With all the rioting, false "patriotism", racism, and radical misinformation, it's a wonder that healthcare has a chance at all. The radical right, mostly white, I got mine and screw you groups are out in force. They are misinformed and afraid. Their fear is being used against their best interest. They are willing to trample on others right to speak and are unwittingly increasing the ability of health insurers to make obscene amounts of money on the misery of those they insure and those they deny coverage to.

If you sit on your arse on this one you deserve what you get. More of the same from the not so "invisible hand" radical right economist talk about. Hey, I've been slapped by that hand and I've been trickled on- and it wasn't with 'money' from above. How long are we going to be silent and passive? Don't wait for an invitation, pull a chair up to the table, elbow in as politely as you can. Know your stuff. Make sure 'they' know your mind and that not passing this will be a liability in the coming elections.

Who is opposing the rioters? Almost no one. Pansy arse, non-participating, granola crunching citizens are wallowing in apathy, some in fatalistic moaning, and others in hubris thinking, "Well it makes sense so it must pass."

Mind you, the Democrats could cock this up all by themselves. They may compromise their way out of a efficient and working system. They may set up a system without system-wide over site due to insurance co pressure. Many seem unwilling to go out on a limb and explain what they are doing, how it will work, what it will cover, and how it benefits big biz, small biz, the coming tsunami of boomers, the indigent, the unemployed, and the underemployed. Others are not being allowed to speak due to the teabagger's tactics. The public should be reminded that in these economic times they may be next. They need to be reminded that private insurance 'rations' care already and are full of red tape. Not having insurance is the cruelest rationing of all.

IF YOU CAN get friends together and picket, protest, and write letters to the editor.

Go to meetings and ask if the senator or pol speaking is willing to give up his government healthcare.

Ask if they are going to abolish the government-run and tax funded medicare.

Be assertive, insistent, but not asinine.

Have someone, or two someones, tape you. Post it on YouTube. Tag it with Palin, Healthcare, medicaid, tea party, and whatever else you deem fit.

Protest kindly, wear t's, pass out bumper stickers, government flyers for expanded healthcare at local meetings in your area. Here's a link for printables. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6132893

Here is a link for finding folks that need to hear your voice. http://advocacy.barackobama.com/healthcare/campaigns/1/office_scripts/17/offices/district

Call the media- preferably a non-biased media source. News Channels, newspapers, local bloggers, and activist organizations. Get to know the news movers and shakers in your area. Can I say it again? Call the media!

Have some sense. It's best to go with a group. If you feel confident in your abilities to go it alone, give it a go. Be aware of those around you.

Decide whether or not to bring the kids. Special needs children and adults need to be seen and heard. They are badly served or under served. There is a lot anger out there, so be careful.

Visit sites that argue against healthcare reform. DO NOT TROLL! If you have been an ass in the past or seriously broken any of the rules above get a new screen name and pretend you're a nun or a monk. Do not get mad and call names of politicians, religion, religions organizations, or past presidents.

These are your talking points.

Medicare IS government run healthcare.

Boomers are going to retire and having paying participants in a government program will reduce the cost overall- just the way private insurance funds it's own care.

Mothers and Children receive some assistance. What about the fathers? The breadwinners who need to stay healthy so they can support the family at home and in the workforce with fewer sick days or layoffs due to illness.

Cancer is practically a death sentence for the poor. Many of the out of pocket expenses make their treatment and palliative care (relieving pain, distress, and nausea) sub-standard.

ER 's are overcrowded with people who have no healthcare. They go there because they cannot be denied treatment. Often after suffering longer until the illness cost more to treat. Prevention and early care can save a lot of money and prevent people from becoming so sick they cannot work.

General Practitioners are in short supply. If we can get more Nurse Practitioners into they system more people will have access, affordable care and prevention that will reduce the burden on the ER's. The funding and availability of jobs will also provide incentives for folks to further their education for much needed and well-paying jobs.

Expanding healthcare rates jobs for the unemployed and underemployed as staff, techs, and maintenance people. Something for the working men and women to take advantage of as a worker and as a participant in the health plan.

Our infant mortality/prematurity rates in the US cost the US a lot of money and are shameful. Our infant issues- prevention birth defects- care in utero are woefully inadequate when compared with other developed nations. Why can't the US become number one in this area? http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/oct2008/mort-o18.shtml

The best healthcare system in the world is useless if you have no access, or no insurance.

Christian-Judaic values state that we should love one another and care for one another. Jesus healed the sick, the poor, and the mentally ill. Should we not try to follow in his footsteps?

Even illegals should get healthcare because of the coming pandemic(s). We need to keep tabs on EVERYONE'S health status as best as it can be done so quarantines will be enforced as needed. This is a worldwide problem and we need to go back to the common sense that prevented Polio and TB outbreaks from becoming even worse. (for the elder person) Do you remember how bad polio was before their was adequate treatment?

Pandemics- polio was combated by government funds. The government, thru the CDC research division, helps fashion the yearly flu vaccines. This is taxpayer funded medical assistance.

Research conducted with my tax dollars saves lives.

Safety regulation are funded by tax dollars. This prevention saves lots of money for public and private businesses and reduces lost productivity. It protects the safety of our food.

Education and support is the key to reducing preventable health problems like obesity, drug and alcohol abuse, unwanted or medically unwise pregnancies, high blood pressure, early diabetes detection, among many others.

Birth control and adult education to prevent surprise pregnancy and therefore abortions.

Paying for the unwanted pregnancy (surprise pregnancy) and the resulting children cost more than preventive care. The 'supreme' children are often reliant on government support.

Fewer employers offer healthcare, and it is often limited. Getting a job with benefits is harder these days and even harder to keep.

