This Thanksgiving, Jonathan and I have much for which to be thankful:
We are thankful for you, our volunteers. We are thankful for your tireless efforts slightly more than a year ago to elect Barack Obama as President. And we are especially thankful for your on-going support of health insurance reform.
Because of all you do, this Thanksgiving Jonathan and I are sending you a warm and heartfelt, “Thank you.” Your work has made real change possible in Alaska and across the United States.
Now that we are moving into the crucial stages of passing health insurance reform, we need you more than ever. Please join with other Alaskans who have committed to doubling their efforts for ensuring that health insurance reform passes by calling our members of Congress, writing letters to the editor, and taking other urgent actions.
Will you join our Rapid Response Teams?
By being on a Rapid Response Team, you can show your thanks for and commitment to all that has already happened and all that will happen for health insurance reform. Please join other Alaskans on Rapid Response Teams this holiday season and help us pass health insurance reform.
Happy Thanksgiving!
…continued from Part 2: Pursuing the American Dream...
In the two previous postings, we've seen how Alaskan small business owners try to cope with or eventually crash because rising health care costs impact their business's bottom line. This struggle cannot go on any longer. Enacting health insurance reform helps Americans who own or want to start small businesses.
So what is health reform going to do for small businesses?
President Obama and several members in Congress have listened to us and thought long and hard about what the best ways are to guarantee that small businesses have quality, affordable, secure, and stable coverage. As a result, reform will help small businesses by:
Health insurance reform helps people like Alex and all the thousands of other small business owners and employees and families in Alaska. We cannot afford to wait for health insurance reform any longer.
Congressman Young chose not to vote for the House version of the health insurance reform bill. But he can still make that wrong right. Call Congressman Young now and ask him to do something that helps Alaskan small businesses: Ask him to vote for the final Health Insurance Reform Legislation.
As exciting as it is that a majority of members of the House passed their health insurance reform bill, we still have more to do. We need you now more than ever. We need to get a filibuster-proof bill through the Senate. We need to see the Senate bill combined with the House bill so that the House and the Senate can vote on the same bill. How do you help make all this happen? It's simple.
Call Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young TODAY and let them know you want them to help Alaska, our small businesses, and our families by voting for health insurance reform.
When we work together, we can achieve the American dream.
…continued from Part 1: Pursuing the American Dream…
Alaskans want to pursue the American dream, and they shouldn't have to choose between starting a business and keeping their health insurance.
Alaskan small business owners and employees know - and we know - that they play a crucial role as job-providers and community-builders in Alaska. In fact, there are a quarter million private-sector jobs in Alaska, and approximately half of these jobs are at businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
However, in Alaska, 75% of small businesses do not offer health insurance coverage. This means that any full-time employee working for a small business runs a 3 out of 4 chance that she will not be provided employer-based health insurance.
This is an unnecessary hardship for Alaska's small businesses and all the people whose lives they touch. But the small business owners in Alaska still want to do the right thing. I hear the same statement over and over from them:
"I want to do the right thing. I want to offer my employees health coverage."
But the sad truth is that they often cannot. They know it's the right thing to do, and they also know that when their employees thrive, their companies thrive.
So why is it so hard for Alaskan small businesses to offer health insurance and to compete with big businesses?
Small businesses pay 18% more than larger businesses for the same health insurance plan, and 26 cents out of every dollar they pay into health insurance goes to paying for things like executive compensation, bonuses, marketing, and paperwork.
To make matters worse, because health care is so expensive for Alaskan small businesses, Alaska's premiums have increased by 145% in the past ten years. This hurts our economy. Instead of supporting small businesses, Alaskans are often pushed toward buying products from the big businesses. When we buy from big businesses, money is siphoned out of Alaska and our hard-earned money is used to subsidize the economic growth of other states.
Alaskans deserve better than this. You can do something to help make sure that small businesses stay strong in Alaska. Write a letter to the editor explaining how small businesses impact your life and why health reform will make them stronger.
Supporting health reform means supporting Alaska’s small businesses.
…to be continued.
