An Email From Elizabeth Edwards

[babsbunny]

Dear friends,

(To those of you whom I'm writing for the first time: Hello! And welcome to the campaign!)

As you know, this month John announced his plan to guarantee every man, woman and child in this country the top-quality health care we all deserve.

But changes this big simply can't come from just the top down. That's been tried before, and it doesn't work. To get this done right, we've got to build support for universal health care in every city and town in America - and we've got to start today.

So this morning, I'm writing a letter to the editor of my local newspaper to share why I personally support John's plan for universal health care - and I'd like to ask you to write one too.

You can write and submit your own letter to the editor of a local newspaper using our online tool, and it only takes a few minutes. Just click the link below:

http://johnedwards.com/r/5953/250587

There's no need to be a policy expert - just speak from the heart.

Here's the letter I'm sending to the Chapel Hill News, my hometown paper:



Dear Editor,

I'm writing to share why I strongly support John Edwards' plan for universal health care, besides the reason that he is my husband.

America has the best health care in the world; we know this because people with complex and intractable problems, the most desperate patients from around the world come to America for treatment. But for too many Americans, that same high quality treatment is not available. Under John's plan, it would be.

John's universal health care plan guarantees every American health care, preserves freedom of choice and shares responsibility among individuals, employers and the government. But these broad principles don't tell the real story. The real story is personal and poignant, the stories of people who do not have health care coverage at all, like a young breast cancer patient I met from Alaska, or the people for whom a pre-existing condition means their coverage doesn't cover their most dire medical needs, like a woman I met in Ohio.

I'm one of the lucky ones. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had health insurance coverage, and I could afford care. When I found a lump in my breast, I never had to think about whether I could afford treatment. I simply got the treatment I needed. That should be true for every one of us. A nation that prides itself on equality cannot have me getting the best treatment available while a woman I met from Greensboro, N.C. has to depend on the kindness of strangers for her treatment.

It is not just that John's universal health care proposal will make our health care coverage system more efficient - though it will. It is not just that it will boost our economic productivity - though it will. It is not just that people stuck in jobs they do not like because they cannot lose their health insurance will now be free to change jobs or start a business - although they will. It is not even that it will provide pressure to stop the spiraling health care costs - though it does that, too. It is that the lives of the woman in Alaska, and the mother in Ohio, and the Greensboro breast cancer patient will be better.

And that's why I will work hard every day to make sure John's plan becomes a reality. And I hope you'll join me.
Please take a few minutes to write and send your own personal letter about why you support John's plan. Together, we can make universal health care a reality.

http://johnedwards.com/r/5955/250587

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Edwards

P.S. You can also help keep this campaign for change going by making a contribution online at: http://johnedwards.com/r/5957/250587

[benny05]

1. Good plan

But also Congress can make some noise with HR 636 that's been stuck for 3 years.

[dk2]

2. Letters to the papers and our reps.

This is one issue that would help so many. In the long run, with everyone having coverage really helps us all.

Elizabeth is a great example of what a great Frist Lady can do, just one thing by sending out communications and keeping this issue in the front. She is a great Lady.

[shireen]

3. i wish she was running .... nt

[Carolina Voice]

4. Great job Elizabeth

Always happy to recommend anything to do with Elizabeth. She will get the ball rolling on this IMO.

[stellanoir]

5. Happily offering up the 5th rec

for this lovely lady. She's one of the few heart centered voices we have. Bless her and wish she was running too.

[ripmolly]

6. ???

Didn't she used to post here?

[ultraist]

7. Yes

Elizabeth has posted here. She blogs at a lot of places, like DailyKos, MyDD, Huffington Post, The Edwards for President blog, etc.

And...for more on the Edwards HealthCare plan:

http://johnedwards.com/about/issues/health-care/

John Edwards has a bold plan to transform America's health care system and provide universal health care for every man, woman and child in America.

Under the Edwards Plan:

Families without insurance will get coverage at an affordable price.

Families with insurance will pay less and get more security and choices.

Businesses and other employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers.

The Edwards Plan achieves universal coverage by:

Requiring businesses and other employers to either cover their employees or help finance their health insurance.

Making insurance affordable by creating new tax credits, expanding Medicaid and SCHIP, reforming insurance laws, and taking innovative steps to contain health care costs.

Creating regional "Health Markets" to let every American share the bargaining power to purchase an affordable, high-quality health plan, increase choices among insurance plans, and cut costs for businesses offering insurance.
Once these steps have been taken, requiring all American residents to get insurance.

Read more about the plan here: http://johnedwards.com/about/issues/health-care-overview.pdf

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. she stopped when the radicals started acting inappropriately

I don't blame her.

[Harper_is_Bush]

8. How does she feel about compact fluorescent light bulbs?

Change 'em now, or later?

:evilgrin:

[Inspired]

10. Don't know but I do know she wants health care for all. n/t

[venable]

11. She is the very best

Nobody like her, and just the kind of inspiring, briliant, honest, frank person this country needs.

[Vinca]

12. I was such a huge Edwards supporter and now I'm so disappointed.

Insurance companies must be taken out of the mix. Just like Massachusetts is finding out, they say one thing and do another. The affordable premium quoted Massachusetts mysteriously morphed to double the price. There is no way in hell the insurance companies will cut their profits. If the Edwards' plan is instituted, they might offer low premiums, but they sure as hell won't offer decent coverage and that's the problem. Since I've gotten nowhere with my emails to the Edwards' campaign, I'll be confronting him at some point during the primary. Now is the time for Democrats to push single payer, universal care, not some Mitt-inspired baloney. And it goes without saying employers must be taken out of the mix.

[mnhtnbb]

13. Good for Elizabeth. Yes, I wish Edwards was pushing single payer

but at least they are tackling universal health coverage.

[JNelson6563]

14. K&R for Elizabeth Edwards

:kick:

[Porcupine]

15. Kick for Insurance company profits and job losses!!!

Whoo HOO !!

What, you don't think tying one more cost onto employers payrolls is a good idea? Right now the US needs to make labor MORE affordable than extra energy cost, outsourcing, or equipment. That means taking some of the tax burden OFF employment costs and shifting it elsewhere. Ask anybody from Detroit.

The insurance companies love this too because it doesn't eliminate their variety of confusing and non-paying health care plans. They get to pretend they are offering you insurance just up until the point where you need it. Then they do a credit check and see if you can afford to hire a lawyer to force them to pay. Good luck.

I'll take a single payer system thanks.