Open Letter to the Honorable President Barack Obama:

Dear Honorable President Obama:

For eight years, the Republicans could have cared less about reforming the health care system of our nation. As long as they could line their pockets on the misery of those needing health care services, they were content and happy to be in control of a failing system. So why now are we bending over backwards to support their ability to pro-offer opinions/solutions to solve the health care crisis when it is their failed policies that were in existence for eight years that caused much of our nation's financial problems and deficits?

If we, the voters, wanted the Republican's solutions/opinions, we as a public would have voted for that. We didn't. We voted for the change you promised. Now, respectfully sir, we will know you by what you do, not what you say. Although what you say sounds like it tastes good, we can't eat words. We need real jobs, real shelter, real health care and real food. We are watching your actions to match your words.

While you are bending to meet the Republican agenda half way, we on the bottom have not even been given the time to stand up straight after spending eight (8) long years bent over. It would appear your compromises and attempts at bi-partisanship just allow us to move 1/4 up from the ground, still bent over to serve as sex slaves for the wealthy and the corporations of the world. We didn't vote for that.

Where is the change you promised?

MESSAGE FROM SENATOR SHERROD BROWN

An Important Message from
Senator Sherrod Brown about
Health Care Reform

Dear Friend,

You may have seen a lot of me lately. I've been speaking out and setting the record straight on why it's critical that health care reform legislation includes a public option. And now that the House has passed it, it's now up to the Senate to act.


I refuse to sit by watching families struggle to make ends meet while political pundits, ultra-conservative media talking heads, and the Republican Party blatantly spout misinformation and resort to fear-mongering. It's not only ludicrous -- it's dangerous and will end up costing our nation dearly.


As one of my most steadfast supporters, you know how important it is that we pass meaningful health insurance reforms -- which will provide each and every American with quality, affordable coverage.


We all know how difficult enacting these important changes is proving to be. At every turn, big pharma and big insurance -- along with their cronies in Washington -- are throwing up roadblocks and undermining our Democratic reform efforts.

I recently spoke about this very issue on MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Watch it here:

http://www.democratsenators.org/o/9/t/13/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=347 .


Including a strong public option in the Senate health care reform bill would be a major victory for taxpayers, middle-class families, and American businesses.

It will inject much-needed competition into the insurance marketplace, keep HMOs honest, and ensure that families across the country have their choice of affordable, quality health plans.


Meanwhile, the GOP is doing everything possible to derail a strong public option and cling to the status quo. They're bending over backwards trying to protect their big-money supporters in the insurance industry, who are only concerned about their bottom line -- while my Democratic colleagues and I are looking out for the best interests of our citizens.


We must deliver reform for all Americans, many of whom have lost so much already as a result of the housing crisis, the financial meltdown, and the recession in the last year.


You can help spread the word by forwarding this email to as many people as possible; just click here:

http://www.democratsenators.org/o/9/t/13/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=347 .

Thank you again for your support. Together we will finally put middle-class families ahead of the insurance industry.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator, Ohio


P.S. Time is running out to ensure a public option is part of health care reform legislation. Help me get the word out by clicking here:
http://www.democratsenators.org/o/9/t/13/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=347 .
Set the record straight about the public option -- please forward this email to everyone you know. Thanks for doing your part.

HAS AMERICA LOST ITS LEADERSHIP?

As we wait for word on what our elected officials will decide concerning matters of health care, the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, the economy, etc., we seem to be losing our hope and our steam for change.

The spirit of hope and enthusiasm for change exhibited during the election is dissipating, if not already dissipated. What happened to our majority vote? What happened to enacting the changes that were promised if we elected the present leadership? How did we go from a majority country that wanted change to a country paralyzed by division? Why did the majority party decide not to implement the changes the masses voted for? Why did the majority party decide to placate the minority party and allow the minority party to frame the argument? Is there any way to restore the hope of change that we all had. It would seem by indecision that the status quo of corruption and greed has prevailed once again.

The real question, "Where is our leadership and guidance in all of this?"

We, as a country, are desperately looking for leadership and guidance. Where is it?

When Is It NOT Okay To Scream Fire?

HAS SARAH PALIN GONE TOO FAR?



Over and over again, Sarah Palin has made these outlandish, irresponsible statements regarding the proposed health care reform of the new administration. She has alleged that there will be death squads to decide who lives and who dies:

http://www.apnews.myway.com/article/20090808/D99Uj4B00.html


Sarah Palin claims there will be rationing. What does she think we have now?

