Summer's gone, school's back in. Holidays are around the bend. Yet change is on its inexorable path, waiting for no one. You've made an enormous impact, and the finish line for one historic change, health care reform, is in sight! Can you help make it the change you want to see?
You've all made thousands of calls, gotten your neighbors to sign tens of thousands declarations, you've sent thousands of emails. What did you achieve? For one, Sen. Maria Cantwell went from "no comment" on the public option, to public support for the public option. Sen. Patty Murray and many of our Representatives are also on board. Four of five committees have voted on a bill - and that has never, ever happened before.
Do you want to make sure they stand strong? The biggest hurdle is right up ahead. We expect the final of five committees, the Finance Committee, to vote on Tuesday. It could take a little longer - that seems to happen pretty often, right? But next is the full Senate and full House, then they have to reconcile their bills, then it's the final vote to send it to President Obama to sign.
You can imagine the bill you want will be signed. Go ahead. Imagine.
Hello, all, and welcome to my first OFA blog! My name is Jesse, and I work for the State of Alaska as an Office Assistant. I'm 26, a father, veteran, and a college student, now, as well! Very excited about that, getting my degree, finally, after being deployed twice.
But, enough about me. I've been following the health care debate intently, and it's annoying to listen to our elected (and recently resigned...ugh) officials at "health care town halls" where they do nothing but bash Obama. It's much easier than actually doing something to help those you represent, right, Sen. Murkowski? Easier than coming up with an alternative. If his plan is so awful, what have you got? Of course, they have nothing, which is why we only see negativity and attacks. If they ceased that, they would have nothing at all left to say. My hope is that we can organize here, and press them to cease this cynical "slash and burn" politics. If we let them continue, no one will win, because the only plan they've advanced is continuing the status quo (and their huge campaign contributions from corportate donors and interest groups).
So, my question is, readers, where are our efforts going? Do we have any efforts? I believe we should get a call operation going, a letter writing (handwritten, can't say that's astroturfed!) campaign, something! This issue is too important to cede to lie filled tv ads, politicans more concerned with their coffers than their constitutents, and insurance groups willing to do or say anything to preserve their profits. I feel awful just sitting here doing nothing, because "we're in a red state" or "They're Republicans, they won't listen to me about this." No excuse will hold up for me if I have to look in my son's eyes 10 years from now and explain why he can't be saved because Daddy isn't rich enough to afford his co-pay, or deductible, or premiums, or one of a hundred other things the insurance companies use to make sure they pay as little as possible for the care you supposedly "purchased" through them.
I know every single person that reads this either has some skin in this game, or has someone close to them who's been affected by our current for-profit system. I want to be able to say "Yes, I was there, fighting for what was right!" not "Well, it didn't look like we could do it, so I didn't try...sorry..." People have died because of our current system. More will die if we don't do something about it. We're closer now to real reform than ever before, to make a system where America leads in more than just costs. We have the most expensive care in the world, but 37th in overall health, 25th in wait time (except for that cash cow, cosmetic surgery) and this is just unacceptable! We've got insurance bureaucrats between us and our doctors, not to mention that they only make money when they make sure you DON'T GET CARE! Rationing for profit, and this is the "choice" that the other party wants us to have?
Bullshit. I won't be offered up by a cynical bought off party so some fat cat industry can continue making their 400% increases in profits at the expense of the sick and hurt. I won't stand by and listen to the lies about "rationing" while they deny 18 year olds cancer treatment until it's too late to save them.
What they don't want you to know is that we're winning. That's why the attacks have become so brazen, so filled with mis-information. The truth is on our side, and that scares them witless. We're closer to real, substantiative reform than ever before, and I want to be part of that final push to make this real. We can save lives, people. We can put money back into businesses, into Americans' wallets, instead of into the insurance industries coffers, where they'll happily spend 1.4 million dollars A DAY (yes, a day!) to kill reform, but not to save a person's life. We have the drive, we have the ability. LET'S SHOW THEM WHAT WE CAN DO!!!!
The Right Wingers are resulting to threats/violence and hate...We need to take charge and not stand there shocked....Take action....Yes, they are winning the attention war....We are losing the facts war because the legends that the RNC spins have become fact.....Thus, the myths become facts
Nazi Symbol AP News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_protests
Lou Dobbs threatens Dean:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/11/dobbs-apologizes-for-sayi_n_256728.html
I fear where this is going.....we need to stand up....National day of support....contact me people
varun22@yahoo.com
What are Harry Reid and the US Senate thinking? Delay of the Senate vote is a big disappointment, and significantly risking NOT getting this crucial job done at all. Democratic leaders need to STAND UP, at least on this issue.
If we can't do this now, then our democracy really has been bought and/or bullied by corporate America and the mean-spirited, small-minded, not-very-bright Republican base.
I have no job and no money (except limited SS funds for rent and health insurance!). I cannot even afford two of my non-generic prescriptions, and will be visiting a food bank next week. Thus, I cannot afford contributions or memberships in advocacy groups that care about ME (e.g., Common Cause, Move On, Obama's sites, etc.), as much as I would like to do so.
But I just printed out a call list from this Obama site (http://my.barackobama.com/page/community), and I will will be calling every name on it by the 8/6 deadline. And I have emailed Common Cause and Move On, entreating them to give us po' folks some can-do-from-home tasks to help. And I have emailed a list of legislators, urging them to help get cost-contained health-care reform (WITH a real public option) passed in both houses by August, or now at least by December; see "extended blog" below for a list based on one from Kaiser's Capital Hill Watch at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=57496 .
