----- Pre-written letter ----- Dear Senator:This week will be as important as any week in our lifetime in determining whether the anti-gun health care bill moves forward. As a result of the mandates in the Senate bill, all my gun-related health data can be dumped into a government database that was created in section 13001 of the stimulus bill. This includes any firearms-related information your doctor has gleaned..... or any determination of PTSD, or something similar, that can preclude you from owning firearms.The vote this week will be on shutting down a Republican filibuster of the motion to bring the bill up -- "cloture" on the "motion to proceed."The Senate and the House have a great tradition of conservative Democrats. The question is whether any conservative or even "moderate" Democrats will remain independent, or whether they will just do whatever their leftist leadership demands of them. In the House, every evidence is that the so-called "Blue Dog Democrats" were nothing but a stable of Pelosi puppets. And the only question was which ones Pelosi would choose to dance at the end of their strings, and which would be allowed to lie crumpled up in the corner. Is this the case in the Senate as well?1) You have demanded seventy-two hours to examine any legislative language -- and a CBO assessment based on final legislative language. You will not get this before this week's vote. The question is whether you were serious.2) You have demanded a bill which does not send the deficit spiraling into the stratosphere. The Reid bill will add over a hundred billion dollars to the deficit, when you consider the $210-247 billion Medicare "fix" Reid is trying to sneak through on separate Legislation (S. 1776). It will add over A HALF A TRILLION DOLLARS TO THE DEFICIT IF YOU DISCOUNT THE PHONY MEDICARE "CUTS." Was your promise worth the paper it was written on?3) You have promised a bill which will not tax the middle class. But the Reid bill will impose enormous costs and taxes -- not only on the middle class, but on the sick and elderly. Did you mean what you said? This is a week in which you will make history. Will you be a hero and a champion? Or a Reid puppet? I have faith that you will live up to your calling.You are being told that this is your chance to "make history." But history seldom rewards cowards who break their word because they are frightened by their "masters."Please, show me and the people who elected you that you are the hero we elected you to be. Vote against "cloture" on the anti-gun health care bill. Sincerely,
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NOTE:
I emailed,called,signed petitions,spoke to Sarah in McConnell off. and Jamie in Reid's off. The
opponents to HCR are busy,please stay aggressive. Continue to email and call.
VAgg
Good Morning O'Family Early Risers.
This Morning we have our Huge Muffins,Fruit Pastries,cheesecake
from BKLYN and Belgium waffles.Toast,Buttermilk biscuits and
fruit toppings for cereal,hot and cold.Fresh Fruit basket,Nutra
cereal bars and power bars.All our teas,cocoa milk and coffe
are on the side bar.
Thanks Marbwi...
Election time last year was like New Years Eve in my family.We were excited and anxious. My two
grandsons I have raised since little guys were first time voters.One had phonebanked with me at
the campaign office. They live in a world where they think anything is possible. I had shared my
experience of growing up with a different perspective. So it is no wonder that I was not convinced until
the victory was annonced over and over.Then I cried.The young men,my boys...said "seeGranma,this
is our time".
I obtain so much information from my sisters and brothers on OFA. I find it helpful when
calling my neighbors list. It is amazing that so many folks that voted for our President have
forgotten his words that "CHANGE" doesn't come easy and we must want it bad enough to work
with him to make it happen. I will continue to post daily on OFA,...however time making calls,
attending listening events and canvassing go hand in hand with our OFA BLOG. I,like so many
others here have learned how to post and make calls and email our Senators at the same time.
I hope calling a few neighbors daily will be added to that agenda.
I have been trying to get my name at the top of the page on OFA,changed back to
Jacqueline's Home. .....Somehow it says Richard's Home and I can't get the Blog masters help.
I've been told his name is Rohan,but the operator at the TEL# 202 863-8000 doesn't have a
listing so I hope Chris Hass will be able to help.I left a message for him..This one error on my
acct. page has caused unnessasary problems. Maybe posting this SOS will get me some help.
