Since the White House’s Reality Check site launched, we’ve seen incredible response from individuals eager to get the facts about health insurance reform and pass them along to family and friends.An ironic development is that the launch of an online program meant to provide facts about health insurance reform has itself become the target of fear-mongering and online rumors that are the tactics of choice for the defenders of the status quo.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/An-Update-on-Reality-Check/
The Indian Health Service will be fine and Native Americans will benefit
Kimberly Teehee, Policy Advisor for Native American Affairs at the White House Domestic Policy Council, debunks myths being spread about how health insurance reform will affect the Indian Health Service. To the contrary, reform will allow Native Americans to keep the care they have now and has benefits for every American.
Watch the Video
Reform will eliminate insurance discrimination against the disabled
Mike Strautmanis, Chief of Staff for Valerie Jarrett and father of a child with a disability, addresses the myth that health insurance reform will mean children with disabilities will not get the care they need. To the contrary, reform will make insurance more affordable, provide more options, and eliminate discrimination in purchasing health insurance so families won't be turned down if a parent or child has a pre-existing disability or other health condition.
The return of the viral email
There are quite a few "viral emails" floating around, making outlandish claims about health insurance reform and pretending to be careful analyses of the bills moving through Congress. Drafted to appear as if they are written by concerned citizens, more often the information comes from organizations with a strident agenda to protect the status quo. White House Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle takes on one of the most prevalent emails directly.
Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it
Kavita Patel, who works with Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett and who worked for years before as a physician, debunks the myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
The "euthanasia" distortion on help for families
Melody Barnes, the President's Director of the Domestic Policy Council, debunks the malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors.
Vets' health care is safe and sound
Matt Flavin, Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, explains that nothing in health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget greatly expands coverage for veterans who have been denied access in the past.
Reform will benefit small business - not burden it
Christina Romer, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform
Robert Kocher of the National Economic Council debunks the myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform would simply eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies.
You can keep your own insurance
Linda Douglass of the White House Office of Health Reform debunks the myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Weekly-Address-Real-Conversations-about-Health-Insurance-Reform/
The President talks about how the chatter and ruckus around health insurance reform on television obscures the reality of what's happening in America. He discusses how in most towns people and Members of Congress are having constructive conversations, and how people are learning how reform will help them and their families with the real problems they have faced with the insurance system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cqQl3lZzzE
We launched www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck this week to knock down the rumors and lies that are floating around the internet. You can find the information below, and much more, there. For example, we've just added a video of Nancy-Ann DeParle from our Health Reform Office tackling a viral email head on.
As an organizer for SEIU's Change that Works Campaign, I am working on building a network of community members who will engage Grand Forks in a conversation about Health Care Reform. I'm interested in hearing your take on one of the principles essential to successful Health Care Reform:
#2: Health Care for All Americans
Why do you think all Americans should be covered by Health Insurance?
Or do you disagree that we will all be better off, if all Americans have access to health care? I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Aaron Quaday
Grand Forks Organizer -- Change that Works
aquadaynodak0470@gmail.com
As an organizer for SEIU's Change that Works Campaign, I am working on building a network of community members who will engage in the Health Care Reform conversation here in Grand Forks.
I'm interested in hearing your take on one of the principles essential to successful Health Care Reform
#1: Ensuring Patient Choice of providers.
Do you have a story about your experiencs during a change in HMO or Health Insurer? Do you understand what needs to happen to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage or access to doctors?
I personally have attained health coverage through three different insurance companies over the past five years. Fortunately, I haven't felt like I needed to go to a doctor during the times that I was uninsured, with one exception. (A dog bite forced me into the ER when I lacked health insurance.) I'm not sure how I would have got through that situation had the dog's owner not had homeowner's insurance to pay for my lost wages and my hospital bills. I suggest you avoid breaking up fights between dogs, in general, although I was worried that my dog was going to seriously harm the other dog (who bit me while I was pulling my dog off him.) For those of you who are wondering: my dog was on leash, the other dog had dug under a fence and escaped its yard.
Since I haven't had a regular doctor for so long, I really don't know what it would be like to have a family doctor forever and then need to find a new doctor because of a change in HMO policy. What kind of complications arise? I'm interested to hear from you if you've ever found yourself in those circumstances.
