10 September 2009

Health care speech afterthoughts

The gang has cleared from my space. We gathered to watch President Obama give the health care reform speech to Congress. Now I am here burning the midnight oil collecting my thoughts on tonight's address. Surely my faith in him, his promises and in his administration has been reaffirmed. He gave a speech at a crucial time that will move this issue forward. At a time when some Americans began losing hope, he came - as he always does - to reassure us that he has not given up on the fight that will eventually allow accessible and affordable health care.

I could discuss the hecklers such as Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina who yelled "you lie" to the President of the United States or Representative Louie Gohmert of Texas who had a sign around his neck that read "What bill?" (that's for a later entry)... However, I will focus my attention on the letter that President Obama mentioned in his speech - the letter that dear Senator Ted Kennedy wrote to him in May. Check it out here.

05 September 2009

No public option – No reform

Last summer I worked vigorously with countless of other Obama supporters to help him win the presidency. One of his major campaign promises was to revamp the failing health care system.
If you believe that the current health care system is not supporting all Americans, then I dare you to get on board and rally behind the public option. America needs this – not a “trigger system” that reports indicate that Obama is leaning towards to appease the republicans and blue dog democrats. Fiscal conservatives argue that a public option is too expensive, it’s too massive, and he’s pushing forth a socialist agenda. Give me a break. What is too expensive is voting to fund a war that we should have never entered. Health care is increasing, insurance companies are failing to provide services to those who have preexisting conditions, and millions of Americans are without coverage.

Many of my friends who are either finishing or finished college are participating in unpaid internships without healthcare. There are equal or greater people employed at companies who do not offer health insurance. Most companies have inserted clauses that drop coverage after one reaches a certain age (ie. I was dropped from my parent’s insurance once I reached 23). Thankfully my employer provides reasonably affordable insurance. However, without this public option, I fear that what I’m paying now will double or triple. This is the perfect opportunity to revamp the system and hold insurance company’s accountable to providing ethical coverage.

We elected President Obama to overturn the politics of the past. He cannot afford to break away or concede to those who are unwilling to offer up solutions or compromises. He cannot give in to the insurance lobbyists who are injecting fear and blatant lies into the health care reform discussions nor can he turn back on his campaign promises. This is important. The public option is absolutely necessary and will be a great way of regulating the current prices of insurance.

No public option – No reform.