Idea for town halls: Billionaires for Bush approach. Street theater folks!

[PA Democrat]

How about dressing up like rich Health insurance CEOs (champagne, tuxedos, evening gowns, etc.), with name tags, the name of the insurance company and the amount of compensation.

DUer Turborama posted some great info on the obscene CEO compensation figures here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6232722

Then add some great signs":

Health Insurance for the Healthy Only.

Insurance companies need healthy profits.

Thank you tea baggers for defending our profits.


Please post your ideas for signs.

[PA Democrat]

1. Check out the photo gallery of the Billionaires for Bush to get an idea of what I'm talking about

http://www.billionairesforbush.com/photos.php

[MineralMan]

2. Other sign ideas

Support Health Care Insurance Companies!

Insurance Companies for The Status Quo!

Also, have at least one person in the group with a sign that says,

End Medicare! Old People Should Buy Health Insurance!

[AllieB]

3. I think that's a great idea bec. it points out what stooges these teabaggers are.

Being used by big insurance to campaign against their own interests.

[panader0]

4. Get some folks out there with clown costumes and Bozo wigs

acting as tea-baggers, mimes, ballons a circus, a farce intended to humiliate the baggers.

[PA Democrat]

6. LOL. I like that!

[KittyWampus]

13. I don't. Ridicule the freaking corporations paying to organize this crap. Not the mislead who vote

and whom it would be better to try and persuade.

[PA Democrat]

16. There are tea baggers and then there are some people who are simply misinformed.

I think the tea baggers are fair game for ridicule because they would oppose anything proposed by Obama. People who walk around with tea bags hanging from their hats aren't going to be persuaded. That's the sad truth.

[PA Democrat]

5. Insure our profits. Vote NO to health care reform!

[Catshrink]

9. How about a photo of one of the CEOs

and under/beside it: No Healthcare reform. Because $12Mil a year isn't enough to feed my family.

[PA Democrat]

11. LOL.

I need a bigger yacht.

[goclark]

33. I like that option

[Maru Kitteh]

19. Good one! - How about "KEEP INSURANCE CEO'S HEALTHY"

[MineralMan]

7. Stop Socialized Medicine! End Medicare!

Shut Down Veterans Administration! End Socialized Medicine!

[PA Democrat]

10. Great ideas.

[Maru Kitteh]

21. But they wouldn't get it. They actually would liike to do those things.

[MineralMan]

25. Not the point. I don't care what the idiots think.

The point is to make others think.

[AllieB]

31. Most of them aren't smart enough to get irony.

That's the sad truth.

[hedgehog]

8. Kick

[crickets]

12. Great idea.

A little humor could bring down the temperature of the crowd, at the same time pointing out how ridiculous the 'turfers are.

I especially like this: dressing up like rich Health insurance CEOs (champagne, tuxedos, evening gowns, etc.), with name tags, the name of the insurance company and the amount of compensation.

There's a huge dose of reality the 'turfers probably haven't thought about, if they're even aware of it at all.

[PA Democrat]

14. And the key is to maintain that humor. Any jeers from the tea baggers

should be responded to with fake gratitude:

"Thank you for defending our profits. Can you believe that they want us to pay for health care for SICK people?"

[KittyWampus]

15. LOL! I can see it now, Billionaires For Insurance CEO's dressed in tuxedos & rushing up to THANK

the protesters.

[crickets]

22. By Jove, I think you've got it!

They aren't listening to anyone but their corporate handlers, so street theater just might get through to at least a few. It's a powerful but non-confrontational way to get the point across, or at least to present information and disagreement without being threatening. You're right, though: it won't work unless humor is maintained at all times.

You've reminded me of the KKK rally where clowns kicked some serious ass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGOdH1js1co

The approach and desired outcome are a little different; still, it's a powerful example to draw from. This really is a great idea. :thumbsup:

[TokenQueer]

17. Love it.

:thumbsup:

[PA Democrat]

18. Health Insurance Companies' Profits are a Human Right!

Just say NO to sick people.

[Crunchy Frog]

20. "End socialist Medicare."

[Maru Kitteh]

23. Keep insurance CEO's healthy! - Inusrance CEO's, We have your Premiums with interest at heart.

[PA Democrat]

24. Say NO to Socialized Medicine. Burn your Medicare card here.

And give them an application for private insurance with the list of 200 "preexisting conditions" that they can either use to turn you down completely, or use to deny payment for health care after you have forked over your premiums.

[annabanana]

26. This is EXACTLY the right response... The funnier the better! . .n/t

[csziggy]

27. Here is another DU thread with health insurance CEO compensation totals

A Sample of Health Insurance CEO Compensation

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5690433&mesg_id=5690433

I like this idea - print life size face masks and big signs with the info in the thread above. Otherwise dress up as clowns or parodies of millionaires (think Thurston Howell III or the guy from Monopoly) and put the compensation signs on their backs or as sandwich boards front & back.

Print up fake money and hand out - the "dollars" could have info on the health care bill and contact information for groups supporting it on one side and info on the obscene profits health insurance companies make on the other side.

[PA Democrat]

29. Check out these photos of the Billionaires for Bush.

[csziggy]

32. Exactly the image I had in mind - but hand out "insurance dollars"

Maybe include on them what percentage of health insurance dollars go towards executive compensations (not just the guys at the very top are making big bucks) and towards stock dividends.

I am not against stock holders making some money, but the increase in profits in the last 30 years is absurd. I don't have the references here but I have read or heard that before deregulation, insurance companies generally had profits of 90-95%; now they have profits of 80-85% - and that all increases our premiums and the numbers of people who are refused insurance or are uninsured.

[demodonkey]

28. GREAT idea. K & R nt

[PA Democrat]

30. Wealth Insurance for All (insurance company CEOs)

[dembotoz]

34. REPEAL THE MAGNA CARTA

the king does know whats best for us




for those really old conversatvies

[me b zola]

35. I really love this idea

:thumbsup:

[PA Democrat]

36. How about "Insurance CEOs for the Status Quo " for the name of the group?

Anyone else have a suggestion?

[No Blood for Hubris]

37. B4B is DIY: organize yourselves, go out, and hit the road.

Good to use the B4B frame, because it is well-received, has a history, and pre-existing themes and logos.

Google the old Billionaires for Bush site for general ideas. Google "Billionaires for Bush images" for style tips.


Signs with B4B logo you should be able to download from the web, or copy. (It's a charming piggy with dollar bills stuck in it.)


Dress for ladies: pearls, gowns, white gloves, tiaras.

Dress for gentlemen: top hats, tails or tux.

Sunglasses helpful.

Also acceptable: yachting wear, tennis togs.

If you have a large group, add maids, butlers, personal security.



No time like the present to resurrect a good idea whose time has come. Again.




regards,


Mufaletta "Muffy" Worthington-Warbucks
(Mrs. Chadwick "Binky" Worthington-Warbucks, III

Richly Upholstered Chair, (ret.) (but apparently resurrecting)

[No Blood for Hubris]

38. Who Needs Healthcare? We've Got Wealthcare!

"Medicare for All? Pull the Plug!"

"Keep On Rationing Healthcare: Why Ask for More?"