sweeping through Iraq and Afghanistan now threaten to target Pakistan. Among the companies benefiting from the pilotless war in Pakistan are General Atomics, manufacturer of the Predator drone, and Northrop Grumman, manufacturer of the Global Hawk drone. The Predator is the drone that actually drops bombs on targets, while the Global Hawk seems to be for reconnaissance and targeting.

Since WWII, the kill ratio of 10% civilians vs. 90% soldiers has exactly been reversed. The drones have a big role to play in continuing this.

Protesting this War in the Heavens, on September 17, 2009 CODEPINK delivered a petition to the White House and to Senator Harry Reid with over 10,000 signatories, (more to come), which reads in part: “If we do not decide to disengage at once, our dreams of domestic reform will be squandered by years of war budgets. Our dreams of clean energy will be buried in wars over oil and pipelines.…Everything is related now: we cannot afford national health care, housing, and clean energy while spending billions on quagmires across several continents….Our security needs cannot be served by provoking hatred of America caused by repeated invasions of foreign lands.”

As citizens, we have an obligation to do our utmost to push against corporate interests by forcing this administration to reverse its misguided priorities and to truly represent the people who elected it to office. To add your name to this petition, please go to: http://gopetition.com/online/30533.html

Cecile Pineda is the award-wining author of six published novels, all available from Wings Press.com. Visit her web page at http://www.cecilepineda.com

The victory came through the hard work of millions within the progressive peace and justice movement within the past six years, bolstered by a values shift among the majority of Americans and their growing demand and faith in change — including an end to war.  It is a victory for the movement and inspiration for further change!

“Americans have stood up to say they know the cost of war in lives, dignity and money,” said Jodie Evans, CODEPINK cofounder. “Being against war is the winning decision. They are ready for change. War is so over.”

This victory will make it much harder for politicians to submit to the greed of Wall Street and the war machine, bending their own morals, by supporting war — as they have for the past six years.

But CODEPINK’s work is not nearly over. CODEPINK members will be in the halls of Congress and in city halls nationwide, using playful, disarming methods to remind politicians of the change their constituents demand and shine a pink light on any absurdities and abuses of power. They will urge them to end the occupation of Iraq and provide reparations for its people, to refuse to send troops to another losing war in Afghanistan, to create a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Iran, to restore our civil liberties and protect our environment, to bail out homeowners in foreclosure because of predatory lenders, and to create a NEW New Deal for America: jobs, housing, universal health care, education, roads and public transportation.

“We can’t stop now,” said Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK cofounder. “An Obama administration will need our help to live up to its promises.”