When Alaskans dare to pursue the American dream, they face the question:
"Should I start my own business, or should I keep my job that has health benefits?"
Alaskan small business owners know that the cost of health care is unaffordable. Not only do the owners and the employees pay huge premiums, but the small businesses have a hard time growing and competing with big businesses.
Watch Alex K., a small-business owner in Anchorage, talk about her experiences struggling to expand her business because she does not have access to affordable, quality insurance.
Like Alex, you may be the person who works for a small business but do not have access to affordable, quality health care. Or maybe it's your child or your friend. Or maybe you are an Alaskan who has seen one of our treasured small businesses close their doors because they simply can't compete with another new big business. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, one thing is certain:
We need Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young to support Alaskans by voting “yes” on the health reform legislation.
Health insurance reform will make it easier for small businesses to compete with big businesses, to offer health insurance benefits for their employees, and to grow their businesses - all of which help Alaskans.
So how can you help? Call the members of Congress and tell them your story.
It's stories - like yours and Alex's - that make our requests to Alaska's members of Congress powerful and urgent. Organizing for America is continuing to work with you to highlight the stories of small business owners who have a difficult time paying for and keeping health insurance coverage for their employees.
So tell your story. Call Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young NOW to let them know you support health reform legislation because it helps Alaska's businesses and Alaska's families and that you want them to vote for the health reform that reduces costs, guarantees choice, and ensures quality care for all Americans.
Together, we can make health care work for all Alaskans.
Community Organizers are the foundation of Organizing for America, not only around the country but here in Alaska too. These people fill a vital role within OFA’s structure by building and expanding volunteer leadership and activities in their part of town to support President Obama’s policy agenda.This week I got to sit down with Karolina Bednarska, a 25 year-old from Anchorage, to get her thoughts on why she got involved in OFA and then decided to sign-up to be a Community Organizer.First, Karolina, tell me a little bit about yourself.
I work for a small, local business here in Anchorage, primarily in the field of marketing and database analysis. I would describe myself as a quirky, passionate, and intelligent young female who is interested now – more than ever – how I can contribute to my community on both large and small scales.
What are some of the issues that matter most to you and why?
Right now, health insurance reform is the most important issue for me, as it is with many Americans. The more I get involved and become more educated about the issue, the more determined I am that we need major changes in our current health care system. It's not a system that benefits everyone, but only those that seem privileged enough to afford it. I don't believe at all that this is a fair system.
Can you give me a sense about how long have you been involved in something Obama-related – whether with the Obama campaign in 2008 or OFA-Alaska?
Does reading about President Obama a lot count? (At this point, Karolina laughs.)Seriously though, I just recently became involved with OFA on a committed-volunteer basis – I guess it’s been about two months now. I followed the Obama campaign closely but never really thought about volunteering. Watch Karolina talk about volunteering with OFA.For me, going from not really knowing about OFA, to volunteering with you all, to being a Community Organizer went something like this:After Alex (a mutual friend) introduced us and we chatted about some current political issues and grassroots organizing, I really felt like I needed to find out more about OFA. So I decided to “friend” OFA-Alaska on Facebook. About a week later, I saw you guys were having a training on health insurance reform and decided to go. I guess that training is ultimately what sold me on getting involved in a large-scale capacity.
Does reading about President Obama a lot count? (At this point, Karolina laughs.)
Seriously though, I just recently became involved with OFA on a committed-volunteer basis – I guess it’s been about two months now. I followed the Obama campaign closely but never really thought about volunteering. Watch Karolina talk about volunteering with OFA.
For me, going from not really knowing about OFA, to volunteering with you all, to being a Community Organizer went something like this:
After Alex (a mutual friend) introduced us and we chatted about some current political issues and grassroots organizing, I really felt like I needed to find out more about OFA. So I decided to “friend” OFA-Alaska on Facebook. About a week later, I saw you guys were having a training on health insurance reform and decided to go. I guess that training is ultimately what sold me on getting involved in a large-scale capacity.
Sometimes people who want to get involved with OFA feel like they don’t know much about volunteering or worry that they don’t know how to talk to other Alaskans about political issues. What would you say to them and what tips have you gotten that make your efforts successful?
