Concrete steps must be taken to change health care for all Americans. Whether you are wealthy or poor this system that we have been saddled with has robbed us blind. Older Americans and their families are on the verge of economic collapse because of the robber barons of the medical care industry. Men and women are being denied basic care by medical care providers and there is no accountability. The personal accounts of thousands of citizens who are suffering from their loss of work, homes, livelihood, and any possible way to struggle to maintain their way of life.

The consequences of this behavior on the part of the medical industry is the loss of basic human rights, dignity, and people are dying. No one responsible for these decisions can be trusted. Their leadership is bankrupt. Their morals are frittered away on investment just as much as the "banksters," the special interests, the "fraud liars," the carpet baggers of the modern world.

The government sees to it that the business interests, the corporate world is bailed out but what of the citizen who loses his home due to health care costs and has no where to turn. "Sicko," is a true account of the terrible crisis. This is a call to rise up and demand justice and for each one of the readers of this message to act. It is a travesty that we are the only nation without a way to protect our elders, our children, the infirm, the people who are suffering from disabling conditions and yet, the heart beat of the citizens is cut off with a tourniquet.

Please contact the Governor's office, the offices of the congressional delegations, the local officials and demand that times have to change. We are taking back our country from the cut throats and thieves. Let us never stand down from our responsibility as citizens protecting our shores from the ravenous appetites of the mongrel insurance, medical providers, pharmeceutical companies and anyone else who stands in the way of our health and safety as citizens.

On Tuesday, Governor Ritter announced he intends to slash $7.1 million in financial assistance to the poor and disabled (Aid to Needy Disabled Program: AND) eliminating this monthly program of support. Balancing the budget on the backs of our most disadvantaged citizens is not the answer. This step will certainly push thousands more into homelessness without delay. And, relying on non-profits and the private sector to pick up the pieces is a mistake in judgment that will cost us dearly in corrective dollars and in lost human capital.
Tell the Governor and the Colorado General Assembly’s Joint Budget Committee – NO! (Their contact information follows this message.)

Reducing this monthly financial assistance to poor individuals, from $200 to nothing, will threaten the very survival of 6,400 of our neighbors. These are people that Colorado state officials have already determined to be both needy and disabled.

The men and women who rely on AND have no other income. They have no assets. They are the poorest of the poor in Colorado. They have a disability that precludes them from working. In most cases, the AND funds they receive enable them to remain in subsidized housing – without it, they will become homeless. It is unconscionable now to take away their essential life preserver.

As one of our clients reported to the Denver Post today, “It's my life. Without it, I have no life”. After living on the street for seven years with several disabilities and unable to work, this 57-year-old man now has a small apartment where his grandchildren can visit him. When his AND allotment is combined with food stamps and a supportive housing program, he can just get by – without it, he’s certain he’ll become homeless again.

The AND funds are awarded to individuals while they wait for benefits from the Social Security Administration – a cumbersome process that can take many years. Once completed, however, the federal government reimburses the state for the expense.
Strains on local government funds have already reduced the ability of local communities to fill gaps created by the state. Furthermore, as the need for shelter and housing increases, foundations are giving less, due to losses in their investments. Individual giving is in jeopardy as donors worry about their own financial health.
It appears the safety net in our state is broken. At the Coalition, we only have a fraction of the resources needed to meet the skyrocketing housing and service needs of newly homeless people who are coming to us for help.

If all the Governor’s budget cuts are implemented, our organization will have to absorb at least a $2.5 million loss instantly in medical and mental health cuts alone. Meanwhile, we must find a way to continue to provide housing, healthcare and supportive services to a projected 18,000 men, women and children this year who now have no where else to turn. So, maintaining the AND program to protect Colorado’s poor and disabled citizens is more vital than ever.
We understand that Colorado’s budget is severely strained as tax revenues fall. But, the Governor has said his budget “is a moral document”. We think it’s a matter of choice. Creating crises and despair for so many people is a bad choice.
Please help us prevent cuts to AND. Contact our policy-makers now.
Thank you for your attention and your help,
B.J. Iacino
(303)-285-5223
Education and Advocacy Director
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
Governor's Office contact information: (303)-866-2471
SHARE YOUR OPINION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE - website where a person can offer opinions on pending legislation via a webform
Joint Budget Committee of the Colorado General Assembly:
Senator Moe Keller (Chair) - 303-866-2585, moe.keller.senate@state.co.us
Senator Abel Tapia - 303-866-2581, abel.tapia.senate@state.co.us
Senator Al White - 303-866-2586, al.white.senate@state.co.us
Representative Jack Pommer - 303-866-2780, jack.pommer.house@state.co.us
Representative Mark Ferrandino - 303-866-2911, mferrandino@yahoo.com
Representative Kent Lambert - 303-866-2937, rep.kent.lambert@comcast.net

THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A VISIONARY AT THE HELM
By Helen L. Burleson, Doctor of Public Administration

The thing that I am most proud of is that my father only had a 6th grade education.

Why is that a reason to be proud? Because my dad was more intelligent and had more common sense than some who went to college, some who finished 4th from the bottom of their military academy class and some who took 6 years and 5 colleges before they could finish.

Not only was my dad brilliant, but he was a devoted father and family man. My dad, like our current president, President Barack Obama was a visionary. He carefully planned his life always fulfilling the promise of today, but also projecting and preparing for the future.

My dad was a union man and a laborer. My dad was a humanitarian and unselfishly helped anyone he could to advance.

Dad was omnipresent. He never missed a PTA meeting, a piano recital or the opportunity to play ball with his daughters as soon as he put his lunch pail down.
He never told us he was too tired or too busy to spend quality time with us.

He and my mother, who had the benefit of a high school education would lie in bed at night to discuss their plans for our future. This future included enrolling in Cortez W. Peters Business the summer after graduation from elementary school and every summer thereafter, taking piano lessons and planning summer travel. Always with an emphasis on education, we were required to come to the dinner table nightly prepared to discuss at least 3 newspaper articles: one of international importance, to know what was going on in the world, one of national importance, to know what was going on in our country, and one of local importance, to know what was going on around us.

Of course, college was in these future plans; and, on a laborer’s salary he sent three girls to college. At one time because of the closeness of our ages, he had all three girls in college at one time.

Later in life, Dad developed prostate cancer. My mother preceded him in death by nineteen years; and my oldest sister who contracted non-smoker’s lung cancer preceded him in death by one year. A couple of years before his death when he was in the advanced stages of his disease he requested that we accompany him to the mortuary where he selected his coffin and made plans for his departure. Knowing that he was not immortal, Dad summoned an attorney to his home to meet with him and us, the two remaining daughters. He legally drew up documents to dispose of his estate and to let it be known what his wishes were for his final stages of life.

Following in the footsteps of my father in 1996, I visited the mortuary, made plans for my departure, paid for everything and made all my wishes known. I feel that I have lived an intelligent life so I am preparing for an intelligent death.

My father and I did these things on our own with no assistance and advice from the government; but, now we have a visionary president with a forward thinking Administration and in his health reform proposal, those planning services can be facilitated with government assistance.

It is far better to plan for our departure because none of us has nine lives or will live as long as Methusala, so why not face death with dignity and intelligence! Why leave our family with the burden of trying to decide what we would wish if we had the foresight to plan ahead? No matter how old your loved ones are when they depart, the family is emotionally upset, filled with grief and often are in conflict with each other because each one of them thinks that he or she knows best what you would have desired. Why not, through love, compassion and consideration, relieve your family of that burden?

There are those who through ignorance or who are just deliberately trying to maintain the status quo are misleading others about the wisdom, intelligence and foresight of an Administration that is humanely visionary. They know better unless they really are as ignorant as they appear to be; but, because they have ulterior motives, they are trying to manipulate by fear. If they knew how crazed they appear to be, perhaps a good look in the mirror of their soul and conscience will cause them to cease this utter nonsense. No one in the Obama Administration is talking about denying care for special needs infants or any infants or seniors. It is just the opposite, it is a visionary plan that provides quality health care for all, comparable to what the legislators give themselves. Fortunately, many of them do not have the “king” or “I’m better than you and deserve better than you syndrome.” That is admirable and should be embraced and appreciated by all.

Yes, I’m grateful and proud that I live in a time when we have a visionary at the helm of our government, our president, President Barack Obama.

What matters in the state of Colorado is that we protect the lives of countless numbers of people who are dying because of a lack of access to health care. There has been a conservative agenda to block the progress of single health care coverage, Colorado Health Care for All. The impetus for the financial support for the right has come mostly from the industry that preserves the right of health care, drug companies and insurers to make profit. The Single Payer Health Care proposal places the burden of health between the patient and the physician where the business squarely belongs.