By morning the wind had stopped and cold had set in. We got an early start and headed north to the Twin Cities. We stopped in Fargo for lunch with friends.
North Dakota was cold, but the roads were clear and we made good time. Dixie and I lived for 5 years in North Dakota and still feel at home in the Big Empty. Warmest people in the country.
We spent the night in Miles City, Montana, having driven 800 miles.
Early start this morning, as snow has moved in. Fought a light snow for 400 miles, across the passes and along the rivers, but made it home this afternoon.
Good trip. President Obama made it all worth the effort.
What a great job so far!!
I guess all the talk of a honeymoon was just talk. In reality, it seems the honeymoon was over even before the Inauguration. Perhaps, it is just a sign of the times? The Bush administration reacted too late on the economy, but managed to throw out a bunch more cash (No Strings attached), and cut interest rates to the bone (after credit markets were frozen). It leaves the incoming administration with few of the standard economic tools at their disposal. It all reminds me of how they went into Iraq, at least the throwing money around part! Oh well, the hole is deep but the American people know who dug it.
I'm more concerned about how we can help President Obama and the country climb out and fill in the hole. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't see "honeymoon" in the media coverage. In fact, it might be more like a bunch of hungry democrats at the grocery store, everything looks good! It's not going to be easy to pick out something everyone will like. I think he is going to do a great job of setting priorities, and has already kept campaign promises. You gotta love it!! When you don't like what's on the menu, just remember what you've been eating the last eight years.
We got out of Wheeling late. Dixie loves the casinos. I enjoy reading while she plays.
As we got a late start, we did not get very far and spent last night in Danforth, IL.
Today in Iowa we hit ground blizzards and thought we would try and get north of it. Didn't happen. We are stranded in Northern Iowa for the night.
We arose early yesterday and did a tour of Arlington Cemetray. What a place. Emma felt we had to visit since we were so close. This visit did delay our leaving DC by a couple of hours. Emma wanted to see Baltimore, home of Hair Spray, so we drove there first. And we drove there very slowly. The only heavy traffic we have had for the whole trip.
Then we stopped at Gettysburg to view the battle sight. Here we found out that we were probably too far from Pittsburgh for the Kids to catch their flights home and to college. I drove as fast as I dared, but we just missed their flights. We got them rescheduled for the 22nd and set up in a hotel at the airport (pricey, aren't they?) and drove to Wheeling, WV.
For those I have promised photos, I can not download them to this computer, so everyone will have to wait. Sorry.
The ObamaCart made the NY Times yesterday, so I guess we have arrived.
Sunday Jeff and Emma flew into Pittsburgh and Jeff's baggage was lost so we had to spend the night. Monday we got out late and drove to DC. We swung south and came in from the south east to avoid traffic. Missed our motel and wound up down town. Parked and spent a few hours on the mall. Then back to the motel. Very light traffic.
Then to the MYBO Grassroots Soical. Cheryl had given a power point on the Obamacart, so when we arrived with my wheel, we got a warm reception. Had a great time and returned to the motle around midnight.
This morning up before 5 and got a cab down to the mall. I wanted to watch the show from the Lincoln Memorial, but was over ruled so we moved. To the WWII Memoial where Emma and I found good seats. But, that was not to be either. Dixie and Jeff went to the Washington Monument and called us, so we joined them.
So, we watched our dreams come true from the cold, wind swept hill top which surrounds the Washington Monument. The crowd was so thinck you could hardly move, but not heavy enough to create enogh body heat to warm the place.
What a wonderful experience! It was everything I wished it would be.
Afterwards, we worked our way back out of the mall, across the river to Arlington Cemetary and caught the Metro then a cab back to the room. Tonight we are going out again, but nothing will ever top today.
I really do not know if anyone is reading these posts, but it will be a record if the aliens capture us.
This morning the roads were the pits. 30 miles an hour. Car is rotten in the snow or ice.
Made Pittsburgh. Jeff's luggage is lost, so we have a room in Pittsburgh for tonight. Staying at the Doubletree Hilton. Nice place
Tomorrow DC
Still have an extra room, it ayone cares.
if you need a place to crash let me know.
