The latest news says Obama will not insist on the public option when he addresses the joint session of Congress on September 9. If you support the public option, especially if you voted for Obama or were an active member of his campaign, you can sign a petition to let him know.
The message not making it through to the administration is much of the support he is losing is among those who want Obama to take a stronger, not a weaker stand on reform. There are many, both among the general public and in Congress, who feel the current bill is already a huge compromise. Now he apparently is considering a betrayal of those in the House who stand by the public option. Where will that leave him next time he needs their support?
Why would a president want to prove he can stare down his own party? Does he really think the Republicans will have a sudden epiphany and take his side the next time around? Did he learn nothing from the Clinton administration? President Clinton supported a number of traditionally Conservative measures like NAFTA and Welfare Reform. He backed off gun control and made little efforts for abortion rights. He came out against big government, and what did he get for it? Impeached.
BLOGGING FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM
And maybe more...
Deaths from Uninsured or Underinsured 2
How You Can Show Your Support
ATTEND AN AUGUST EVENT
If you see healthcare reform as an important issue, perhaps the most important issue in decades, you may be getting frustrated and wondering how you can make your views known. One way is to contact your lawmakers (see sidebar). Another is to attend an event.
Opponents of healthcare reform are organizing to show up at town hall meetings all over the country, and where they are in the minority, they sit in strategic spots in the audience and interrupt the speaker. They've already caught the attention of the media.
Free speech is fine, but we can't allow a minority of shouters to monopolize the debate. Go to the above site and commit to attending one event in the month of August.
Blogging About Healthcare and maybe more...
How does that ad go? "This isn't a liberal or conservative issue, it's a human issue." They're talking about the environment, but it could apply to healthcare reform as well, at least in the US. That's not altruism for the 48 million and counting uninsured. It's good old American "what's in it for me" thinking for both the uninsured and the currently insured who could find themselves uninsured at any moment.
Even if you've already taken sides on healthcare reform––especially if you have––I urge you to read these posts and simply consider these points. I have a writing blog and a book review blog, and I swore I'd never add my voice to the cacophony of angry voices blogging on politics. Only there are so many people adding their voices who don't have a clue what they are talking about, that I figured my more than 10 years experience working in benefits––most of it looking for ways to contain costs without cutting benefits––might actually add something to the conversation (if you can call it that).
I promise not to make statements I can't back up with experience or research. In return I ask that you approach my posts with an open mind, and when you comment, which I hope you will, make the comments civil so that they invite further discussion. Also, please comment on this blog rather than dragging the discussion to your own blogs, so that we can all take part.
I'm open to guest posts on either side, so long as they are well-informed and cite sources. Contact me
Even if you've already taken sides on healthcare reform––especially if you have––I urge you to read these posts and simply consider these points. I have a writing blog and a book review blog, and I swore I'd never add my voice to the cacophony of angry voices blogging on politics. Only there are so many people adding their voices who don't have a clue what they are talking about, that I figured my more than 10 years experience working in benefits––most of it looking for ways to contain costs without cutting benefits––might actually add something to the conversation (if you can call it that).
I promise not to make statements I can't back up with experience or research. In return I ask that you approach my posts with an open mind, and when you comment, which I hope you will, make the comments civil so that they invite further discussion. Also, please comment on this blog rather than dragging the discussion to your own blogs, so that we can all take part.
I'm open to guest posts on either side, so long as they are well-informed and cite sources. Contact me
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