Posts Tagged ‘insurance companies’

Punish the Democrats Who Are Killing The Public Option

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Its hard to express how angry I am at the “Democrats” in the Senate Finance Committee who voted against the amendments to add a public option to their version of the Health Care Reform legislation.

We are in the middle of a financial crisis caused by greedy corporations and power-hungry politicians that has devastated communities across the world.

Preventing the creation of a public option that would hold private companies accountable in the name of keeping costs down is nonsensical. Blocking health care reform in order to protect insurance company profits is disgusting. And doing so as a representative of the Democratic Party is inexcusable.

Democrats who betray the ideals of their own party and disregard the wishes and best interests of their constituents deserve to be held accountable.

There are many ways to strike back against this betrayal of the people’s interests and I encourage everyone taking action on this issue to share their tactics far and wide. One way is to contribute to ActBlue’s “Hold Max Baucus Accountable” ad campaign. Their goal is to raise $200,000 to air the video below [as well as one targeting Republican Senator Olympia Snowe] in Montana and Maine.

Can’t contribute right now? Check out Health Care for America Now’s Action Center to speak out or get others involved!

Whatever we do, we can’t give up. We need to continue to ask the question that Bing asks in the ad above:

Senator Baucus, when you take millions of dollars from health insurance interests that oppose reform and oppose getting families like mine the choice of a public option, I have to ask, who’s side are you on?

Protect Insurance Companies PSA

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Who said activism can’t be fun and hilarious? Clearly not the folks at Funny or Die:

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

That said, pick up the phone and call your Congressional Representatives at (202) 224-3121 and demand a strong public option! Already done it? Forward this video to someone who hasn’t. Let’s make this thing viral!

The fight for universal health care in San Diego

Monday, May 4th, 2009

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Last weekend I went to a Health Care Town Hall Forum hosted by the Health Care For America NOW! campaign. Congress member Susan Davis was there to both hear from the audience and explain what she’s working on to secure universal health care before the end of this year. Here’s some of what i took away from the event:

THE FACTS

  • Over 1/4 of San Diegans in Susan Davis’ district are without health insurance, compared to 20% statewide and 17% nationwide. These statistics were taken before the recession.
  • 3 of every 5 Californians have health insurance through their job
  • Premiums are on the rise and more and more people are losing their jobs – things will only get worse without fundamentally changing the system.

ACCORDING TO SUSAN DAVIS

  • President Obama’s top priority is Health Care Reform this year 
  • 190 members of congress signed the core principles that everyone deserves quality and affordable health care.
  • The President is depending on [community members and activists] to make the case” for affordable, universal health coverage

 

ACCORDING TO DR. RICK KRONICK (PROF FROM UCSD)

  • Allies matter – we need as many communities and organizations working together as possible
  • Money always matters 
  • Focus on the bottom line – whats really important
    • at this point, getting everybody covered matters more than the type of program (single-payer vs. private-public options)

MY REFLECTIONS:

  • We will see massive changes to the health care system by the end of this year; the question is what kind of change and how 
  • Insurance companies are dominating the discussion
  • The fight for affordable, high quality health coverage for all Americans will not be won without community involvement and advocacy 

Americans have been desperate for quality health care for years. It was in 2003 that Immortal Technique, activist and hip hop artist, spit the words that characterized the US health care system:

“A generation of babies born without healthcare, families homeless; thrown the fuck of the welfare”

Six years later the story isn’t much different except for one thing–we have a real shot to turn things around. The question is will we deliver.