<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><a href="http://Crosscut.com/">Crosscut.com</a> (Seattle)</div><div>July 23, 2014</div><div><br></div><div>Glimmers of healthcare politics at meeting of Western Washington docs</div><div><br></div><div>Tough talk from Kshama Sawant and others at annual gathering of Western Washington Physicians for a National Health Program.</div><div><br></div><div>By Ted Van Dyk</div><div><br></div><div>Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant also was critical of Obamacare, arguing that the administration colluded with drug and insurance companies in framing it. Sawant spoke longest and most avidly at the meeting. She called on committed single-payer supporters to follow the example of those who sought a $15 minimum wage in Seattle, and bring tireless pressure to bear on Democratic officeholders in particular. Sawant is a committed socialist who often referred to "working class interests" and "corrupt corporations, banks, and hedge fund operators."</div><div><br></div><div>Kshama Sawant (video at 4:45):</div><div><br></div><div>"Our discussion should be formulated not on the basis of whether or not the ACA delivered something good. Maybe it did, but that's not the point. The point is, what are we not getting from it, and why didn't we win single payer health care? That's what I would like to focus on."</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://crosscut.com/2014/07/23/health-medicine/121125/western-wa-physicians-national-health-program/?page=single">http://crosscut.com/2014/07/23/health-medicine/121125/western-wa-physicians-national-health-program/?page=single</a></div><div><br></div><div>****</div></body></html>