Puppet Show: Is the US a Compassionate Nation?

Stick puppets of Tom Price and Bernie Sanders to use for re-creating the dialogue of their discussion of whether the United States is a compassionate nation in terms of health care.

[This copy sent to Senator Bennet]

Dear Person Who Opens the Mail,

Wasn’t this election grand? I now have a favorite confirmation hearing dialogue. Heck, I didn’t even used to watch confirmation hearings before.

So, I’ve included some stick puppets of Bernie Sanders and Tom Price for you. I’ve even transcribed the dialogue you can use J:

Bernie Sanders:  Do you believe health care is a right of all Americans, whether they’re rich or they’re poor; should people, because they are Americans, be able to go to a doctor when they need to, be able to go to a hospital because they are Americans?

Tom Price:  Yes, we—we’re a compassionate society—

Bernie Sanders:  No, we are not a compassionate society. In terms of our relationship to poor working people, our records is worse than virtually any other country on earth. We have the highest rate of childhood poverty of any other major country on earth, and half of our senior older workers have nothing set aside for retirement. So, I don’t think compared to other countries, we are particularly compassionate.

Tom Price:    …I believe, and I look forward to working with you to make sure that every single American has access to the highest quality care and coverage that is possible.

Bernie Sanders:  “Has access to” does not mean that they are guaranteed health care. I have access to buying a ten million dollar home.  I don’t have the money to do that.

Oh, and here’s what I’d like you to remind the Congressman:  Do not roll back the Medicaid funding that was part of the ACA. More people gonna die if they do that.

You can give the puppets to one of your Republican colleagues, if you think they need a reminder. Keep fighting the good fight

Most Sincerely,

Ellen Mackey