Another 620 miles done. Tough roads today. Right outside of Sioux City was a wreck. A truck pulling a trailer rolled. Truck went end over end. Trailer looked like a horse trailer to me, but I saw no horses. Four ambulances passed us going to the scene. Iowa was icy for 150 miles so we went slow. Didn't make Indianapolis, but came close.
Thanks to Laura, we stayed with her in Iowa when we were on our Obamacart tour, she is driving about one day ahead of us and keeps us up to date on weather.
Wind turbines in Iowa are impressive. Dixie and I like their looks, but I know some folks think they are ugly. Energy of the future.
Sign up for the grassroots ball.
Made it from Hardin< Montana to souix City Iowa today. Good roads. We are just following the storm. Folks tell us today is the first nice day in a week. The weather is sort of "Obalmy"
See you in DC
We are on the road again. Heading to Washington, only without the Obamacart. I do have a wheel which I am having people sign. We left Anaconda at 4:30 and are spending the night in Hardin, near the Little Bighorn Battlefield.
We still have a hotel room to get rid of, if anyone wants it.
Hello MYBO People,
The very first Grassroots Inaugural Ball 2009 -- originating right here in MYBO -- has a challenge for 40 people in our network of campaign volunteers.
We are trying to secure a venue in Washington that is convenient, on the Metro with space for more than 1000 people, and we are trying to do this for what is regarded as the inauguration that will be the most widely attended in our nation's history. Everybody wants to be there to witness this historic event and celebrate, and maybe nobody more so than those of us here on the MYBO listservs. Obama's Internet Army soldiers.
It's really, really hard to get space in Washington right now, and MYBO has done it. Almost.
So, The Challenge.
We are on the verge of signing a contract for a venue, and to do it we need 40 people to kick in $1,000 so that we can be ready with our check for the down payment before someone else beats us to it.
Your underwriting of the down payment not only assures us the space to hold our very own Grassroots Inaugural Ball 2009, it will cover $40,000 of our total budget. Think of yourselves as part of Barack's tax plan. That top 5% that will help to reduce ticket prices and make our ball more affordable for everyone--most especially for the 95% of MYBO who need a break after all the donating to the campaign!
What else will you get? You will receive:
What else, you ask?
The undying thanks and devotion of everyone who wants this ball to happen. You can also choose one of our sponsor gifts, once we figure out what they will be.
We need this as quickly as possible. Don't think it over. Reply right away to Russell Miller, our treasurer, at Russell@grassrootsballdc2009.com, and we go to contract to have a ball!
You don't have $1,000? That's okay.
If you have $500 to help us underwrite the ball, we can guarantee you:
And If you don't have five hundred dollars to get the ball rolling, don't worry. We'll be rolling out other sponsor levels, and tickets will be available shortly at a range of prices that make sense for every working American. (We revere the Constitution, but we're breaking the law of supply and demand.)
This ball is going to be for EVERYONE—or at least as many as the fire codes allow.
Thank you!
Jacqueline Ashton de Floris, Mary Ritter, Russell Miller
Members, Organizing Committee
PS: Money Where Our Mouth Is Department—All three of us are already in as sponsors. It's lonely out here, but we know it won't be for long. Join us!
PPS for shy folks: You can be anonymous sponsors if you like!
Today I could not put into words how proud I am to call my self an American, last night this great country went to the polls and decided to change the world. I could not imagine this moment in my wildest dreams. This moment of electing Barack Obama the next President of the United States shows exactly what this country stands for. Everybody is told when they are young that someday they can become President, and those words have never been more true then they are today. This is an event that will stand out among history as one of the defining moments not only in politics but in the history of the World. I am so proud of the people of this great Country who decided to take America in new direction. President Elect Obama’s campaign gave hope to every American from Pennsylvania to Ohio to California, people joined together to say that they wanted change brought to Washington. And I and every other American today, wish are next First Family the Obama’s well and congratulate them on a great campaign, and we are looking forward to the next four years and the change that is about to come to America. And we are also looking forward to the raise of the United States once again as being the most respected Country in the World, and what we American did last night was the first step in the rebuilding of the American image around the World.
President Obama! It has a nice ring to it!
What a great country we live in!
Vote on results to get results!!
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard!!
