I’m probably NOT the best to lead this effort at all, but I’m willing to take a stab at it. I’ve been reading posting after posting urging action, NOW!, stressing that tomorrow is very important ... blah, blah, blah, but Ur Regular’s diary asking what we should specifically be doing, right now, perfectly echoed my own dilemma.
I’ve called and emailed my KY congress critters, but everyone knows how useless that effort probably was. I was left frustrated wondering what else could I do to take action to make difference.
After wandering around various diaries, I’ve pulled together a collective set of actions designed to push some of the buttons that many people I respect on this site, friends and family are suggesting. I estimate that it would take about 60-90 minutes to do all 9 of the things I've listed below, and I've included the links and contact numbers. And I'm looking for #10 as a place to send some money for ads to help out our cause.
Follow below for an Action List to push for a Public Option for Healthcare with NO TRIGGERS. PS I'll also be glad to update and revise based on better suggestions!
1. MoveOn.org Petition to stand with Obama for a Public Option. (Click and sign, with an option to send an email to friends and family.)
MoveOn
2. Email Obama (h/t teacherken) to demand that he keeps his promise for healthcare and to lead us in making Congress stand up to the special interests.
Some nicely worded, key points from teacherken's lovely, earlier diary:
Dear President Obama:
Please help Congress stand up to Pharma and Insurance lobbyists in Congress.
During your campaign you repeatedly talked about how our government was effectively controlled by special interests who used their lobbying money to defeat ideas that would help the common good.
Nothing is more important than reforming health care. Yet individual Senators and Congressmen will not be able to withstand millions of dollars of lobbying money and reelection support given them by pharma and insurance companies if they kill the public option in health care.
You repeatedly promised Americans access to the same publicly funded health plan available to members of Congress. Do not go back on this pledge.
You have to stand up and lead us in demanding that a public option is included so that those who are denied coverage, cannot afford coverage, or are stuck in areas of the country with inadequate coverage, have the option of joining a public plan.
Some less eloquent, but short and to the point points for emails & calls from me. Pick, choose, delete or edit!
* Contacting you to support a Public Healthcare Option NOW.
* No triggers. The American people deserve the same health care we give YOU, NOW.
* The French or Canadian model are good examples.
* No more profiteering off of the lives and health of our families.
* No more obscene profits to for-profit CEO's for huge salaries, jets, bonuses, country clubs, leased luxury cars while Middle class and working class families can't afford to go to a doctor.
* Health care is a make or break voting issue for me
* I'd rather have a government bureaucrat administering my health care plan than a for-profit insurance company rationing my care for their profits
Email AND call to leave a comment for Obama, today.
White House email
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD
Comments: 202-456-6213
3. Email your Congressperson, now. CALL them, tomorrow! Use the following link to find their site for their email and PRINT out their phone number. Duct tape it to your computer, as needed, as a memory aid. Do it even if your congressperson is an idiot like mine (McConnell)
Representatives Contacts
From Overlord MB, it's also a good idea to call district offices, especially if you're not getting through in DC.
h/t to lava for slink's nifty script for calls:
Tell Senator [Name] that you DO NOT want the 7-year trigger for the public option and take it off the table, and that you want him to support an affordable strong, robust Medicare-like public option. We NEED a strong, robust Medicare-like public option NOW OPEN TO ALL AMERICANS AND AFFORDABLE, not more of the SAME broken system that's given us unaffordable premiums, little private insurance coverage, and rising co-pays. Also, DON'T TAX OUR EMPLOYER HEALTH BENEFITS. Instead, follow the proposal by President Obama to tax the wealthy above $250,000, eliminate the overpayments in Medicare Advantage, and put tax capital gains to help fund health care reform.
4. Email both YOUR Senators, now. CALL them, tomorrow!
Senate Contact Link
5. Contact Harry Reid and tell him not to cave in like a spineless jellyfish like he did about about Gitmo. He owes Obama a big one, and he better deliever!
Give Harry Hell!
Phone: 202-224-3542 / Fax: 202-224-7327
Toll Free for Nevadans: 1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343) -Restricted to calls originating from area codes 775 and 702
6. Contact Nancy Pelosi and ask her to have Obama's back ... the grassroots are organizing, especially in time for the mid-year elections!
Madame Speaker's email
(202) 225-0100
Thank you's and supportive calls, leave messages.:
- Ted Kennedy: (202) 224-4543
- Max Baucus: Tell him we expect him to go to the mat, not waffle.
(202) 224-2651(Office)
(202) 224-9412 (Fax)
(800) 332-6106 (from MT)
(202) 224-1998 (TDD)
9. LONGER TERM, but you can sign up and join SEIU's Organizing for America grassroots efforts, today.
Organizing for America
10. GOT MONEY? I need suggestions, here folks! I have 10 bucks waiting to go somewhere. Who should get it?
Finally, I will be GLAD to change and revise this diary with better ideas OR put them in the comments. I just wanted to try to DO something to help others get started with some ACTIONS.