Many decades ago, my grandfather had a practice in the middle of Germantown on Chelten Ave. in a poor ethnic neighborhood. Puggy (Herman Randle Morgan Kauders) worked for the Germantown Hospital and Dispensary and served as a general practitioner for half a century in the community dispensing medicine, attention and love by making house calls and having a clear and persistent regard for his patients, whether they were rich or poor, could pay or not, as his family.

One time I met a homeless man named John who was born at Germantown Hospital in 1951 and on his birth certificate was my grandfather's name. Taking the Hippocratic Oath requires a doctor to treat the poor. We do not and it is patently immoral. Single Payer Health Care will save this state over a billion dollars a year. It will provide one million people without health care coverage in this state a chance to live. By stripping the indigent health care and providing inadequate health care we are shortening the lives of the indigent people by an average of thirty years.

Having health care for everyone that is accessible and affordable is a test of our will as citizens to reach out to the poorest and most vulnerable and relieve them of the burden of suffering in silence and dying prematurely. It means making sure that prenatal care is available to all expecting mothers and that pharmacy rates are not making it impossible for a person to live or eat. We have listened to the people saying that people cannot afford single payer enough and the political mayhem of confusing the personal agenda of profit with special interests in the government.

Let us rise in support of the Single Payer Health Care Reform.

The event will take place on September 12, 2009 at Legacy Dental in Englewood. Starting at

7:00 am, Dr. Ryan M. Redfearn, Dr. Thomas L. Stone and Dr. Trent R. Redfearn and their volunteers will treat the first 300 patients, or however many they can service by 7:00 pm.

For more information, visit the organization national website at www.dentistryfromtheheart.org.

Polaris has been bridging the gap between people without a voice and a place for generations of individuals and their families. Anyone who is trafficked in this country has been falsely led from their community and forced into bondage, without recourse to life, liberty and personal choice.

"We are thrilled to announce that this year Polaris Project has provided 1,000 nights of shelter for victims of human trafficking in the DC area. This would not be possible without your support. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a fundraiser in DC this week, as you can see from the picures below we had a sucessful event! We raised $1,707 which is enough to provide 66 nights of shelter - but more help is needed.

Once they come into our care clients receive case management, therapy, job training, and assistance with basic needs. One survivor wanted to share her experience in the program:

Since I started living at the Polaris Project apartments my life completely changed. I used to live in a shelter before and Polaris gave me the opportunity to have my own space, my own home. Now, after almost 8 months, I feel like a different person. I used to be afraid of everything, afraid of people, afraid of being by myself, now I am not afraid of anything. I don't feel intimidated by people and I know it's because of the support of all at Polaris. I am a more mature and strong person now. The best thing that has happened to me is to have met Polaris staff.

Providing safe and secure shelter to victims is a critical step in the long road to recovery. Providing this shelter takes substantial support. Please make a gift now. Help us provide a home for another 1,000 nights of freedom. Every $26 given can house one person for one night. Your gift will make a huge impact in the lives of those we serve."

C. De Los Rios
Client Services Supervisor

Walking with Africans
A Celebration

Join a week-long celebration of the ways the Presbytery of Denver, its churches, partnerships, and members are “Walking with Africans.” From August 22 to August 29 services of worship, meals for fellowship, times of recognizing and honoring African neighbors, forums that present ways for being involved in the greatest concerns of Africa, even dancing to the beat of African drums will be available to all in our Presbytery. The August 23rd dinner does need your RSVP. The other events welcome your
participation without any advance notice.

Here is a snapshot of the events:

August 22 Presbytery Assembly, Kiowa Community Church, 9:30 a.m.
The Rev. Dr. Obiri Addo, PCUSA Minister from Ghana and professor of African Studies
at Drew University will be the guest preacher

August 23 St. Paul Presbyterian Church, worship at 9:00 a.m. with Rev. Dr. Addo preaching
“Africa’s Story, Your Story Too!” discussion and brunch following worship
A Celebration of African Neighbors, the Presbytery Center, 5:00 p.m.
Dinner, Music and Fellowship
The Rev. Dr. Obiri Addo, guest speaker
African music provided by Joda and Friends. See www.afrikandance.com for more
Information about the group.
Seating is limited
RSVP to George Bamu at georgebamu@msn.com or 303.953.8056

