Many people have been writing to their representative and senators lately about preserving the existing public programs in HR 3200. That is good work and we should keep it up.
However, there is another crazy reality that has been getting overlooked almost entirely in the media. This is the massive number of representatives and especially senators who totally snub their noses at constituents' opinions on Medicare for All. To realize the incredible magnitude of the problem, consider this graph:
You can view some of the public opinion polls here.
The difference in support between even the House of Representatives and the public is outrageous enough, but in the Senate we have the bizarre outcome of a near blackout in support for a position likely favored by a majority of the public! It's really amazing that this can happen. That the media in our country does not instantly yell about it and chew these senators out up for ignoring their constituents is incredible.
But since the media isn't, that means it's our job!
If you're living in a liberal state, and I live in New Jersey which is oh-so-liberal, then it is quite likely that both your Senators have sold out their state on this issue. The only way they haven't is if you're lucky enough to live in one of these four states: New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Ohio. These states have one senator who supports single payer health care. These senators are:
Bernie Sanders (VT)
Jeff Merkley (OR)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Tom Udall (NM) (probably)
If you're lucky enough to live in one of these states, be sure to thank your supporting senator for endorsing Medicare for All!
However, even the last three senators of the four still need to be e-mailed about S.703, the state based single payer bill recently introduced in the Senate by the great Senator Bernie Sanders. Although they have made statements in the past supporting single payer and in some cases have endorsed single payer bills during time spent in the House, the sad truth is that none of these three has endorsed S. 703. (Of course one could argue that the bill is just new, but they will not cosponsor it unless we push them.)
Even if you live in one of these four states, however, you will need to contact your remaining senator.
For those of us who do not live in one of these states, be sure to call and send a letter to BOTH senators! For example, in my home state of New Jersey are:
Lautenberg, Frank R. - (D - NJ) Class II
324 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3224
Web Form: lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/routing.cfm
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Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ) Class I
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4744
Web Form: menendez.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm
Here is an easy to use call in system allowing you to locate your senators and representative and phone them about Medicare for All. You do not have to look up any phone numbers! Simply enter your name and phone number into the text boxes and click the buttons. You will be automatically called and connected with your Congressperson! It could not be simpler.
Finally, you should also write a letter on paper to your senators. Government officials take paper letters more seriously because of the time you must spend in physically preparing a letter to send. You can find the address of your senator here. It's all there in one big list!
You can use my letter as a starting point if you wish. It began:
I am deeply saddened by your refusal to support Medicare-for-All, or a single payer national health insurance system, in the United States of America. The United States currently spends 16% of its GDP on health care, far higher than any other industrialized nation. It is estimated that 31% of expenditures in our system are devoted to administrative overhead--double the Canadian figure. Even not considering the inhumane plight of our 47 million uninsured and even greater number of under-insured, our nation would be far better off simply expanding Medicare to cover everyone.
Be sure to end your letter with a concise request, because staffers may not read the entire body. Mine ended:
To sum up, most important is that you endorse S. 703. Secondly, please do not vote for any health care bill this year lacking public programs as its largest tenet.
Of course, once this is done you will also want to contact your representative. You can check here if they are co-sponsoring HR 676, the Medicare for All bill in the House of Representatives.
Also remember that every phone call and letter for Medicare for All not only shows your support for the universal single payer systems in S. 703 and HR 676, but also gives a boost to smaller expansions of non-universal single payer systems like Medicaid and Medicare that are part of certain bills more likely to pass during this session of Congress.
Please RECOMMEND this diary to ensure that others see how they can call out this corrupt Congress!
And once you have contacted your Congresspeople about S.703 and HR 676...
GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON THE BACK!