regarding this healthcare debate. I needed to breathe a minute and just take a few days to get myself together. Some of you read a diary I did where I was very angry with the President for letting this healthcare debate get waaaaay out of hand and for what I thought was compromising on the compromise. Since then, I've counted to 10, tried to take the emotion out of it and re-assess the situation. I still feel the same or even more confused.
I want to support the President's efforts and in my heart something is telling me that he still has our backs but I don't necessarily see the reasons for those feelings. I don't think I'm alone in that as I heard more than 270K people tuned into the President yesterday to hear what he had to say regarding healthcare reform. I tuned in as well. I was not impressed. It was more of the same old same old. Muzikal wrote a diary earlier this week to put a voice to my frustration so eloquently. Basically saying stop it already with the mixed messaging. Charm without results wears off very quickly. It's frustrating. So, I fired off a letter to whitehouse.gov today. It went like this:
Mr. President,
I struggle to find the passion to support a healthcare reform bill without a public option. I am not sure about the strategy being employed but without a strong public option (not weak regional co-ops) where does the cost containment come? Better to fight for what you believe and have a filibustered bill than a weak bill that won't do what it was promised to do. If there is a mandate w/o a public option insurance companies will find other means to drop patients. Reasons such as premiums becoming so unaffordable that the patients won't be able to afford the coverage...thus being dropped for non-payment but the results will be the same. People will be dropped because it doesn't help the healthcare industries bottom line.
I supported you as President as best I could because I truly believed in hope and change. I donated what little money I could (almost 1 year later I am still unemployed but temping), I knocked on doors, I held house parties, went to marches, tried to encourage others to participate and recently I held an event for OFA. With respect Sir, it appears that you have been more willing to reach out and compromise with people who will never support you and shun those who worked the hardest for you. I agree that bi-partisanship should always be the goal but not if the compromises weaken legislation. I just don't understand why George Bush who had less favorable conditions in the House and Senate was able to do whatever he wanted at will. Regardless of who had control of the House and Senate. We have super-majorities and can't get it done. That is why our Party is always labeled "weak". And to some degree I agree with that assessment. Well, I'm done for now. No more door knocking, parties, phone banking, donating (unless it is to ACTBLUE) for Organizing for America or the DNC until I feel I know what I am supporting and who I am supporting. I don't want any of my hard earned dollars to go to supporting Democrats who don't support the Democratic Party platform i.e. Blue Dogs.
I'm loathed to say the strong arm of the healthcare industry is winning this war. But as I see it today they are winning. After 2+ years of a grueling campaign, I'm tired. Not too tired to keep up the fight I just need to know what I'm fighting for and because of all the mixed messages I feel hopeless one minute and then hopeful the next and then hopeless again. That is what I am tired of the most. So, I'm going to continue to fight just not for OFA or the DNC. I will stand with groups that I believe stand with the working families of America in the healthcare battle.
Finally, if you consult the Research 2000 poll numbers to get a feeling of the public view count me as one who has become disillusioned with this Administration on the healthcare front.