Hello All!
Well, today I had my letter to the Longview News-Journal printed on health care reform. Longview is located in Northeast Texas, where I live. Needless to say, this is a very conservative area. The letter is shown after the fold
So why am I reprinting it here? Well, it's an OK letter that gets the point across, I think.
But my reason for reprinting it here is that I hope that it inspires you to write a letter on behalf of health care reform. I know y'all have great letters in you -- better ones than mine! So write them! We can make opinion move further in our direction by doing this. We're in the homestretch.
If you need a hand with the letter, Organizing for America has a handy link to help you with talking points. You can even send the letter directly through www.barackobama.com. Here is the link:
Organizing for America -- Write a Letter to the Editor
Next up for me -- our weekly OFA health care phone bank on Monday here in Longview!
LET'S GET THIS DONE!
Now, here is my letter
My health care reform letter to the Longview News-Journal
_______________________
Today, the United States faces a health care crisis. It is not new, but it is real. And it is growing.
In 2009, health care costs were estimated to be $2.5 trillion. Costs have been rising and will double to $5 trillion by 2019. This is not an acceptable situation, and it imperils the health of our nation. In addition, over 30 million Americans currently have no health insurance. Thousands of Americans die each year because they have no health insurance. Many others are forced into bankruptcy. From a moral standpoint, this is completely unacceptable.
If we decide that the status quo is acceptable, here is what we have to look forward to: an increase in job losses, an increase in the number of families pushed into bankruptcy, and an increase in the crushing debt that plagues our nation. But we can do something about it. We have a health care bill in Congress that will help solve these problems.
This bill will provide health insurance to millions of currently uninsured Americans. It will improve health care security for all Americans. It will reduce health care costs. And it will reduce our deficit. With this in mind, it is now time to pass health care reform. I stand proudly and unapologetically with President Obama when he calls on Congress to finish the job. It is time to help our fellow Americans and our nation as we move into the future. Over many decades, the United States has grappled with the issue of health care reform. Today, we have a chance to make reform a reality. Now is the time. Let's get it done!
— Vikas Kumar Verma, Kilgore