* My friend, a public school teacher, just told me she was reluctant to support health care reform because it could lead to socialism. Yes, a
public school teacher said that. (I suspect her only exposure to this issue is the viral e-mails she routinely gets from misguided relatives.) I made some good counterpoints, but it was clear she felt pretty clueless about the whole issue and was uncomfortable going forward with the discussion.
* A relative who lost his job a year ago, leading to his family's relying on COBRA (for now), doesn't know 'single payer' from 'public option.' The debate going on in Congress this week will likely have a profound impact on the
near future of
his family, but neither he nor his wife are educating themselves about the issues or making
any phone calls.
* Another friend, a nurse, cares deeply about health care reform and supports President Obama's principles, but hasn't had the time to read up on the issues and feels unprepared to make any calls to her elected representatives.
Well, as of today, they'll no longer have any excuses to remain uninformed and inactive on an issue of such critical importance to them, their families, and their country...
I’m going to send them links to some of the best documentaries and TV programs I’ve seen on the subject...and hope that, at their convenience and in the comfort of their own homes, they'll pick one or two to watch, learn from, and be motivated by. Let's hope.
Frontline’s SICK AROUND THE WORLD: Can the U.S. learn anything from the rest of the world about how to run a health care system?
http://www.pbs.org/...
NOW on PBS: Gambling with Health Care - How the economic collapse is creating a health care calamity.
http://www.pbs.org/...
Michael Moore’s powerful documentary SICKO
http://video.google.com/...
Bill Moyers Journal (7/10/09) PROFITS OR PATIENTS
(Riveting interview with industry insider who exposes what we're up against.)
http://www.pbs.org/...
Senator Bernie Sanders’s recent interivew on CNN re. Health Care Reform
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/...
I’ll also send links to web sites that have important stats and data from credible sources, such as:
Physicians for a National Health Program
http://www.pnhp.org/
California Nurses Association
http://www.calnurses.org/
Public Citizen- Health Research Group
http://www.citizen.org/...
AND, OF COURSE, I’LL INCLUDE TOLL-FREE NUMBERS THEY CAN USE TO CONTACT THEIR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES:
1-800-828-0498 and
1-800-826-3688
I hope something in the pieces above motivates them to get the facts and speak up. I just know that doing nothing practically guarantees they won't. I guess we'll see....