There are roughly 306 million Americans, more than 47 million of whom have no health insurance. That's 1 in 6 Americans, who only seek medical attention in Emergency Rooms, when their stuation is dire. They do not receive preventive care, which is ultimately a fiscal disaster. 60 million Americans have inadequate access to primary health care. 100 million don't have dental insurance. Last year, 116 million ailing Americans fore-went care because they couldn't afford the deductables, were under-insured, or had a lapse in coverage. In 2008, over a million Americans lost their homes, directly attributable to medical bills. Did you know that 2/3 of all personal bankruptcies are related to medical bills? Who pays in the end? We all do.
The US spends $2.3 trillion each year on health care, 16 percent of our GDP. Americans spend $7,129 per person on health care, 50 percent more than other industrialized countries (including those with universal care). Yet, we rank roughly 37th in the world, in regard to the quality of our health care. 30% of every insurance dollar goes to paperwork and administration fees. Still, in 2006, the six largest insurance companies made $11 billion in profits, even after paying for direct health care costs, administrative costs, and marketing costs. The number of health insurance industry bureaucrats has grown at 25 times the growth of physicians in the past 30 years. We all know that much of the industry profits come from the arbitrary exclusion of "pre-existing conditions", and terminating people's insurance once they experience a serious illness.
Barack Obama's health insurance plan purports to reduce insurance costs by 30% (more than $350 billion per year, enough to provide comprehensive coverage to every uninsured American). And most criticaly, provide a public health care option. The current Republican tactic, is to call this plan socialism, because it is a loaded term, calculated to scare people. The fact is, police and fire departments are socialized. And your health is a more fundamental right than both of those. Sooner or later, we will all need help from social safety nets, such as Social Security. With health insurance, what we are effectively talking about, is broadening the OPTION of a form of Medicare and Medicaid to everyone. This will cause private insurance companies to respond more reasonably to their clients, and to reduce their rates to be more competitive. The GOP says that Medicare is expensive. The fact is, that Medicare's administrative costs are far lower than any private health insurance plan.
Keep in mind, that privatised health care, introduces the model of profit (with expensive ads that we ultimately pay for). The whole point of profit, is to give as little as possible, for as much as possible. That's no way to address your health. Fun fact: The pharmaceutical industry is the single largest advertiser in America. This might be why the health care industry is spending 100 MILLION DOLLARS (1.4 million dollars a day) to lobby against and kill the public health care option. Their latest tactic is the "trigger option". Don't buy it.
And don't be fooled. Public health insurance DOES work well in Canada, England and France. Yes, one can always find an exception to harp on for political ends. When you research it, it becomes clear that the vast majority of people in these countries are quite satisfied with their health care. Notice that the opposition to public health care, is all about fear, scare, pessimism, status quo, defeatism. Ask about alternative ideas, and you hear silence. Fact is, approximately 73% of Americans want some version of a public health care option "like Medicare/Medicaid".
Another Republican talking point, suggests that a public healthcare option would take health care out of the hands of patients and their Doctors. In fact, that's exactly what we have now. We all know that insurance companies routinely deny coverage for tests, surgeries, and medications. I have personally experienced insurance company kangaroo appeal decisions, where they are the sole arbiturs of a judgement. As I write, though I'm insured by Aetna, I have to wait 6 weeks to see a neurologist that will accept my insurance.
You want to put a human face on this? My daughter was born this past September 28th with a recessed jaw. Her medical bills thus far are over a half MILLION dollars. She easily has another half million in surgery ahead of her. This is insanity. My 6 month old daughter should not be forced to live an obscene legacy of helplessly and unwittingly running her family into poverty. It simply breaks my heart.
It is woefully overdue for people to have a public health choice available to them. Yes, lobbyists and other rats are lining up to fight it, because lower costs, means lower profits for them. It's time they stop running the show. People have suffered enough. My wife and I have suffered enough. Damn the politics. It's time to act civilized. It's time for decency. People need to support Barack Obama's public health option, NOW.
But no person, including Barack Obama, can do this alone. He needs the will of the people. This means that he needs your two cents. A "letter to the editor", blogging, signing petitions. Many people putting in two cents will create the foundation, momentum, and mandate that Barack needs to press his case. We can do this historic thing. Yes we can. Let's go get em.