I really like the way OFA focuses on individual neighborhoods. It makes it easier to talk to people because you are talking to people who live near you. Somehow that just makes it feel more comfortable. Then, as I meet other individuals from my part of town who support President Obama and his goals, it feels like together we can contribute to and work on the changes that need to take place if we are going to get health insurance reform – and also if we are going to stand up for President Obama's vision for change for the US.OFA really gives people an outlet where they can have a voice on issues. If you want to be heard, volunteering with OFA is the best way to go. They suggest things you can do to make your voice heard and help you feel prepared to talk to other Alaskans – whether they are neighbors or our members of Congress – about health insurance reform.
Karolina has a message for you: Click here to hear what she has to say!
Are you ready to join Karolina as a volunteer for OFA? Your voice – and thousands of other Alaskans – will make a difference.
Doctors from all 50 states gathered together at the White House yesterday for an event to show their support for health insurance reform. Alaska was fortunate to have three health care professionals represent us at the discussion with the President, and one of the doctors invited is a committed and active volunteer with our Organizing for America team.
Listen to President Obama's comments to the doctors at the event in the Rose Garden at the White House.
Monique, like most Alaskans, knows that paying for sky-rocketing health care costs and finding a doctor in Alaska are not easy tasks. Over the last decade, when compared to the other 49 states, Alaskan families saw the greatest rate of increase for their health insurance premiums.
Our wages increased by only 35%, but our families’ health insurance premiums increased by 145%.
Let me put it another way: As an Alaskan, for every extra dollar you earn, you have to pay three more dollars for your family's health insurance premium.
We had a chance to catch up with Monique while she was in Phoenix, boarding a flight back to Anchorage. She told us all about her visit to the White House.
Tell us a little bit about your visit. When did you find out you were going? When did you arrive? Had you been to Washington, D.C. before?
I was invited and confirmed to attend just on Friday, but I didn't get to D.C. until 7 am this morning.When I arrived at the White House, I was admitted through the Visitor's Gate, and the Secret Service greeted me and took me on a private tour of the White House, which was amazing. President Obama talked to us at 11:00. It was incredible to be one of a few people who got to hear the President talk about health insurance reform. I know that as a doctor, as an Alaskan, and as an American it was exciting to be there with other doctors who support President Obama's Health Reform Plan. This issue is so important to so many Americans -- and it’s as important to me as a doctor in Alaska.I wish I could have stayed longer because I've only been to Washington, D.C. once before when I was in high school. Pretty much right after the event at the White House, I had to head back to the airport to catch the long flight back home to Anchorage.
I was invited and confirmed to attend just on Friday, but I didn't get to D.C. until 7 am this morning.
When I arrived at the White House, I was admitted through the Visitor's Gate, and the Secret Service greeted me and took me on a private tour of the White House, which was amazing. President Obama talked to us at 11:00. It was incredible to be one of a few people who got to hear the President talk about health insurance reform. I know that as a doctor, as an Alaskan, and as an American it was exciting to be there with other doctors who support President Obama's Health Reform Plan. This issue is so important to so many Americans -- and it’s as important to me as a doctor in Alaska.
I wish I could have stayed longer because I've only been to Washington, D.C. once before when I was in high school. Pretty much right after the event at the White House, I had to head back to the airport to catch the long flight back home to Anchorage.
Of course, we’re all excited to hear that a fellow-Alaskan got to go to the White House. So the obvious question is: Did you get to speak with the President or any other noteworthy person?
No, unfortunately I did not get to meet President Obama. But I did get to talk to a lot of other amazing doctors.
In your conversations with other doctors, what was one of the most compelling reasons you heard about why we need health reform now?
Interesting enough, the reason I couldn't go to the White House until Monday morning was because I am the pediatrician for a new set of twins whose family had serious problems with their insurance company as they were trying to get care for their new babies. Additionally, when I took a taxi to the airport, even my cabdriver told me about his problems with getting health care.I know I have story after story -- like each doctor at the White House and doctors all over the US -- about patients struggling to get the health care they need. I think every person knows their reasons for why Americans need health reform, and your reasons are as good as mine.