August 24 “Questions of Fairness, Food and Water”, the Presbytery Center, 7:00 p.m.
Presentations by those concerned about fair trade, business, food and water in Africa
Food and water discussion facilitated by Chuck Sparks
Fair trade and business discussion facilitated by Rev. Mimi Dixon

August 25 "The Story of Ghana: Message of Hope for a Continent" Peoples Church, 6:00 p.m.
6:00-6:05 Welcome – George Bamu, Africa Task Force Moderator
6:05-6:15 Traditional African Drumming-Nii Odoi
6:15-6:25 Traditional African Storytelling-Francis Nimako
6:30-7:00 Panel Discussion
7:00-7:30 Comments, Questions and Answers
7:30-8:00 Meal, Fellowship and African Drumming
Panel members: Rev. William Quaye, Bethel Presbyterian Church in Ghana; Rev. Dr.
Ebenezer Yebuah, Peoples Presbyterian Church; Rev. Paul Neshangwe, Denver
Presbytery Pastor in Partnership, Moderator.

August 26 “Questions of Wholeness for All”, the Presbytery Center, 7:00 p.m.
Presentations by those concerned about issues of health, education and human
rights in Africa
Healthcare discussion facilitated by Pete Hulac
Education discussion facilitated by Rev. John Anderson
Human rights discussion facilitated by Rev. John Piper

August 28 “Dancing Under the Setting Sun”, the Presbytery Center, 7:00 p.m.
Hear the drums, learn the dances, celebrate in joy! All age groups and skill levels
welcome. African music and dance instructors provided by Joda and Friends. For
more information about the group visit www.afrikandance.com.

August 29 “Questions, Answers and Hope for the Future”, the Presbytery Center
Special presentations of common work and mutual plans for “Walking with Africans”
Followed by a Service of Worship and Communion
The Rev. Paul Neshangwe, preacher
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., program at 9:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m.

All events are free and will be held at Denver Presbytery, unless otherwise noted. Denver Presbytery is
located at 1710 S. Grant St., Denver 80210. For more information about the Walking with Africans
events, please visit the Presbytery website at www.denverpresbytery.org or contact Africa Task Force

Moderator George Bamu at 303.953.8056 or georgebamu@msn.com.

The Medical Provider Network for the Poor: A Story of Heartache.

In November, 2008 Ernest received a colonoscopy from a clinic that proved negative. One of unintended consequences of the procedure was that an acute pain occurred in the abdomen for which an ultrasound was performed at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The result of this test proved negative for the colon, but a shadow was found in the kidneys. This then launched a CAT scan which proved that two unusual masses existed in each kidney. The New Year had started and Denver health was called upon to perform a biopsy and determine whether there was a malignant growth in the kidneys. The Urology Department decided against this procedure opting for another CAT scan, which was performed at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The second CAT scan proved that the tumors in both kidneys had changed in mass, the right kidney cancer doubled in size. At this point it was April 22, 2009. The patient was sent back to Urology and he sat in the department for several hours waiting for a decision by the staff. The Nurse Practitioner decided to recommend another scan and put off the surgery a third time, stating, “the tumor is not large enough, but we do know that this is cancer based on the findings of radiology on April 22.” She also went on to suggest that it takes three months to be seen in Urology at Denver Health for surgery.

The clinic physician recommended that Ernest go back to the registration at the Indigent clinic of St. Joseph’s Hospital to be registered and receive treatment there. They have a special office for indigent people Called Caritas. Ernest is homeless and he produced no documentation that was a verifiable and formal address for filling out the records so they refused to treat the patient. Ernest met with a surgeon who performed an intake that led back to the clinic and that since they were not originally involved in the case they could not treat him. Instead a third scan was recommended to see if the growth had enlarged.

The date is now August 20, 2009 and there is nothing being done to actively treat the presenting issue of a mass that is growing in the kidneys. The real reason that Ernest is left out in the waiting room is financial and the times now make it unlikely that he will ever receive care for this mysterious growth. More and more citizens in America are falling in a place where they are not worthy of care. More than 50 million people are in this specific predicament. America will have the prospect of people who are poor being euthanatized because there is no health care for them.

God rest the souls of the growing lines of people who are dying because they cannot afford health care in this country.