These days, one can't go many places without hearing about the need for Health Care Reform and Insurance Plan coverage with choice of a Public Option plan,as well.
Today was a day where groups of people all over the Unites States attended Events having to do with Health Care Reform. These events were all organized by volunteers. There was no compensation other than the fact that the events were successful. Since these events were successful then the argument that we don't need Health Care Reform becomes a false statement. Today was just more proof of how much we do need Health Care Reform, and it must include a Public Option.
There is something else that can be done to prove the need for Health Care Reform with a Public option. Many Doctors, Nurses and Health Care Workers,are supportive because they know it's needed and must happen now. The fact that forty seven million Americans,that includes working people are without insurance,threatens the very core of our Nation.To the concerned members of our prestigious Medical Profession,I submit this challange...
How about organizing your own "Health Care Day", in cities all around the United States and volunteering your time and your service. I'm not talking about a day where blood pressure is taken and weight is checked. I'm talking about a Health Care Day where Pap Tests and Mammograms for women without Health Care Coverage are given at no charge. A Health Care Day where prostate exams are given to men without Health Care Coverage at no charge.
A Health Care Day like this would bring out thousands of people, because they do not have health care coverage to afford these tests. That would prove once again, that there is an urgency and need for a Public Option to be included in Health Care Reform.
So, to all Health Care professionals, are you ready to show your support, and volunteer just as Middle Class Americans did all over the United States today? We, Middle Class Americans,are asking you to do, what we are doing on a regular basis,"A Day of Service".
This link is house Reps voting record for Energy Bill.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll477.xml
Thanks to Marilyn for this link
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090626/ap_on_go_co/us_climate_q_a;_ylt=AnYmv85GyvgydbrZiWQOSAE8KbIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJrb3E5bXViBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNjI2L3VzX2
ALL AREA CODES 202
STATE SENATOR TEL #
ALASKA MARK BEGICH 224 3004
ARKASAS BLANCHE LINCOLN 224 4843
" MARK PRYOR 224 2353
CALIFORNIA DIANE FEINSTEIN 224 3841
COLORADO MICHAEL BENETT 224 5852
" MARK UDALL 224 5941
DELAWARE THOMAS CARPER 224 2441
FLORIDA BILL NELSON 224 5274
INDIANA EVAN BAYH 224 5623
MONTANA MAX BAUCUS 224 2651
" JON TESTER 224 2644
NO.CAROLINA KAY HAGAN 224 6342
NO DAKOTA KENT CONRAD 224 2043
NEBRASKA BEN NELSON 224 6551
NEVADA HARRY REID 224 3542
OREGON RON WYDEN 224 5244
PENNSYLVANIA ARLEN SPECTER 224 4254
WASHINGTON MARIA CANTWELL 224 3441
WEST VIRGINIA ROBERT BYRD 224 3954
VIRGINIA MARK WARNER 224 2023
The reason I created this event was twofold.First out of respect for my "O" family.Secondly.in response to many paid TROLLS that literally invade our website.I am convinced that our passion to share ideas, information , frustrations,and disagreements have been purposely distractive and disrupted by the opponents to our Grass Roots Campaign.How do you know a Troll?Sometimes you won't right away.We have always attracted visitors that are lookin for answers,discussion and those who are just curious,and should never be dismissed as Trolls, because they offer resistance in a respectful way.If they are adamant and repetitive we know moving on to another thought is our way to disengage quietly,effectively. The abusive Trolls are obvious.They are insulting to BARACK.I don't mean questioning a decision or position,I mean abusive and insulting language.This dirisive behavior, name calling,etc is directed at the campaign and other bloggers as well.Hard to take I know, espiecially when we can let loose elsewhere to these miserable people.However,it has been proven that the most effective result is to ignore.No engagement,no discourse of any kind,just ignore.One can REPORT,IMMEDIATELY,but HQ is not always,immediate.Watch out for those Trolls that enter into an ongoing conversation or discussion, joining one side to engage abusively toward the other.Another trick. Thanks to all for keeping us focused on our Goal. OBAMA / BIDEN 08
I had to save this for my husband to see http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/25/171029/926/85/522655
