On the Road to Health Care

Mad Flatlander on Public Option (4.00 / 1)

Calling Out Tsongas & Kerry On The Public Option

At the beginning of June, I sent this short note to my US Congressional delegation which consists of Senators Kennedy and Kerry, plus Congresswoman Tsongas.

I have been working since I was 14. Now, for the first time at the age of 43, I am foregoing my employer provide health care plan and purchasing a family plan directly. I strongly favor a PUBLIC OPTION.

To talk politics, I don't think the public option should be used as the extreme to force conservatives to make substantial concessions towards progressive reforms. If that is the game, use Single Payer to get them to make the quantum leap. Nor do I like the idea of a "trigger."

At the end of the day, working class families need the drastic paradigm shift that a public option offers. Please be steadfast in this enterprise.

Thank you for all that you do, large and small,
Jack Mitchell
Lowell, MA 01850

So far, I have received replies from Tsongas and Kerry. (I'm cutting Kennedy's staff some slack. I'm sure they are extra busy) What I've received is, how should I say, less than inspiring.

Each response has the standard, we understand the scope of the problem (cite statistics) and this is what we have accomplished (cite legislation). What neither have is a bold statement that the PUBLIC OPTION is vital to reform.:v(

Kerry's summation statement:

While I strongly believe there are many things that need to be changed within our current health care system, it is equally important to preserve the parts of our system that work.  As we move to make health insurance more affordable, those who are satisfied with their current insurance should be able to keep what they have.

As we continue to move forward with health reform I will keep your thoughts and concerns in mind.  Thank you again for writing me.  Please do not hesitate to contact me about this issue or any other matter of importance to you.

Tsongas' summation statement:

Thank you again for sharing your views with me on this important issue.  As this debate continues, I look forward to working with the new Administration to reform our system of health care at this unique moment in time and I will support the most immediate hope for providing health care to all Americans.

Of the two statements, Tsongas' disappoints me the most: "I will support the most immediate hope for providing health care to all Americans." Come again?

I am not asking, nor are most asking, for "immediate" or other synonyms for "politically expeditious." We are asking you to get it as best as possible. Yes, there is urgency. There is a crisis with a pending catastrophe. Please act immediately, but do not compromise fundamental progressive values in the name of ease.

Here is the message I sent out over the intertubes via DKos, Blue Hampshire, Facebook and, now BMG, to POTUS.

As much as I hate to simplify and put all my eggs in one basket, I'm getting to a point. A point that reminds President Obama that he clearly stated that he would govern first and ensure re-election second.

"I've been in office for two months now. The last thing I'm thinking about is re-election," Mr. Obama said. But, he added: "I'd rather be a good president taking on the tough issues for four years than a mediocre president for eight years.

Sir,
We need this done. Burn every bridge, twist every arm, pimp slap every punk ass inside the beltway. Worry about 2010 after we have real reform. You are damned, if you do and damned, if you don't.

Sir, with all do respect, my family and those that sit at our table and break bread will be DAMNED IF YOU DON'T.

What I, and everyone I talk to about this wants, is to see the Congress sweat blood on this. No bullshit. Staffers should be quitting their jobs because of the workload. Politicians should be seriously considering their bid for re-election. The months leading up to the signing ceremony should leave you all battered, bruised and hating life.

We are not talking about another day in the office. This will be THE legislation of this decade, if not greater.

Robert Reich, in Salon:

All this will be decided within days or weeks. And once those who want to kill the public option without their fingerprints on the murder weapon begin to agree on a proposal -- Snowe's "trigger" or any other -- the public option will be very hard to revive. The White House must now insist on a genuine public option. And you, dear reader, must insist as well.

This is it, folks. The concrete is being mixed and about to be poured. And after it's poured and hardens, universal healthcare will be with us for years to come in whatever form it now takes. Let your representative and senators know you want a public option without conditions or triggers -- one that gives the public insurer bargaining leverage over drug companies and that pushes insurers to do what they've promised to do. Don't wait until the concrete hardens and we've lost this battle.

Let me be so bold, audacious, if I may, as to tell you how this goes Rep. Tsongas and Sen. Kerry. The President will not, at this point, draw a "line in the sand."
BUT I WILL!

This is where we, the people of the Commonwealth, stand up and hold your feet to the fire. We will pressure you, badger you, and on occasion say please and thank you. Whichever means we choose, know this, you have one mission on health care reform. Use the office that we have bestowed upon you to give the President the political capital he will need to get us the best reform possible.

If we make, such a noise, then what else could happen?

NOW GO!

Follow the link to see Kerry's and Tsongas' full response.

www.KusterforCongress.com - www.paulhodesforsenate.com
www.nikitsongas.com - www.devalpatrick.com

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 11:38:16 AM CDT

I'm on the bus because ... (4.00 / 2)

a lot of people have been saying that health care shouldn't be a privilege, it should be a right. And I agree.

It's twofold for me, one is about the public health option, one is about eliminating discrimination against pre-existing conditions. People shouldn't be claiming bankruptcy because an insurance company won't cover them for a pre-existing condition like cancer.

We're supposed to be world leaders, but our health care system is broken. Other countries are way ahead of us in terms of their health care. We need reform and we need to be up there, showing people that we can be leaders on health care as well.

Eva Knepp, Dover

Zandra Rice Hawkins (Granite State Progress)

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by: Zandra Rice Hawkins @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 11:53:14 AM CDT

Let me suggest that protecting people from injury, disease and (0.00 / 0)

infection is a government OBLIGATION.  What's the purpose of government, if not to deal with the vagaries of nature?

Let me also suggest that Medicare, as currently constituted, violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution.  That's easy to correct.  All that's necessary is to let everyone who wants to Opt-In to Medicare.  We don't need a new program.  If Medicare needs some adjustment, so be it.  That's not a gigantic problem.

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by: hannah @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 13:29:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Go Zandra! (0.00 / 0)

n/t

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by: JimC @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 13:56:54 PM CDT