President Obama often says that his staff gives him ten or so tragic healthcare emails to read every night.
I too receive heartbreaking emails. Always remember, these letters and emails are from citizens of the richest country on the planet.
As you might imagine, I've been receiving a huge volume of emails lately. I try to respond to all of them, if I've missed any, please forgive me, I'm doing the best I can.
I want to share one that tore at my heart. This is who we're fighting for.
If you sometimes wonder why I am often a bit overwrought, it's because of emails like this--which is only one of many.
While the political circus goes on unabated in Washington D.C, this proud American citizen, who pays taxes and works hard to support his family is transitioning from being insured to being uninsured.
So as you take action today, think about Americans like this gentleman.
This is the real face of our national healthcare catastrophe.
Dear nyceve:
Please tell jane and slink that all America thanks you for your service. I'm sorry to disturd you during what must be a very busy time, but i have a problem which i don't know how todeal with.
I am self-employed, I run a small family business. My health insurance premiums for me, my wife and our child are running close to $18,000 a year. Business is down and I need to cut back, I'm so frightened because the only way for us to survive is to drop the insurance. I never thought this day would come, though for many years as the rate hikes just mushroomed, every month I wondered whether i would be able to afford the premium for the next month.
Seems like the insurance company has me by the balls. Even if I downgrade I only save a very small amount, so what's the purpose? If we get sick I'll have a few dollars saved which I hope will be enogh.
nyceve, I don't know how to tell my wife that this is what we must do. What should I tell her?
When willhelp come from our government? nyceve,Is help is on the way? Can I tell my wife this?
[nyceve added emphsis]
As I frequently say, you don't believe me about how urgent your calls and emails are to making reform happen.
But please believe Paul Krugman. Have you read Krugman's column this morning? Krugman rips the traitor Blue Dogs to shreds! And they deserve it bigtime.
An Incoherent Truth
Right now the fate of health care reform seems to rest in the hands of relatively conservative Democrats — mainly members of the Blue Dog Coalition, created in 1995. And you might be tempted to say that President Obama needs to give those Democrats what they want.
But he can’t — because the Blue Dogs aren’t making sense.
If you still have any shred of doubt about what you need to do, read Jane Hamsher. Jane rips Rahm for getting these scumbags elected. It's about time, Rahm ordered these cretin Blue Dogs back on the reservation.
ACTION FOR MONDAY:
Dear Friends: This is the last week before the recess. It's all about the Whip Count.
This is the final week members of the House of Representatives will be in town before a three week vacation. Once they leave, the for-profit MURDER BY SPREADSHEET Insurance industry is poised to unleash the most vicious advertising campiagn you've ever seen, this criminal industry will pummel members of Congress at home during the three week vacation with the goal of neutering health care reform.
We have five days to whip the progressive caucus to take the pledge for a real public option. If 40 members of the progressive caucus pledge to vote against any bill that doesn't have a real public plan, we can pass real health care reform. So far, 13 members have taken that pledge.
Make the call now. Only five days left to call progressive members of Congress and find out where they stand before they go on vacation.
Whip Count, Whip Count, Whip Count. This is our firewall for a robust public option which will be affordable.
Please use this tool to call the progressives in Congress and demand that they take the pledge. PLEASE DO THIS NOW.
During those three weeks of vacation:
143,250 people will lose their health insurance coverage [pdf]
53,507 people will file for bankruptcy because they can't pay their medical bills
1,265 people will die [pdf] because they lack coverage
More than 40,000 people signed our petition to tell the House to pass health care reform before its three week vacation. We need to step up the pressure and flood the House with calls. This is our best chance at passing a real public option in the House.
And, as always, here's a link to slinkerwink for additional action.
Please, for the love of your children and grandchildren, make the call now.
And please help us fight the insurance industry lobby, we rely on your generosity. Take a look at this!
https://secure.firedoglake.com/...