Take action on health care today:

[s-cubed]

Contact the White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Contact Senate committee members:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5631361&mesg_id=5631361

Call your own senators or representatives
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

Here's my letter to President Obama, if you need some ideas:

Dear President Obama,

I have become increasingly disturbed over the past few days by what I have been observing at the White House and at the Senate, Specifically, I am concerned that you will let slip this golden opportunity for TRUE health care reform, Without including advocates for single payer or for a public option, without including consumer advocates,. all we will get is more of the same: high costs and poor care.

I have a lot of experience with insurance companies: all too often they insist on making decisions that properly belong to me and my doctors, or they make getting medical care so difficult that I finally give up. I no more trust them to control costs than I trust them with my health care, The insurance companies need the competition of a public option.

Senator Baucus is making a mockery of his committee hearings on health care reform. Not only is he not having single payer, public option, and consumer advocates as witnesses, he is throwing out protesters who are trying to speak on these issues, laughing at them, and having them arrested. Now he has closed his hearings to prevent such protests. All he is doing is confirming the view of many Americans that our politicians are in the pocket of the medical establishment.

My questions:

1. Will you insist on a public option in any health care reform bill you sign?
2. Will you include the single payer, public option, and consumer advocates in any future meetings?
3, Will you, in your position as head of the Democratic Party, talk to Senator Baucus, and let him know he is doing serious damage to meaningful health care reform by not hearing testimony from all parties?
4. Will you make it clear to all concerned that the money of the medical establishment will not dictate the form of health care reform?

You promised us, as a candidate, to provide health care for all Americans. I worked for that candidate. You have said, as President, that we must contain health care costs, that that is an essential part of the sound economic foundation the country must have. I can see no way to achieve both of these unless there is, at minimum, a public option, It is scandalous that you and Senator Baucus seem to be ignoring that option. The American people do not care whether health care reform is bi-partisian: we want true reform. We want to feel that our elected officials are looking out for US, not the interests of the big guys with big pockets and big donations, It's not enough to just try to control the lobbyists, YOU have to control the influence of their clients as well,

I look forward to hearing the answers to my questions,

Sincerely,
SSS

On edit: removed my name

[The River]

1. Good Letter

I think Obama is aware of our concerns.
I also think he is several levels and
a few moves ahead of the for-profit people
but we still need to keep pressure on the Senate.

[CrispyQ]

2. Good letter & a kick for a critical topic.

We need their lines to be ringing off the hook with calls & faxes! My letters are printed & soon to be faxed. I'll followup with phone calls & hard copy letters.

Here's another good thread with some links to sites of single payer advocacy groups.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5640349

You can find lots of good information in a short amount of time, so there is no reason not to compose a letter! If we approach it with the attitude that 'it doesn't do any good to write to them anyway' then we've already lost. Remember, it doesn't have to be long & it doesn't have to be eloquent. You just have to make the point: We want single payer & we're the ones who vote.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

3. Excellent letter, SSS

Your points are clearly and respectfully laid out. Thank you. K&R:thumbsup: