Kerry at Faneuil Hall July 31: Fixing Health Care

[whometense]

Dear Whometense,

On July 31, I hope you'll join me to wade into a debate that underscores everything that's at stake here at home -- the struggle for health care that works for everybody.

Few problems in our country have remained more intransigent, or have found less political leadership willing to tackle them, than health care.

While Washington remains cautious, the problem gets worse. Over the last six years, six million more Americans have joined the ranks of the uninsured. Right now there are more than 46 million people uninsured in this country, including 11 million children. In the last five years health insurance premiums have gone up 73 percent. Health care costs for a family of four now cost more than a minimum wage worker earns in a year.

Health care related costs are the number one cause of personal bankruptcy, and for millions of Americans with care, the costs are going through the roof while the benefits keep getting squeezed. We've gone from an economy where our parents could count on a job coming with health care to an economy where many companies that do provide health care struggle to remain competitive while other big companies are deciding not to provide health care at all.

We can't afford to tinker around the edges. We need to take the health care issue head-on.

Join me at noon on July 31 at Faneuil Hall so we can jumpstart the dialogue we need to have about health care in America. Please arrive by 11:30 a.m. Tickets are free.

Join the discussion: RSVP to attend on July 31.

Faneuil Hall is the birthplace of American democracy -- the place where the big issues have been confronted, not avoided. That's why I'm returning to Faneuil Hall to talk about health care. Your support and encouragement for our shared vision of a stronger America is critical. We need to make it clear that we won't allow Washington or Wall Street to ignore the health care crisis any longer.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you on Monday, July 31.

Sincerely,

John Kerry

[TayTay]

1. Can Whome come out and play on Monday? Please?

It would be fun. I can go. (Cuz of that weird, this year only, time-off thing at work.)

I can go. Who else can be there to see this?

We have learned that only one person can live-blog from Faneuil Hall at a time. So, we need one person with a lap-top. I love doing this, but greatly fear that I am hogging all the 'blogging glory' for myself, so would be happy to:

Live-Blog this
Support someone else who wants to learn how to live-blog events
Sit in the audience and have a good time and take pictures
Ahm, kibbutz with people.

What say you?

EDIT: And I don't even feel guilty because other people have seen the illustrious taller MA sen in other locales since I last saw him. (And it will have been more than a whole month since I have seen him, btw. )

[whometense]

2. Not sure...

Have a work thing that day, but I might be able to cut out for a few hours and then return to the office.

And don't worry about the blogging glory - you're welcome to it, whatever there is of it. ;-) I'd prefer the preview job, anyway.

[TayTay]

5. Please, it would be so cool

I haven't seen yuhz for awhile. It would be fun. And it's the Senator and Faneuil Hall and like, fun, and stuff. Honest. Please. (Don't make me beg.) Missed you last time. (sniff, sniff.)

[Blaukraut]

7. What Tay said, whome!

Come on, we really miss you. Surely you can 'skip work'for a bit?

[whometense]

8. Awwww....

Gosh. I feel so wanted. :-) I'm reserving a spot, and I'll try to make it happen. How early did you need to be there last time? I've forgotten.

[TayTay]

10. Last time the speech was at 11:00.

This time it's at noon. So, we don't have to be there until 10:30 or so. (Last time I was there at 8:30 because I had to drive family members around first and such. Sigh! I did get to watch the interns handing out flyers and watch staff people amble in and stuff. But I would rather arrive a bit later.)

PM and we could work it out and get you back to the office later on.

T'would be nice to see ya!

[Blaukraut]

3. I'll be there, naturally. lol

As to the laptop - I'm working on getting one soon. Probably in a couple of months. Until then, I'll gladly do what I did last time. No matter what, we'll be there for the speech, right? Oh, I'll probably bring along the kidlet. Trying to get her involved in politics a bit more.

[TayTay]

4. Sounds great.

I will see you there. And these appearances at Faneuil Hall are getting addictive. I love doing them. But I want to make sure that anyone who wants to do the live-blog can learn how. It serves the greater purpose of giving people exposure to various ways of helping. We might just find a prodigy. (Well, you never know until you try.)

Just write and say, gee, I'd like to try and do that, sounds interesting. There are other things that need doing as well, including write-ups for other forums and blogs. AND PICTURES. We cannot, after all, exist without pictures. It's as necessary as, ahm, well, coffee and online video.

Come one, come all. Bring coffee.

[Blaukraut]

6. Totally agree with you!

So, people with laptops and speedy fingers should apply within this thread :-)

[whometense]

9. I'll volunteer for the

speech markup job, if no one else wants it.

[cadmium]

22. I plan to be there

I will be taking a train out of Haverhill and hope to be there on time.

