In honor of Martin Luther King, The Ethical Society will support a rally, demonstration, protest, march on the first Saturday in May in Louisville Kentucky to protest the high health insurance rates which have been inflicted on families and individuals throughout the Nation. This protest will also address the social issue of excessive profits by the oil industry and propose limit setting on profits of the oil companies as well as the salaries of their CEO's.
The Ethical Society believes these rates represent "Unrestricted Corporate Greed" and exceeds the limits of reasonable profits. In recognition of the health care crisis, The Ethical Society supports regulated profits of insurance companies and limits on corporate salaries not to exceed $500,000 for CEO's (including bonus and stock options).
The Ethical Society is concerned that retired couples in their 60's are paying $1000.00 a month for coverage while CEO's of Blue Cross Blue Shield are collecting a 22 million dollar bonus for their ability to leverage the people.
The Ethical Society is empathic for those elderly women that have to choose which one of their three prescriptions to have refilled because they can't afford to have them all refilled.
The Ethical Society is concerned for that young couple that is starting a business and has to choose between home ownership and health insurance while corporate executives are hiding behind gated communities. Many times these young professionals are too embarrassed and have too much pride to acknowledge that they are struggling financially and can't afford a basic lifestyle. Many young professionals in law, medicine, denistry are struggling to pay off their student loans, while starting a practice and are silenced by their shamed of their financial positions.
The Ethical Society is concerned for the women with breast cancer who can not afford health insurance or radiation treatment.
The Ethical Society is concerned for the health care professionals that had the terms of their employment dictated to them and not negotiated with the company. The Ethical Society does not support companies that use organized crime techniques or tactics (it's my block and I'll take my cut and dictate how you do business) to negotiate employee contracts.
The Ethical Society does not believe that clergy that abuse children should be allowed to hide behind the Cross or that CEO's who abuse their position should be able to hide behind court rulings.
The Ethical Society does not endorse socialism but does recognize the need for limits on the greed. Fifty years ago your grandfather could complain to the owner of the hardware store or farm implement dealer about his high prices and greed. The Ethical Society recognizes that the natural environmental controls that existed in the community, evaporated when the CEO's no longer live in the community, her children do not attend the public school and her family doesn't attend your church.
In the 60's and 70's it was the young that led the social revolution and ended the Vietnam War. The Ethical Society recognizes that this age group has been neutralized by mass entertainment and the 30 year olds are focused on their careers and Iraq. If the 18 year olds don't care then who will. This country needs the youth that fought on this shore while others fought in Vietnam. We need today's youth to fight the corporate executives in the boardroom.
Everyone agrees that high insurance rates are a problem but feel powerless to change the system. Martin Luther King was able to pull the powerless together to change the system. When one thinks about the powerlessness of the individuals that he organized and their accomplishments, think about what we could do.
We need everyone, of every race, every age, without gender bias to join the march.
Organize your school, your church, your e-mail address book, your club, post this on your "my space", put a notice on your bulletin board at the office, let your doctor know and help us.
Supporters will gather at 10 am on the Great Lawn and will proceed to the Humana Building at 12:00 noon. Bring your friends and have your Derby Party there with us.
Bring extra signs for others to carry. Let us know if you know of a band that will provide music? The Ethical Society is hopeful that entertainers in for the Derby will support our position.