The State Health Care Reform "Action"

I rode by a group of folks waving signs on Woodward in Birmingham yesterday. We were turning a corner so I only saw one end of it, but I did see a few signs: one railing against "Obamacare", one that read "Healthcare for All," and one that pleaded for HR676 (the House bill that would enact single payer and that no one seems to be taking seriously) to be brought into the debate. I hadn't heard about any planned rally and I was already late to somewhere so I didn't get a chance to learn anything more until this morning.

There was an article on the rally in the Detroit News and an account from Detroit Mark in the Huffington Post. Detroit News blogger MakoYamakura to exception to Detroit Mark's characterization of those in the northern suburbs as "white conservatives [...] moved their businesses and families up in the upper counties to escape the diversity of Detroit. You know, bigots. Not everyone but an impressive sample, I'd be willing to bet." Interestingly there was a couple on the bus with me discussing the rally who, based on their experiences growing up there, felt that just by the nature of their conservatism, Oakland County residents were practically obligated to oppose anything proposed by any Democrat.

In his piece, Detroit Mark pointed out some of the signs for the anti-health care side. There are those that just list things that are just wrong, complete with supposed citations from the bill (FactCheck.org has is a good resource: look at Seven Falsehoods about Health Care). The other sign that he pointed out that I want to mention is one of Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a Hitler mustache. When similar depictions of Obama started cropping up a while back, I was completely mystified, but then someone forwarded a piece entitled "Stuff White People Like: Comparing People to Hitler" to a mailing list. I now get it: this just means that they don't agree with something and they think it's very, very bad.

Last week I signed an internet petition to support (and keep honest) the 60-plus House Democrats who have pledged to only support a health care reform bill that includes a public option. Below is a clilp of Rachel Maddow interviewing Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake.com. Perhaps ironic given my below comment about another interviewer, I really enjoyed watching how tickled Maddow is about Progressive Democrats with a spine.



Listening to NPR the other day, I really enjoyed Steve Inskeep's interview with Angela Braley, CEO of health care insurance company giant Wellpoint. I normally "tsk, tsk" during his interviews because he generally laughs so much that I feel more like I'm listening to a morning show instead of news. But he actually asked serious questions (such as "What do you get for those millions of dollars that you spend lobbying?"):

Go ahead, raise my taxes

Dear Congress,

You may raise my taxes. I figure I could still manage to pay bills and eat if you took another couple percent of my pay in taxes. No, I don't make over $250,000, but I want universal health insurance. I mean I want it in that way that makes me willing to give something up to get it. I have this crazy notion notion that it makes sense to sacrifice something I have for something I really, really want.

So, what do I want?

• every person in this country to have access to quality health care

Oh, this was going to be a bulleted list, but that about sums it up. I want everyone to have the care they need. I don't want preexisting conditions, or unemployment, or a measly employer provided benefits package, or factors like age and gender to keep anyone from having access to health care.

And if the Muttface has to live on store brand dog food and I have to take my lunch to work every day (instead of just most days)...well, we'll adjust.

Sincerely,

A concerned citizen

The wonder of health insurance

I have health insurance. Woohoo!

I had minor surgery yesterday and I did not have to decide to stop paying my mortgage to maintain my health. I did not have make a plan for which bills I would no longer pay. I did not have to delay the surgery until my relatively small issue became a major one and I had no choice but to make my way into an emergency room for treatment. All because the surgery was covered by my health insurance plan.

I have health insurance. Woohoo!

And I do not think I'm special. Alright that's a lie, I think I'm very special. But not special in the sense that I deserve health care more than anyone else. I do not feel that having a decent job means that I deserve health care. I do not feel that having a job job means that I deserve health care. I do not feel that if my employer did not provide health insurance, but that I could afford to privately pay for insurance and I had no pre-existing conditions that I would deserve health care more than anyone else.

This is where I start on health care. So, yeah, I suppose I do think that health care is a right, not a privilege.

According to a CNN report, medical bills contribute to 60 percent of bankruptcies in the United States. In 2006, there were 47 million Americans without health insurance and it was estimated that 22,000 people died because they did not have health insurance (see Dying for Coverage from Families USA). How much worse have things gotten with the last year of extreme economic turmoil? The Urban Institute has a report that puts the estimated $1.6 trillion cost of the Senate's health care plan in context (Beyond the $1.6 Trillion Sticker Shock).

This morning I signed a petition asking the House of Representatives to stay in session in order to pass health care reform bill (they're quickly approaching their August recess). I know some people are seriously doubtful about the impact of online petitions, so if you really want to make sure your Representative understands you want him or her to stay in Washington to get real reform, call. You can call the switchboard at the Capitol (202) 224-3121 or you can look up your Representative's office number online by entering your zip code in several places, including the Congress Merge: Online Congressional Directory).