This is what I received just today from OFA:
This year, when you're writing holiday cards to your friends and loved ones, there are two more people who need to hear from you: Senator Al Franken and Senator Amy Klobuchar.
With the Senate deep in final negotiations -- and a compromise just introduced that increases choice and drives costs down -- your senators need to understand how urgent reform really is.
I have deep respect for Sen. Franken and respect for Sen. Klobuchar. My response is below the fold.
I don’t know, where to begin. Will anyone even read this?
Unfortunately I’m not very pleased with the progress being made in this area. That’s why I’ve received numerous emails from OFA but have taken little to no action on them. This past election was the first time I mobilized door to door to elect a president, senators, and house rep. Sorry, but the health insurance situation is dire for so many people, and what’s up for a vote now is....lame. And the REAL answer is so obvious but "not on the table". And it was taken off the table from the beginning. Wouldn’t pass the Senate was the reason ? Or whatever. That whole grassroots buildup of which I was one would’ve rallied behind real reform with resolve. But this? Forgive me for being a little less than enthusiastic. OFA shouldn’t be surprised. Our "team" can’t even muster a buy-in of Medicare for all.
re: Drives costs down: If you can tell me in short, simple terms what in this "reform" will bring down the cost of getting health care by not 15%, not 25%, but at the very least 50%. And then prevents insurance companies from deciding whether I or my loved ones needlessly suffer or die, don’t even try to get my support.
Believe me, I’m no raging left wing fanatic. Probably as pragmatic as President Obama. I own a small business and employ a few people. Health insurance costs are completely out of reach. The reality everyone knows is that private insurance sucks and health care shouldn’t be subject to the illusory "free market".
So it’s very disappointing to watch the Democratic majority crumble under such feeble pressure on this issue. I don’t care why, no excuse merits consideration. Especially given that we had two wars and tax cuts for the rich crammed down our throats over the last decade. The oligarchy is doing quite well, thank you.
Still, I’m willing to see what comes out of the process, it's not done yet – though it looks exactly like a new coat of paint over rotted wood.
Fact: Private Insurance is a fantasy casino of very rich people/corporations and a parasitic cancer for everyone else. It’s the rotted wood and the White House knows it. The only glimmer of hope I see in this reform is that maybe, just maybe, the White House has a trump card up its sleeve. It’s not been a year so I’m not giving up yet. Just maybe President Obama will again show he plays chess many moves ahead of his opponent.
But this...? It’s not why I worked so hard and I’m going to guess the request you’ve sent rings pretty hollow to yourselves also.
Best Regards