Right now, under the present system, we have families that have no health care (Isn't that a form of rationing?). Right now, under the present system, we have families struggling to scrape up enough money to make their high cost health insurance premiums, often times having to take high deductible, catastrophic plans, because they can't afford the high premiums (Isn't that a form of rationing?). Right now, families that are able to pay the health insurance premiums to the already wealthy insurance companies, can't afford to use their health insurance due to the high deductibles and the high co-payments (Isn't that a form of rationing?). Both Medicaid and Medicare have limits (rationing) right now on benefits and services. It is ONLY the wealthy that enjoy FULL QUALITY HEALTH CARE, not the average Joe, the middle class, the elderly, the poor or disabled. These folks are already rationed!

What Sarah Palin really means to say is that the very wealthy who pay premiums, and can easily afford the deductibles and co-payments, who enjoy services, benefits and testing galore, whether it is necessary or not, may have provided to them ONLY the necessary services, as opposed to the Cadillac plans that are provided at the expense of the masses (the poor, elderly, the middle class and/or the disabled).

If you or I stand up in a crowded theater and shout fire, we can be held both civilly and criminally responsible for our actions and the results of those actions. If there is no fire and someone is damaged, either physically, financially or otherwise, you can bet we would be held accountable.

Why then, is Sarah Palin allowed to pray on the fears of the middle class, the poor, the elderly and/or the disabled and make outlandish statements to the point of inciting violence at the town hall meetings? There is not one shred of truth in Sarah Palin's claims. And make no mistake about it. She represents the wealthy.

To our senior citizens, the middle class, the poor and/or the disabled: For heaven's sake, use your mind. Sarah and Todd Palin are secessionists. They want Alaska to pull away from the United States. How can you even begin to think anything seriously about what this woman says. She has NEVER had the welfare or best interests of the citizens of the United States. She and her husband ADVOCATE the State of Alaska to secede from the Union so that they can keep their oil profits. Use your head and think. Universal health care available to all, minus the profits paid to insurance companies, will allow standard, affordable health care for all, not just the greedy and wealthy. And if the greedy and wealthy have to live on just a little bit less, then so be it. They will always have enough money to buy their Cadillac needs.

Where is our humanity?

We need our government representatives now to hold Sarah Palin personally accountable for her outlandish screams of "fire" in the theater of "health care." She is intentionally causing needless division among our citizens and needlessly scaring the hell out of our senior citizens, our poor, our middle class and our disabled with false statements advocated by our wealthiest of citizens. Sarah Palin should be held both civilly and criminally responsible for every act of violence she has perpetrated. If Charles Manson can spend life in jail and never actually kill someone, then she certainly has to be held accountable for her incendiary comments.


Sarah Palin deems herself and her family to be a better class of people than the rest and doesn't think that the poor, the elderly, the middle class and/or the disabled should be provided health care, or only minimal health care. The wealthy think the poor, the elderly, the middle class and/or disabled are not worthy. See Bill Kristol's interview with Jon Stewart of the Daily Show broadcast on July 27, 2009 (these are their words, not mine):



http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/239178/mon-july-27=2009-bill-kristol

Call and email your senators at http://www.senate.gov/ and your representatives at http://www.house.gov/ . Let them know you support a universal, single payer health care, or at the very least a "public option." Don't let fear rule your better judgment.

What has Sarah Palin done for you lately? George Bush and his party left this country in a mess. Let's work together to try and solve these problems.

A house divided cannot stand!

Health Care News from President Barack Obama - The Real Truth the Republicans Don't Want You To Know!

Health Care News from President Barack Obama:

Dear Friend,

If you’re like most Americans, there’s nothing more important to you about health care than peace of mind.

Given the status quo, that’s understandable. The current system often denies insurance due to pre-existing conditions, charges steep out-of-pocket fees – and sometimes isn’t there at all if you become seriously ill.

It’s time to fix our unsustainable insurance system and create a new foundation for health care security. That means guaranteeing your health care security and stability with eight basic consumer protections:

No discrimination for pre-existing conditions
No exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles or co-pays
No cost-sharing for preventive care
No dropping of coverage if you become seriously ill
No gender discrimination
No annual or lifetime caps on coverage
Extended coverage for young adults
Guaranteed insurance renewal so long as premiums are paid
Learn more about these consumer protections at Whitehouse.gov.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Over the next month there is going to be an avalanche of misinformation and scare tactics from those seeking to perpetuate the status quo. But we know the cost of doing nothing is too high. Health care costs will double over the next decade, millions more will become uninsured, and state and local governments will go bankrupt.

It’s time to act and reform health insurance, drive down costs and guarantee the health care security and stability of every American family. You can help by putting these core principles of reform in the hands of your friends, your family, and the rest of your social network.

Thank you,
Barack Obama


Editor Side Note: On the Daily Show broadcast on Monday, July 27, 2009, conservative columnist, Bill Kristol, that was credited with stopping Hilliary Clinton from passing universal health care during the Clinton Administration, admitted that the govenment supplies and administers the best quality health care available. He stated with agreement that the common or poor folk don't deserve quality, affordable health care. Hear for yourself, the Republicans admitting that Barack Obama's plan is the best quality, affordable health care for all: http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/239178/mon-july-27-2009-bill-kristol


Next Week: ?

JUST MAYBE WHY SARAH PALIN LEFT!

Some things are just more important than country and world events!

I have watched and listened for the past few days to commentaries from all the major networks theorizing why Sarah Palin quit her job as Governor of Alaska before the end of her term. Everything from aspirations for the Presidency, state and federal investigations, legal fees, and so on. I, also, listened to Sarah Palin's press conference and I have to admit, it first seemed bizarre at best, but her words stuck in my mind.

I'm no Sarah Palin fan, but I marginally sympathized with her watching the Republican Party use her during the campaign to bolster the old, tired image, honorable as he may be, of John McCain. Even though I supported Obama during the campaign, and still do, I often felt that she was being treated unfairly by a press ready to destroy anything in its' path for the sake of the sale of magazines and newspapers or to increase viewership. She seemed so naive.

As a parent of a severely disabled or Differently Abled Adult, I would cringe every time she claimed to be an Advocate for the Disabled, knowing full well that she represented a party that represents the wealthy. The same party that has demonstrated time and time again, that it cares nothing for the elderly and poor, let alone the disabled. The same party that nullified the American With Disabilities Act by exempting all of the small business and governments, while at the same time standing up and stating that 95% of all the new jobs were going to be created by the small businesses. They knew full well that 95% of America was not going to be accessible to the disabled. They stood up and touted that George H. W. Bush, Sr. passed the American With Disabilities Act, while at the same time failed to provide proper funding for it. All the disabled represented to most Republicans were dollar signs and a burden on the budget. That statement may, in part, be true for both parties today as States struggle to meet their budgets.

Often during the campaign, I would see Sarah Palin traveling about without her "severely" disabled son, with a whole entourage of people ready to deal with him. She often would grab him for a photo opportunity as she spoke of her advocacy and then handed him right back to the nearest person, pretending that she really knew what it was like to raise a severely disabled child in America on limited funds.

Well it now occurs to me that after being beat up by members of the press and her own party and after careful consideration of her circumstances and as her child grows and she begins to realize that he is not progressing the way a typical child does, that, perhaps, just maybe, the real reason Sarah Palin has decided to quit politics, at least for now, is that God has placed into her arms her greatest and most important challenge to date.....her "special" needs son. Being the dedicated, and what seems to be honorable person that she is, maybe she has finally decided her true calling and realized the real work that lies ahead for her! Her place may be with her family for now.

If that's the case, God bless Sarah Palin in her new endeavors. She is in for much work, heartache, joy, blessings and challenges as this unique individual that God has placed in her life reveals himself to the world. Sarah Palin will need all of our prayers and support and maybe, now, with her financial troubles, Universal Health Care with a single payer option. Godspeed Sarah Palin.

SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE PLAN NOW

REAL CHANGE IS SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE



Please call your Representatives and Senators now and tell them we need real change, the real change we voted for in November, 2008.



We need to take the profit out of health care. We need to make sure that all citizens have access to quality, affordable health care. If everyone is not included in the plan, we will have nothing more than rationed health care for America's most needy and at risk citizens. Let's not give our health care dollars to insurance companys like AIG (AIU) to party on in Las Vegas. Let's put our citizens and people first! It is the right and honorable thing to do. For what you do for the least of those, you do for the greater good. You or your family are an accident away from needing health care and or exhausting whatever coverage you may be fortunate enough to have! Health Care is a right!



Don't believe the hype that the government can't efficiently run a system. Ask any senior citizen on Medicare now if they would rather not have it and the answer more often than not is they can not do without it. It is their lifeline to quality, medical care, with their choice of doctors, hospitals and care providers preserved. The wealthy can still buy "extra" coverage for themselves and their families. We need a basic Single Payer Health Plan for all.



Please call your federal Representative and your Senators and let them know that you want them to support House Bill HR676: http://www.house.gov and http://www.senate.gov and write the White House and let President Barack Obama know that we will not settle for anything less than REAL CHANGE! http://whitehouse.gov/contact



If you're in doubt, watch the following video posted by Marcy Winograd, currently challenging

Representative Jane Harman for the House of Representatives from Southern California in 2010: http://winograd4congress.com/petitions/single_payer_video.php



There is no more important issue for America today to secure America's financial future. Please take two minutes of your time and call.