Interesting enough, the reason I couldn't go to the White House until Monday morning was because I am the pediatrician for a new set of twins whose family had serious problems with their insurance company as they were trying to get care for their new babies. Additionally, when I took a taxi to the airport, even my cabdriver told me about his problems with getting health care.
I know I have story after story -- like each doctor at the White House and doctors all over the US -- about patients struggling to get the health care they need. I think every person knows their reasons for why Americans need health reform, and your reasons are as good as mine.
As you come back to Alaska from this meeting, what do you think is the most critical thing Alaskans can do to get real reform?
I've been a supporter of health reform for a long time, and I think President Obama's plan to fix the broken system is the best I've seen. I believe that every Alaskan needs to continue having conversations about what real health reform will do for our state and even more importantly our own families. As more and more people become aware that we each know someone harmed by the current system and that our President has a plan, supporters of health reform need to take bigger steps to talk to other Alaskans and tell Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young that we want real health insurance reform passed this year.
Like Monique said, the best thing Alaskans can do to get health reform that helps Alaskans get quality, affordable health care is to call Senator Begich, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young. Make your voice heard NOW and let your members of Congress know that you support real health reform.
I always appreciate when people are direct with me. In fact, I think this is one of the reasons that I love Alaska so much. During my time living in Alaska - and especially working in Alaskan politics - I've realized that all Alaskans have at least one thing in common:
Alaskans like straightforwardness.
We appreciate when we get what we expect - whether it's from a person, a news source, or an organization. Here in Alaska, Organizing for America intends to give YOU just that: straightforwardness.
When you visit this blog or when you talk to me, Jonathan, or one of our amazing Organizing for America's volunteers, you can expect that we will give you up-to-date, clear information about how you can join with other Alaskans to talk to your neighbors and your members of Congress about the issues that matter most to you, such as health insurance reform.
Jonathan Teeters, Alaska's State Director for Organizing for America, works hard to hear from and respond to the concerns of all Alaskans.
I've been lucky enough to work as an organizer with Alaskans for about 5 years. What I've learned is that most people want to have a voice in these important discussions and a hand in shaping the outcomes.As I've worked alongside you, I've come to understand that my most pressing task is to find creative ways to make your voice count day-in and day-out. This happens when Alaskans join together and share their thoughts and ideas - and maybe more importantly, it happens when YOU feel like your voice mattersI ultimately see myself as a facilitator, as the person who listens to each and every concern and works with you to find the most effective way to address it constructively in your community.
I've been lucky enough to work as an organizer with Alaskans for about 5 years. What I've learned is that most people want to have a voice in these important discussions and a hand in shaping the outcomes.
As I've worked alongside you, I've come to understand that my most pressing task is to find creative ways to make your voice count day-in and day-out. This happens when Alaskans join together and share their thoughts and ideas - and maybe more importantly, it happens when YOU feel like your voice matters
I ultimately see myself as a facilitator, as the person who listens to each and every concern and works with you to find the most effective way to address it constructively in your community.
You can count on Jonathan being straightforward with you, and you can count on me (Sarah Mouracade, Alaska's Regional Field Director) being straightforward with you. This value - being open and direct, being straightforward - is embedded in Organizing for America. It guided Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008 and continues to guide Organizing for America as we support President Obama's policy agenda and build a grassroots network of supporters throughout Alaska. If you haven't heard our mantra, let me share it with you now. I think it applies:
“Respect. Empower. Include.”
When Jonathan and I sit down and talk about the ideas and questions you share with us, we use this mantra to influence how we work with YOU. We want to be available to you, and we want to think about the most effective ways to reach out and include YOU in Organizing for America.
So when I say that we seek to be “straightforward” with you, what does that mean?
On Alaska’s blog for Organizing for America, you can expect to get:
So stay tuned. Check in often. And – as always – shoot your questions and/or ideas our way.
We’re listening.
For more information about Organizing for America and to learn how you can support President Obama, click here.
