A couple of weeks ago I put some ideas I had for running one or more billboards with direct, blunt messages about the real cost of health care in states where there are Senators or Representatives with a, how should I say this, less than favorable outlook on the public option.
There was some interest in me pursuing this but also some criticism. The wording wasn't right, the tone too accusative. I took those suggestions to heart and here are the latest round of my ideas.
Follow me over the jump to see them and vote in the poll. You can help put a message that can't be ignored right in the plain sight of the voters and as I said, it won't cost you a dime.
First some disclaimers. I work for a Fortune 500 company and one that often gets pissed on here at DKos. But since they've treated me well over the last 20 years I have the financial means to do things that many others do not. That company has "no dog in the hunt" when it comes to health care so I don't feel me speaking out as a private citizen to do this is a conflict of interest. I also thought I'd be leaving them by this time but my wife doesn't want to sell the house or move and while I like you folks as a community she wins any of those discussions. 'Nuf said on that.
Secondly, this is a real, genuine offer to completely pay for a billboard (or possibly billboards) campaign in the district or state of any Senator or Representative in either party. From what I've found on the inter-tubes renting a billboard will cost from between $700 and $2500 for a month. I'm happy to put up $2,500 for this effort, that is well within my discretionary budget, and if this can buy more than one billboard in that state/district then great. I would love to work with a local group in the state or district that ultimately wins the right to spend my money on this, it would be it much nicer to put "Paid for by Montanans for Health Care" or the equivalent on the billboard that ultimately runs. I'm pretty sure that "Paid for by Some Jerk" just won't have the same ring to it.
That last part brings up the final disclaimer. This may open me up to legal challenges or libel/slander suits. I will be contacting an attorney to see if there are real risks to me doing this. If I have work with a group (like a PAC or other political organization) I'd love for someone in this community to get me in contact with them. But I'll foot the entire bill for running the ad. Again, neither they nor you will have to spend anything to do this.
So without further ado here is the first billboard. This is targeted at Senator Snowe of Maine. As you can see the ad no longer targets the voter for their actions or lack of it but does clearly spell out the cost to their fellow citizens (all politics is local) and the real villian is one of the largest insurance companies in Maine. A call to action as it were
This next one goes after that permanent "stick in the mud" known as Senator Baucus. Again, the message is similar just the details are updated. Damn, being a CEO is sure a lucrative position. How do these SOBs sleep at night? I guess the silk sheets and pillows drown out the cries of anguish from the real world.
All the numbers are accurate and based on 2008 CEO incomes and the recent report indicating nearly 45,000 Americans will die from lack of health care prorated for the states based on 2008 US Census estimates. These are the real costs of health care to the citizen of these states. They need to get the message, they need to get outraged enough at the real enemies that they do something about it.
So here is the challenge to you Kossacks. I will only do this under the following conditions:
1) the poll indicates a favorable response to the idea with at least a 60/40 margin.
2) the poll is voted on by at least 1000 Kossacks. I'm not doing this unless there is broad support for the idea.
Remember, the final wording of the ad could be different. If you like the idea but not the specific wording you can vote "Yes" and leave a comment suggesting something better. And these two examples are not necessarily the target of the billboards, once there is a vote to do it I'll open up another discussion to decide which state or district will get targeted and we can hash out the final wording. This is democracy in action. Thank you in advance, help me spend my money wisely.
Update 9:30 PDT -- Changed the wording to be clearer and have more impact with fewer words. You folks are great!
Update 11:00 PDT -- The poll is running an insane 54:1 in favor of me doing it. But it is also clear I'm not like to get broad support in my quest to do this. I've got to do that sleep thing but I'm hoping somebody with DK cred gets the word out on this and I get more votes before this diary times out.