Healthier people can work, work more, have fewer sick days, and can take better care of their children. Therefore they contribute to society by paying their taxes, reducing the individual tax bill, and putting very little burden on the system.

Healthcare is pro-business! It allows small businesses owners to be competitive in hiring the best and brightest. I empowers movers and thinkers to start their own company without the fear of having no insurance for themselves and their families.

Affordable healthcare is a hand-up for working men, women, and their families. This greatly reduces the caregive burden on families that have sick or chronically ill members. So many people are in need in these uncertain times.

Healthcare will help the economy with jobs. Employed people will pay taxes and make more so they can contribute and reduce the tax rate (lower percentage of a person's income).

Not having health care is a defacto, "death panel" for people who are diagnosed too late, or who cannot get the care they need in a timely manner.

Not having healthcare is the cruelest rationing of all.

TRICKY QUESTIONS

Do you consider healthcare to be a luxury? Why? Would you give up yours?

How is medicare not socialized medicine?

Have you ever lived, been to another country? Seen their healthcare personally? The Germans have a mixed system and they are very pleased with it. The French have the best healthcare outcomes in the world. In the UK it's not unusual to walk into a general practitioners office and be seen within minutes. Most developed nations have lower infant mortality than the US. All of them care for their elderly.

Almost all of developed countries have lower infant mortality rates than the US. All of these countries take excellent care of their elderly.

Do you know that US healthcare is far poorer than other developed nations?

POSSIBLE RESPONSES AND POTENTIAL REPLYS

I don't want to pay any taxes, or higher taxes. Do you or members of your family use highways, military, airports-FAA, VA, police, medicare, schools. All these things take tax dollars. As a nation we spent a lot of money while cutting taxes. If we are to maintain the economy, which has been greatly harmed by corporate greed, we need to support the struggling and the middle class with this assitance. Fixing the rising cost of healthcare and preventing illnesses now will save us money in the long run. Preventing families and small businesses from falling into bankruptcy over healthcare will strengthen the economy greatly. This will allow programs for our elder citizens to continue as strong and probably stronger than they are now.

The mexicans and the blacks will get all the care. That's not possible since there are far more whites than minorities in the US. Healthcare is not based on race, but on need. There are far more poor whites in this country than blacks.

People who don't have care are lazy and shiftless. In these economic times everyone is at risk to lose their job. Job supported healthcare is becoming rarer and less comprehensive. Small business owners, the partially disabled, the chronically ill who have no care will push up the bankruptcy rates and cost us more without timely care that keeps them healthy and productive. When the partially disabled are pushed to full disability it will cost the taxpayer more.

Welfare folks will get more. They already have assistance. I'm all for "strongly" encouraging (incentivising) work. Many people cannot work because they will lose the few medical benefits they already have. Others cannot work because they are caregivers to severely ill. Some people cannot work full time because they will lose the paltry healthcare that their sick family members rely on, but not make near enough to continue treatment. Citizens need to contribute in society if they possibly can. We agree that we need to reduce welfare. This is one way. If the only way to keep marginal healthcare is to be on welfare- people will be forced to remain on welfare. People will not go off welfare if they are worse off without it.

I don't want abortion paid for with my tax dollars. Then you must care deeply for the well being of people who have been born. Increased prevention and education will decrease abortions. Those about to be born, their mothers, siblings, and fathers need healthcare, too, so they will live in a healthy household.

I don't want to pay for contraception because I don't believe in it. Jehovah's witnesses pay taxes and for private insurance that go for blood transfusion they don't agree with. People who don't believe in modern medicine pay for modern medical procedure thru their private insurance and taxes. Examples: Circumcisions, and faith based alcoholism/drug treatment paid for by those who are not religious. We pay for the things we don't need or agree with so we can get things we do need.

I already have healthcare. Circumstances change and companies are trying to get out from their obligations to remain solvent. Many companies will go bankrupt and then how will heath policies be supported?

Government can't do anything right. Government healthcare will destroy private healthcare. I love my US postal service. There still is a UPS and FedEx, tho. A government plan will improve service. They will not be throwing ten's of millions in bonuses to CEO's, and the like, more money will go to the programs. No one complains when the government does well, so perhaps we are not hearing about the successes. So, which country would you rather live in? Are you happy with your medicaid? Wouldn't you like the process to be streamlined and more efficient thru reform?

Obama will set up "death panels" to euthanize the sick an elderly. Many Republicans and right wing pundits disagree with this statement. No one will take away your health rights, they are just expanding the care to others who need it.

Public Healthcare is Socialism and Un-American. Many Republicans have supported universal care in the past. Theodore Roosevelt supported universal healthcare. President Truman, who worked well with the Republicans, supported universal health care.

This link is a history of Universal Healthcare in the US. http://tomlovetexas.blogspot.com/2009/07/brief-history-universal-health-care.html


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I'm not kidding- get off your BUTT! The time is now, the word is go, and task is hard. Pull your weight! Consider this partial payment for your insurance for now and the future.

Remember these people are not the enemy- their ideas are the problem. Fight the misinformation. Fight the idea. Oppose the premise, not the person. Be a bulldog! Don't let go. The golden rule is the best ethical and moral teaching we have. It is the core of basic Christian, Jewish, and human values. Do not resort the their boorish behavior. The energy and passion that they are committing to this fight must be matched or overtaken by our passion and commitment.

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I hope I have gotten my point across. I have never blogged before. Please be forgiving of any grammar or spelling errors. I'm a little weird with commas. If you know of good info/ links please post in comments. If you have a better way of saying something, please post. Let us know if there is a problem with some of the links. Report on your successes and on what worked, what didn't, and what pitfalls you ran into.

Flaming and trolling are discouraged. Violators will be spanked.

I wish you health.

SSCAPE