"So the need for reform is urgent and it is indisputable,", – President Obama says once again on July 20th.
And yet, the American public is being treated to a bevy of conflict and controversy of a partisan divide as the mainstream media seduces our eyeballs to "stay tuned" and passively (if not passionately) watch to see who will say what and what happens next.
It’s the politics of distraction and destruction by the opposition and why does it feel like the 2008 presidential campaign all over again?
Whereas the goal of the presidential campaign in 2008 was specific and measureable and ended at a specific time, the goal in meaningful health care reform is, well, not so much.
When the opposition can hold up President Obama’s three bedrock requirements for real health care reform and basically say "Yeah, we agree and support all these principles, but... (enter talking points here)," it forces advocates to engage on every front on every talking point.
But let’s be clear.What do we want? A public health insurance option available and administered nationwide for everyone on day one.
And how do we achieve (and defend) this?
It’s up to us.
"This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you." - Barack Obama on Election Night.
When our Congressman Price signed onto the HCAN principles in a town hall meeting in Durham, North Carolina on June 13th, he strongly encouraged those present to pass local resolutions in support of a public option as part of health care reform.
We began to write letters and make phone calls to Senator Hagan asking her to publicly endorse a public option only to have her express support for a public option administered by 50 states. Umm... that’s not the change we need. For numerous reasons, Senator Hagan subsequently altered her position and we crafted a petition modeled after Organizing For America’s online pledge drive and included the following demand:
We, the undersigned citizens, support a public health insurance option available and administered nationwide for everyone on day one and call upon Congress to enact a plan embracing these principles in 2009.
And we developed a resolution based on the petition (that was based on President Obama’s principles) that currently reads:
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM LEGISLATION
DURHAM COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
WHEREAS, President Obama has announced three bedrock requirements for real health care reform; and
WHEREAS, President Obama’s three principles call for One: REDUCE COSTS – Rising health care costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals, and families, and they must be brought under control; Two: GUARANTEE CHOICE – Every American must have the freedom to choose their plan and doctor – including the choice of a public option; and Three: ENSURE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL – All Americans must have quality and affordable health care; and
WHEREAS, leaders serving in Congress are in the process of crafting health care reform legislation
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Durham County Democratic Party supports and calls upon the immediate enactment of the Administration’s health care reform principles INCLUDING A PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION AVAILABLE AND ADMINISTERED NATIONWIDE FOR EVERYONE ON DAY ONE.
This, the 21st day of July, 2009.
The resolution references the Durham County Democratic Party because that’s where it was presented last evening. The language "INCLUDING A PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION AVAILABLE AND ADMINISTERED NATIONWIDE FOR EVERYONE ON DAY ONE." (pardon the caps) was added by amendment to a resolution before the group and approved unanimously. Local health care reform resolutions have also been enacted by both our City Council and our County Commssioners and are on their way to our NC Congressional delegation and the administration.
So this is the wall of the fortress (or the battle line, if you prefer).
Our very own Blue Cross Blue Shield is out today with a spiffy new website supporting meaningful health care reform. Golly, it looks so professional (lol). Oh, wait. It says under the "what we believe" tab "We believe a government-run health insurance plan is not necessary to achieve the goals of meaningful health care reform."
What a surprise!
Seriously, it’s time to mobilize efforts to enact local resolutions in support of a public option "available and administered nationwide for everyone on day one." Local resolutions have the dual effect of letting our elected official know what we are asking for demanding and making their way up to statewide and national interests. And through the process of getting signatures for petitions and agreement for resolutions, we educate and inform citizens of the issues and the needs and recruit more volunteers.
Let me conclude this diary by offering a copy of the "Health Care for America Petition" and the "Resolution to Support National Health Care Legislation" via google docs. If you would like a pdf file in Word, please send a request to Hagan.ActBlue@gmail.com
For more background of our local efforts, click here, here, here, here, and here.
Feel free to comment on this diary, on your local experiences and efforts. Kindly recommend and send along to others if you are so inclined.
In summary, the Action Needed is to enact local resolution(s) calling for A PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION AVAILABLE AND ADMINISTERED NATIONWIDE FOR EVERYONE ON DAY ONE.