We have to do something. Please join me!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/health-care-action-center/?source=feature
On this site you can read through President Obama's main reasons for reform, watch the numerous videos available, and stay connected on current and future health care events. I strongly urge every one to pledge your support for Obama's agenda, take a few minutes to tell your health care story--even if you, personally, do not have a story, odds are you know someone who does. Share. Connect. Educate.
In addition, to sharing your personal story, please sign up to participate in a local event for the National Health Care Day of Service, on June 27th, 2009. There are many events in our area, that do not require much or any of your time, and all those who will benefit from your effort are tremendously grateful.
This is a critical tool Organizing for America has to connect with the general public and your participation is always greatly appreciated!
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Additional places to read the facts about Health Care reform, please visit:
www.healthreform.gov
This is a great site to read about many national initiatives, watch pertinent videos about the needs for reform, current news in health care reform, organized reports on specific areas, and other excellant resources to become/continue to be informed with the correct information about the need for real health care reform. There is a lot of false or misleading information bombarding the general public about health care reform, and it is so crucial for people to take it upon themselves to look at all the facts and make independant decisions.
*This is a non-partisan site developed and managed by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.*
If you are not the reading-type, please watch this PBS Frontline Documentary: "Sick Around America":
http://www.pbs.org/video/video/1099857730
It is about an hour long, but even if you only watch a little bit, it is still an in-depth look into America's current health care situation and why it should be reformed.
Oenajasm acmake
I have found the Government Comment email address for the Conscience Clause. LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL... but please be courteous! :) proposedrescission@hhs.gov
View related blog entry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXUMLQE9x3Q
View related Blog entry:
Remember above all this is an issue of protecting the rights of doctors against discrimination based on moral convictions. In violation of federal labor laws. It is not so much an issue of abortion or religion. However closely related lets stick to the issue.
You have strong convictions, but President Obama says that doesn’t matter. He’s ready to rescind the Conscience Clause.The Conscience Clause was implemented by former President George W. Bush to give physicians and nurses the choice to act according to their conscience — to not participate in abortion procedures if it conflicts with their personal convictions. If President Obama makes this damaging move, if he reverses the Conscience Clause, pro-life doctors and nurses will be forced into performing abortion procedures, despite their individual beliefs... more
Well, we got him elected and he was not only ready on "Day One," but, in action unprecedented, by beginning to set up his cabinet, etc. almost immediately. Awesome. He has kept us informed as he said he would, got a economic package up and passed in record time and doing his best to be bi-partisan. All of this and more while mourning for the loss of his beloved grandmother.
I hope everyone will be fair and give him a decent amount of time to prove himself. Remember, he is doing his best, within the laws of the consitution, to clean up the mess that was left behind. He still needs our help to organize and to put together action events throughout Iowa to help him and our communities nationwide.
The National Admin of the grassroots Community Action Network is a way we can keep supporting him and helping ourselves in the process.
If you live in Iowa please go to this site:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/IowaCAN
For further information click on 'Read More...'
Congratulations President Obama and may the Lord bless you with wisdom and justice and help you remain true to your course even when you have opposition.
In its final days, the Bush administration gave a gift to U.S. corporations by rewriting little-known rules that allow them to "import" foreign workers to fill jobs here.
Bush's changes make it even more attractive for businesses to hire foreign guestworkers — undercutting wages, opportunities and working conditions for all workers. This is especially troubling in today's economy.
These changes shred the few protections for H-2B guestworkers. And they're already taking a toll. Just last week, an appellate court in New Orleans cited the new regulations when ruling that an employer did not have to reimburse guestworkers for thousands of dollars in fees they paid to obtain low-wage, temporary jobs.
Foreign guestworkers don't have the same protections as U.S. workers, so they are vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers. In fact, they are routinely cheated out of their wages, and some are treated as modern-day slaves.
This abuse must stop!
We're working through the courts to stop the exploitation of guestworkers. But we need broader reforms that can only come from the federal government.
Please contact President Obama today and urge him to overturn the Bush rules and reform this program from top to bottom.
White House websiteSuggested message:President Obama, please rewrite the rules for the H-2B guestworker program. This fundamentally flawed program results in the systematic exploitation of workers and gives incentives to U.S. businesses to bring in vulnerable foreign workers, undercutting wages, opportunities and working conditions for all workers.
White House website
Suggested message:President Obama, please rewrite the rules for the H-2B guestworker program. This fundamentally flawed program results in the systematic exploitation of workers and gives incentives to U.S. businesses to bring in vulnerable foreign workers, undercutting wages, opportunities and working conditions for all workers.
Thank you for support,The Southern Poverty Law Center
We welcome your feedback.Contact us online.Or by mail:Southern Poverty Law Center400 Washington Ave.Montgomery, AL 36104
Wonderland of Opportunity…
I woke up this morning to a winter wonderland. It had snowed all day yesterday and then well into the night. Heavy, white snow clung to tree branches, bushes, rooftops, and decks. A clean white carpet covered the earth. A scene this pure and innocent was created not by the hand of man but was there for him to gaze upon with wonder. It would be but a brief display, for the sun shone brightly this morning and soon its’ warming glow would melt the multitude of snowflakes that had created this awesome scene.
I dressed quickly, grabbed my camera, and headed for the cold outdoors. This was the photographic opportunity I had waited for all winter. The realities of politics, the sagging economy, and the hungry mouths around the world could so easily be forgotten here. In a few short hours, the snow had covered all the ugliness of the world and the conflicts of its people. Oh, if only the answer to our woes were that simple. But what if we took only a clue from this wonder of nature? Our moments of opportunity are only short and fleeting. I want a better world for my children and grandchildren. Together we can change the realities of today and make for a better tomorrow.