[TayTay]

24. Wonderful!

The 'bloggers table' is at the back of the Hall, conveniently located not too far from the doors. (And the rest rooms. Well, I like it.)

Pleae, please, please, stop by. It is always a pleasure to meet people from this forum and it is doubly so at a 'Kerry event.' Stop by, say hello, ask us what we are doing, how we do it, etc. Happy to answer any questions that I can. (There is no mystery to how this is done, though apparently being a fast typist is a big help. I have solemnly sworn not to live-blog this like I did the Bolton hearing. There will be no 'word' moments. I will be serious, in as far as I am capable of it.)

BTW, I am looking for some help with pictures. Experience has taught me that I can't 'live-blog' and snap pictures at the same time. I have a digital camera, I still need someone to snap pics so we can upload them here and to other websites later. (See, we put everyone to work when they show up. Yankee thrift on display.) Bring a camera!

[blm]

13. How old is kidlet?

.

[Blaukraut]

14. two kidlets, actually

Oldest just turned 21. She voted in 04, but isn't as informed and interested in politics as I'd like. She's the one I may bring along. The other one will be 18 in October - also in time to vote this upcoming election. She is more interested in the plight of humanity, but not too politically astute yet.

[kerrygoddess]

15. My daughter loves this stuff...

I started dragging her with me when she was 14 and she loves it.

[Blaukraut]

17. Unfortunately, mine is a late bloomer

She is still very immature and impressionable. It's partly my fault, but that's a long story. I'm holding out hope for her still, but some people may never be the way we'd like them to be. Sigh. Hopefully a good, up-close dose of John Kerry will serve as a wake-up call :-)

[TayTay]

19. Your daughter and mine should hang out

My daughter is not political. I could bring her, but I deeply suspect she would sneak out and go to the stores at Quincy Market. Hmmm, tempting, but we shall see.

[blm]

18. Sounds like they're on their way to getting more involved, and once

that happens there is no turning back. ;)

[Luftmensch067]

11. I'm hoping to be there

Probably early, following my recent pattern!

[TayTay]

12. Has anyone heard from DynamicDems lately

We have not seen her around. I wonder if she is on vacation.

If you are around DD, let us know. We would like to hear from you.

[kerrygoddess]

16. Let me know what I can do from the left coast! N/T

[TayTay]

20. We will.

The best way, given the poor connectivity we will have there (thru mid-'07 anyway, sigh) is probably to have a write-up and send it along, with some pics, as soon as possible after the event. Is that okay?

We can barely, just barely get a very low signal out of that building. We can't even have two laptops near each other because, for some reason I can't figure out, they seem to cancel out each other's 'net access. Sigh! So we have one internet connection that is s-l-o-w. Those old buildings in Boston are beautiful and historic but the Founding Fathers & Mothers didn't put in anything to allow for all the tubes and stuff the internet needs. Geez.

Thanks for asking on this. Is there anything on this end? The biggest tie-up afterwards is getting the pics down to a usuable size. What size is best for most websites, so people who do take pics can have them 'web-stie ready' that afternoon?

[kerrygoddess]

21. PM me

let me know when's a good time to call you...

[kerrygoddess]

27. Pics & What not

The Dem Daily can handle pics that 400 pixels in width

[TayTay]

29. Gotta. Will be sent up as soon as possible

This might not be until after we get home and are able to choose, resize and send pics. Will do so as soon as connectivity is regained. (Time being a critical issue. Sigh! Boston is scheduled to be fully wireless accessible sometime next year or so. I wish it was this year. I have to go home, 40 miles north of Boston, to regain access to the web.)

[ginnyinWI]

23. Have fun, ladies!

And let us unluckier ones know all about it. :)

[wisteria]

25. Yeah, I'll second ginnyinWI's request! n/t

[TayTay]

26. We will do our best.

'tis an honor to go. 'tis an honor to go and report back and, hopefully, give you good people a sense of what it was like.

As ever, I just hope I don't screw it up. (Well, who died and made me...., ah, you know what I mean.)

Thanks for the encouragement. Whome, LevensonK and Yours Truly will be at the 'bloggers table' for this speech. It should be fun. (And a challenge. I have homework to do tonight. I love nothing better than reviewing health plans from Democrats for hours whilst watching a Red Sox game. Honest. Swear-to-Gawd. It appeals to my wonky soul.)

[globalvillage]

28. Good luck to you all.

And to Sen Kerry, of course.

Oh, shit. Do you say good luck or break a leg before a speech? Certainly don't want anyone to break anything. Good grief. I just get so worked up before a big speech.

I doubt I'll be able to join in the excitement tomorrow, but I'll be thinking of you all, and anxious to read what I'm certain will be an incredible report of an absolutely fabulous speech (how could it be otherwise?).

So, for you guys and for him:

:applause: :applause:

:yourock: