Alright DUers, here's a chance for us to help with healthcare reform.

[kjackson227]

President Obama is asking us to notify our community newspapers (not sure how notifying newspapers will help, but hey, what the heck) to let them know that we want/need healthcare reform. It's a very simple letter that won't take much time at all, so please participate. The link is here...

http://my.barackobama.com/page/speakout/HealthCareLetter

[and-justice-for-all]

1. Here is my letter.

Our health care system is broken, and American families and businesses urgently need a solution.

I must say, the messages coming from the Republicans and their Cooperate masters against Universal Health Care is complete nonsense.

I wonder how many people that read these papers have bothered to look up and see just what kind of health care system other industrialized countries have; and for less in taxes then we pay now. The US is one of only 3 industrialized counties that does not have a universal health care system.

Repeated national and state polls have shown that between 60 and 75% of Americans would like a universal health care system (see The Harris Poll #78, October 20, 2005)

Some have this idea that the US has the best health care system in the world, well that could not be further from the truth:

# Fact One: The United States ranks 23rd in infant mortality, down from 12th in 1960 and 21st in 1990

# Fact Two: The United States ranks 20th in life expectancy for women down from 1st in 1945 and 13th in 1960

# Fact Three: The United States ranks 21st in life expectancy for men down from 1st in 1945 and 17th in 1960.

# Fact Four: The United States ranks between 50th and 100th in immunizations depending on the immunization. Overall US is 67th, right behind Botswana

# Fact Five: Outcome studies on a variety of diseases, such as coronary artery disease, and renal failure show the United States to rank below Canada and a wide variety of industrialized nations.

The Japanese have the longest life expectancy rate in the world and one of the best health care systems. Taiwan, while doing research for the universal health care system, did not even bother looking at the US system, because it simply is one of the worst.

Some say that it would be to costly to implement a UHC system and that the an entire new infrastructure would have to be built to support it. Both of those notions are false.

# Fact One: The United States spends at least 40% more per capita on health care than any other industrialized country with universal health care

# Fact Two: Federal studies by the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting office show that single payer universal health care would save 100 to 200 Billion dollars per year despite covering all the uninsured and increasing health care benefits.

# Fact Three: State studies by Massachusetts and Connecticut have shown that single payer universal health care would save 1 to 2 Billion dollars per year from the total medical expenses in those states despite covering all the uninsured and increasing health care benefits

# Fact Four: The costs of health care in Canada as a % of GNP, which were identical to the United States when Canada changed to a single payer, universal health care system in 1971, have increased at a rate much lower than the United States, despite the US economy being much stronger than Canada’s.

The US medicare/medicaide/SCHIP systems are already in place, they would just have to be expanded upon. With a UHC system, companies would save millions of dollars from health care cost and the self-employed would actual be able to have health care when the previously went without.

People who advocate that "Health care is a privilege and not a right" are the ones who afford to say that. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured, if there ever was a national security issue, this is one.

With UHC, private insurance would not be destroyed. Germany, as well as other UHC countries, still have private insurers. We will still need auto, life, home and whatever some one wants to buy insurance for. Some will feel that the UHC plan does not cover enough and will want to purchase supplements, some will keep their current coverage while others will not.

UHC does not dictate which doctor you can an can not see. However, my current health provider does dictate that by requiring that the physician/dentist is in their network. I could not go to my dentist of 25+ years, because he was not in their network.

The Socialist stamp by right-wing anti-this and anti-that people is rather ignorant. Did they forget that we have Socialism already? How quick they are to forget that the POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION, PUBLIC LIBRARY, NATIONAL DEFENSE INDUSTRY, NATIONAL/PUBLIC PARKS and a slew of other things are, in fact, SOCIALIZED.

The right-wing is wrong as usual and only looking out for their best interest and their bank accounts. UHC in America is far overdue and we need it. Access to health care is a right, not a privilege.

Congress must past real health care reform in 2009.

[kjackson227]

2. Great letter, and-justice-for-all! I really feel like we're going to...

get the public option afterall, but we have to keep writing and calling :)

[KharmaTrain]

3. We Win This At The Grassroots...

Soon the House & Senate go on their summer vacation...heading back to their states and districts. They'll be out of the beltway and the media filters and massive insurance industry lobbying effort. It's the chance for the "average Joe & Jane" to get in their faces and let them know where each of us stands on this issue.

The endgame is to create a public groundswell not only for reforming healthcare, but to ensure there's some type of public option. If there is a large display of support for government sponsored or subsidized care it'll make a big impression when these people come back to vote in September.

If they come home and see little interest or support, then the insurance companies win. It's using people power, our legs, voices and elbow grease to get in the face of any and every Senator who is on the fence (especially Democrats) and show how the polls are right...the majority of the American public, and more specific, their constituents want it.

Writing a LTTE is just one way to do this. Make it so every time your Congresscritter opens up the paper, there's another call for public option. Also flood the radio and town halls. Perception is key here...the Obama administration knows it and how the game is played.

[kjackson227]

4. KharmaTrain, you are so right. People don't realize that getting our voices "out there" is...

one of the single most EFFECTIVE way to erect change. It takes a little time, but it's a "cheap" way to get things done. You know, one of the things that I miss from the sixties (that I remember), is that citizens knew what type of changes they wanted from their government, and they worked hard and sacrificed to get it. There were protests/demonstrations, pickets/strikes, and boycotts which brought about humongous changes in our country. Today, all we're being asked to do is write letters, and make phone calls to our legislators. Not much to ask considering what folks had to do back in the sixties during civil rights. I'm willing to write and call everyday in order to get this healthcare reform. This is the single most important issue for our country now.

[kjackson227]

5. K & R