The health care issue is what brought me to this site. I spent countless hours, not commenting in diaries, but on the phone, writing letters, going to vigils and other actions, including a memorable Town Hall in Virginia where Randall Terry was dragged out by the police and I saw, to my great dismay, one of my god-daughter's high school teachers marching around with a "Don't Tread on Me" flag.
I came here to get information and find out what action I could take. Now, every time I open a health care diary I cringe.....
Now I fear it is not possible to have a health care diary on this site without it quickly devolving into verbal volleyball between the usual cast of characters, saying the same things to each other in slightly different incarnations over and over and over and over. Every diary becomes a flame war with lots of long threads down the right side of the page, personal vendettas, the inevitable threatened Meteor Blades intervention, portions of comments cut and pasted, etc--all topped off by arguments about whose fault it is that we're arguing.
It's the internet equivalent of listening to the kids in the back seat at the end of a long drive in a car with no air conditioning.
This would be amusing if I were not a self-employed, 52 year old breast cancer patient living in Virginia. And I am nobody special, only one of millions. Many people were helped by the passage of HCR/HIR and I am truly glad for them. But our work is not done. Many of the self-employed, myself included, are having their rates raised unconscionably in anticipation of 2014. Many of us make too much for Medicaid but too little to buy insurance. And I think all would agree that cost containment measures are still needed, as we spend much much more than any country in the world for equivalent or lesser health care outcomes.
People's lives are still on the line. Those of us whose intention is to offer information in a non-confrontational manner, discuss actual health care policy or action, or even offer and provide comfort should not have to scroll past all that detritus.
Here's my analysis of the situation:
There seems to be a division between those who view HCR through the lens of whether it is going to help elect more and better Democrats, and those who view HCR through the lens of whether it is improving our deplorable health care system and helping those who need it.
For the former, the public perception of the bill is important, in a broader context of Administration accomplishments.
For the latter, the reality of people's lives is paramount.
It's a chicken and egg thing. Further reform wil be difficult if not impossible without electing more and better Democrats, but a careful look at the data will tell you that our current system is not only inhumane but unsustainable in the long run. It's the health care equivalent of the housing bubble.
Remember "Pass it and Fix It?"
We passed it. Now let's fix it.
One thing you could do right now: this is a recent diary of mine. Read it if you like, the writing is better than this one, or just scroll down to the bottom where I suggest some actions that could be taken. Insurance companies such as Assurant Health should know that people notice and care when they put musicians, artisans, and other self-employed people out of business, or essentially force them to go uninsured.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Me? I'm a proud Democrat. Liberal. Progressive. Musician. Survivor. Obama supporter. Critical of our current health care system. Hoping and fighting for something better.