As an individual who has been running phone banks on health care reform for Organizing for America (OFA) on a volunteer basis, here are my thoughts on health care bill.
These views are mine personally, and do not necessarily represent the views of OFA. So if you want to flame someone, flame me. I'll take it
We have a bill -- the Senate bill. It is not a perfect bill, but it is a good bill.
The House has no excuse for not accepting this bill. We can amend it later. And we need to move on to other issues.
The only excuse House Democrats would have not to do this is their own ego and hurt feelings. If that is what what motivates them, they have no business being in Congress. And I really could care less about their reelection even if they are in tough district. And that includes our own Chet Edwards in Texas, who voted against the House bill.
They are paid to be leaders -- they need to exhibit some leadership.
And finally, I could care less about the politics of this issues. We have had 7 months of phone banks and about 10 months of overall work on health care reform and want to move on to other issues facing our country. We did not engage in these phone banks to give the Democratic Party a "win" We engaged in this activism because we have a health care crisis that leaves over 30 million Americans without health care and high costs for everybody that continue to increase. When are we going to say "enough is enough?" When are we going to do something about this problem? Is 60 years not enough time? How much longer am I supposed to beg my volunteers to help out. I have a lot of patience, but it is going away quickly.
OFA volunteers, along with other volunteer efforts, have been there for the party. We have been able to help generate grass roots activism for health care reform to get it to this point that will also help the party. But this process is a two-way street. We have been there for our Democratic Congress. But they need to be here for us.
Finally, a warning to those who believe that quick action is politically unwise. We have a lot of issues to tackle, specifically the economy and jobs. If we are not working on getting these things done, we should not be surprised when the Republicans take over Congress in November.