Photo I took of Wendell Potter 8/29/09, Portland, Oregon
I had the privilege of seeing Wendell Potter speak here in Portland in August 2009. He is a truthteller and American hero. Wendell Potter's journey from the "dark side" to the "insurance industry's worst nightmare" speaks powerfully of this man's integrity, courage, caring, and commitment to work for a just world. I am now very excited to learn of his new book and that he will again be touring all over the country, including here in Portland again on Tuesday, December 7th at Powell’s Books at 7:30 pm. I hope to see some of you there. For a complete list of appearances, please go here: http://wendellpotter.com/media-events/. Peace ~ Molly********************
By Pamela Jean
"My name is Wendell Potter and for 20 years I worked as a senior executive at health insurance companies, and I saw how they confuse their customers and dump the sick -- all so they can satisfy their Wall Street investors."
That's how he introduced himself to a Senate committee.
As a senior vice president of CIGNA, Potter had access to the inner workings of major insurance companies.
He had walked away from a six-figure salary and two decades as an insurance executive because he could no longer abide the routine practices of an industry where the needs of sick and suffering Americans take a backseat to the bottom line. The last straw: when he visited a rural health clinic and saw hundreds of Americans standing in line in the rain to receive treatment in stalls built for livestock.
Now, Wendell Potter is the insurance industry's worst nightmare.
Potter first made national headlines with his scorching testimony before the Senate panel on health care reform. This credible managed care insider explained to the senators how health insurers make promises they have no intention of keeping, how they flout regulations designed to protect patients, and how they skew and corrupt the political debate with multibillion-dollar PR campaigns designed to spread disinformation.
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Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth. ~ Albert Einstein
One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. ~ Maya Angelou
It takes two to speak truth -- one to speak and another to hear. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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