Last Wednesday, at the urging of an e-mail from Organizing For America, I paid a call on Republican Senator Richard Burr at his office in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. He wasn't there, of course. In fact the only person in the office was a very pleasant female staffer, probably in her late fifties, not much older me.
She listened to what I had to say, and I listened to what she had to say. There was no screaming or name calling, and neither of us were openly carrying loaded weapons.
Aside from the public option which Senator Burr opposes, the staff person said the Senator supported just about everything I was in favor of--forbidding insurance companies from dropping policy holders when they get sick, bringing down the cost of health care, fixing the system so no one has to declare bankruptcy if they get sick.
We also agreed that we can't stand the prescription drug ads on television and we'd all be a lot better off if we didn't have to watch another Viagra commercial. She also agreed that television advertising drives up the costs of prescription drugs and encourages people to believe there's a pill for everything.
I left a letter for the Senator telling him exactly what I support for health care reform.
I don't know if my visit made any difference. I like to think so. If anything, I proved that a liberal Democrat and a staunch Republican can find common ground on health care.
Now if only we can get everyone in the Senate and the House to do the same thing.