The NAACP has boldly gotten involved in the discussion and necessary action to be taken to ensure that health care reform is accomplished to cover all Americans and to ensure that racial health care disparities are eliminated.
http://www.naacp.com/...
It is important to remember that historically the NAACP has been, and continues to be, an organization that has always fought for the rights and equality of all people, not just people of color. The NAACP's support and involvement in promoting the heath care reform initiative is yet another rare and important opportunity for the racial gap to be closed in this Country. Over the years, we have all heard horror stories or have personally known, or saw through documentaries or in the news about thousands of unnecessary deaths of women, men and children that occurred as the direct result of not having any or enough insurance coverage. Human beings - Americans - being turned away in emergency rooms across this great Country because the first priority of the health care industry is not care, but the financial bottom line and profit for their corporation, its corporate officers and board of directors. It's difficult to digest the most powerful Country in the world to easily stoop so low as to discount the value of a human life over financial gain. Worse, it is diffult to understand how proposed solutions or initiatives can be presented to politicians, the insurance industry and more importantly, members of society who are or will be affected if there is no action taken at all, and who actively fight against bringing our Country up from its 37th position as having the worse health care system in the world.
Can you imagine how many people could be helped to the tune of $1.4 million dollars being spent each day to fight the care and concern of the citizens of this Country? As cited in the Washington Post on July 21, 2009:
" . . . But the data so far suggest that the second quarter has a good chance of reaching a new high for the health-care lobby. The industry already set records from January to March, when health-care firms and their lobbyists spent money at the rate of $1.4 million a day."
Whether Americans are for or against health care reform, all of us are being affected one way or another by the rising costs of health care. Categorically, as Americans we are either someone who has a job and our insurance/health care is tied to it; we have lost a job, which means that we have lost our insurance/health care and we've been offered COBRA, which no one can afford; we have insurance but the expensive co-pays deter us from seeking medical attention unless it is absolutely necessary; we have had medicals bills that we cannot pay and our credit has been ruined and perhaps bankruptcy filed as the result; we don't have health care at all; we have a pre-existing condition which renders us powerless before an insurance company; or as a society we share in the overall rising costs of the health care system because of the out-of-control premiums.
The NAACP has put together a wonderful write-up regarding supporting health care reform. The site has an Action Alert which provides information on making telephone calls, writing letters, and sending emails and faxes to contact senators and congressional representatives. It also attaches a sample letter to follow regarding comprehensive health care reform.
Please join me in this further effort with the NAACP so that we may continually push for the health care reform that as members of this society and this great Country we all deserve.