Posts Tagged ‘Health Care Reform’

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Where are the young people?

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

I went to a rally for Health Insurance Reform in San Diego earlier this month. The organizers did a great job with the event – it was high energy and between 100 and 200 people showed up. We sent a strong message that San Diegans want Health Insurance Reform NOW!

But, I left with one question: Where are the young people?

The crowd was overwhelmingly middle-aged and elderly. Make no mistake about it, it was a badass crowd. I was close to tears several times as cancer survivors, grandparents and parents of ailing children told their stories of tragedy and perseverance in the face of insurance company malice and unbridled greed.

But I was struck by how much larger the crowd could have been if we had been joined by the usual suspects at anti-war or pro-gay marriage rallies.

Health Insurance Reform is a youth issue. Its a Queer and Trans issue. An issue for folks of color. An issue for the poor. It should be a cause championed by each and every person concerned about social justice and the corporate takeover of some of our most fundamental institutions.

If health reform fails, the number of uninsured Americans could grow by 10 million people in just two years. Each year, we lose 45,000 people to deaths that could have been prevented with proper health coverage and care. Today’s young people will inherit this legacy tomorrow and suffer greatly if it is not addressed.

In short, Health Insurance Reform is an issue for everyone.

This bill is by no means perfect. In fact, its a far cry from the changes we need in order to create the type of system that is truly in the interests of the people. But it establishes the principle that health care is a right, not a privilege, and once that is established, its not easy to take it back.

We do not have the luxury of choosing between perfection and imperfection. True and complete justice is not (and never was) in our grasp this go around. If Health Insurance Reform gets the votes to pass, more people will be able to qualify for and afford health care, meaning that at least some people will receive treatment when they otherwise would not have and lives will be saved. If it doesn’t get the votes, we’re stuck with exactly what we have, which is unacceptable and unsustainable. These are the only two options on the table at this point in the game.

So, even if you have never gotten involved in or even cared about this issue, please take 2 minutes to call or email your Representative and let them know why Health Insurance Reform is important to you.

(And then check out these Immigrant Solidarity links to take action on behalf of our undocumented brothers and sisters, people who will likely be unjustly excluded from this reform to the extent that they will be barred from purchasing insurance even with their own money.)

If not now, when? If not us, who?

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Posted in Action Alert, Activism, Health Care, Immigration, Uncategorized, Youth, social justice | No Comments »

Final March to Reform – Days 3-5

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Organizing for America, President Obama’s grassroots organization, is entering the next phase of its Final March to Health Insurance Reform. This weekend, we are joining volunteers across the country at phone banks to activate the public in support of HIR.

Check out Organizing for America and plug in your zip code to find a phone bank near you.

Also, plan to take to the streets next week in a final push for strong, quality reform. I’ll be at the San Diego Civic Center on Tuesday at the end of the ALL ABOARD for Health Insurance Reform Rally to encourage Senators Boxer and Feinstein to fight hard for true HIR. Event details:

At 10:30 AM we gather at the south side of Santa Fe Train Depot located at 1050 Kettner Blvd. We will march as a group, proceeding south on Kettner, turning left on W. Broadway and proceeding for 8 block along Broadway,and turning left (north) on 3rd Ave for 2 blocks, to 1100 3rd, the entrance to Civic Center Plaza Concourse. Throughout the march, please carry your home-made sign in support of Health Insurance Reform. 

At 11:00, we will arrive at the Plaza Concourse, to hear the speakers in support health insurance reform.

After the speaking program, we will march back to Santa Fe Depot. If you are not taking the train, there is ample paid parking near the Depot at 1050 Kettner. If the walk is not convenient for you, there is ample paid parking next to the Plaza Concourse at the Civic Center.

The Tea Partiers did their part to sabotage Health Care Reform the first time around, and now its on us to do our part to fix it. Its not enough to criticize our politicians after the fact for things not going our way, especially if they are in conservative districts. We need to take action to make it politically viable for our representatives to vote the way they should.

So check out Organizing for America to find a phone bank or visibility event near you!

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Posted in Action Alert, Activism, Community Organizing, Health Care, Politics, President Obama, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Join the Health Care Truth Squad!

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

From Organizing for America:

Starting today, we’re launching an unprecedented week-long campaign sprint — our “Final March for Reform.” Each day until the vote, we’ll feature a powerful new way for OFA supporters to speak out in our communities and weigh in directly with Congress.

Today, we’ll start by spreading the facts about reform in our communities

You can download fact sheets and print out flyers in support of health care reform here.

Facts about Obama’s Health Care Reform Plan:

  • If you have health insurance through you’re employer, you can keep your coverage if you want
  • Small business owners will receive new tax credits for providing coverage to their employees
  • Medicare benefits will not be cut and the Medicare Trust Fund will be extended for 9+ years
  • Bans coverage denial based on pre-existing conditions
  • Bans arbitrary premium hikes

The Plan does NOT:

  • Establish Death Panels
  • Force you to change your plan
  • Cut Medicare benefits
  • Allow federal tax dollars to cover undocumented immigrants

While that last bullet is true, i think its bullshit. Its beyond disgusting to claim that health insurance is a right and then deny access to people that need it. The underlying racism and xenophobia behind this provision is a terrifying threat to the moral authority of this country and a stain on the conscience of each and every citizen.

And this is precisely why we must take action to pass health care reform. Because it is morally right to extend heath care access to anyone and everyone who needs it. And most importantly because it establishes a moral principle that health care is a fundamental human right. Once health care becomes a question of morality, it will be more difficult to justify the exclusion of people based on membership in any particular group. [Check out these immigrant-solidarity resources]

Crunch time has arrived. If we don’t push health care reform through now, we won’t have another chance for a long time.

So lets spread the word, call out the lies and get movin’ with the Final March For Reform!

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Posted in Action Alert, Activism, Health Care, Immigration, Liberalism, Politics, President Obama, social justice | No Comments »

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