On Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, Garrett Adams, MD, founder of Physicians for a National Health Program–KY, delivered the message at the Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church in Louisville. The church featured the event in advance, and the attendance was larger than usual.
The children paraded with their Halloween outfits, and a pianist, violinist, and choir added music to the celebration.
A number of people spoke in solidarity with the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue that had so recently suffered a massive, hate-filled shooting.
Garrett delivered a hopeful message centered on the statistics showing majority physician and popular support for a health care plan that will cover everyone, be federally financed, be free of premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, and include all medically necessary care–an improved Medicare for All.
He told of the tragedy of the 30,000 who die each year needlessly because of a lack of insurance.
He included the story of Clay Morgan, a Henry County farmer and auto mechanic who took his own life rather than impoverish his family with the costs of a recurring cancer. “Statistics are people with the tears wiped dry,” he said.
He ended on a positive note that people can be more powerful than the corporations that seek to hold back progress in order to make profits in health care.
He encouraged activism to make it happen. “Power concedes nothing without a demand–without struggle there is no progress,” said Dr. Adams, concluding with the wisdom of Frederick Douglass.