User:Woozle/2009 Healthcare Reform campaigning

Preface

The following is based on a post sent to me with a request for anonymity. Further refinement is welcome. Please italicize and sign comments.

Campaigning for Health Care Reform

With all the rioting, "patriotism", racism, and radical misinformation, it's a wonder that reform has a chance at all. The radical right, mighty white, "I got mine and screw you" groups are out in force. They are misinformed and afraid. They are willing to trample on the right of others to speak, and are unwittingly increasing the ability of health insurers to make obscene amounts of money.

If you sit on your arse on this one, you deserve what you get, which will be more of the same from the "invisible hand" of the Republican right. Hey, I've been slapped by that invisible hand, and I've been trickled on - and it wasn't with 'money' from above. How long are we going to be silent, passive? Don't wait for an invitation, pull a chair up to the table, elbow in as politely as you can. Know your stuff.

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

An official source for refuting anti-reform myths: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/

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 workable oversight. 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. Others are not being allowed to speak. 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 tied up in red tape. Not having insurance is the cruelest rationing of all.

IF YOU CAN, get friends together and picket. Go to meetings and ask if the Senator is willing to give up his government healthcare. Ask if they are going to abolish the government-run and tax funded medicare. Be assertive, but not overly aggressive. Have someone, or two someones, tape you. 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.

Have some sense. It's better to go with a group. Decide weather or not to bring the kids. Special needs children and adults need to be seen and heard. There is a lot anger out there, so be careful.

Visit sites that argue against HC. 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 pretent you're a nun or a monk. DO NOT GET MAD AND CALL NAMES OF POLITICIANS, RELIGION, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, 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 care (sometimes). 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.
• ERs 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 affordable care and prevention that will reduce the burden on the ER's and the publicly funded system. The funding and availability of jobs will also provide inecentives for folks to further their education much needed and well-paying jobs.
• HC creates 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 technology in the world is useless if you have no access.
• Judeo-Christian 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 (preventive medicine -- an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure) 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.
• Pandemics- polio was combated by government funds.
• Research conducted by tax dollars saves lives.
• Safety regulations are funded by tax dollars
• 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, catching diabetees early, among many others.
• Birth control and adult education to prevent surprise pregnancy and therefore abortions.
  • Unfortunately, Cons seem to be largely unmoved by the correlation between sex ed and reduced abortion rates; they would much rather make something illegal and punish those who transgress (it seems to make them feel noble) than do something that actually works... maybe there are some fence-sitters who don't yet know that banning abortions doesn't reduce the rate, while sex-ed does, but bringing this issue up in general probably won't win many converts and might do more to gain antipathy. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
• Paying for the unwanted pregnancy (surprize pregnancy) and the resulting children cost more.
• 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, take better care of their children, and therefore contribute to society.
  • "Health care is pro-business!" Or, slightly longer: "A working healthcare system is infrastructure that businesses need." --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
• Affordable healthcare is a bailout for the working man and woman. So many people are in need.
  • The idea of "bailouts" is a negative button-press for small-government conservative types, so I'd avoid this link too. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
• Healthcare will help the economy with jobs. Employed people will pay taxes and make more so they can contribute and reduce the tax rate (percentage).
• Not having insurance healthcare is the cruelest rationing of all.
  • Personally, I'd rather see a big, thick wall between the insurance and healthcare businesses. I don't know if Obama's public option does this or not, but advocating for "insurance" as a necessity seems like the wrong direction. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

Tricky Questions

• Do you consider healthcare to be a luxury? Why? Would you give up yours, if you needed to save money?
• How is Medicare not "socialized medicine"?
• Have you ever lived in or been to another country? Seen their healthcare? The Germans have a mixed system and they are very pleased. In the UK, you can walk into a doctor's office, be greeted by the doctor, and have a checkup within minutes. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC) All of these countries have lower infant mortality rates than the US. All of them care for their elderly.
• Do you know that US healthcare is far worse than that in other developed nations?

Possible Responses and Potential Replies

"I don't want to pay any taxes."

Do you use highways, military, airports-FAA, VA, poilice, medicare?

"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. Job suported care is becoming rarer and less comprehensive. Small business owners, the partially disabled, the chronically ill who have no care -- all 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 (incentivizing) work and providing education that makes people hireable. 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 healthcare is to be on welfare- people will be forced to remain on healthcare.

"I don't want abortion paid for with my tax dollars."

Then you must care for the wellbeing 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.

If *they* raise the issue of abortion, then we have to bring out the facts, yes. We can't keep pandering to the idea that restricting access to abortions helps to reduce them. Shaming does not work in this culture; if it did, a lot of Republicans would have resigned years ago -- but how can we convince Cons to stop thinking of it as the Only Right Way to prevent behavior they see as "sinful"? I don't know. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

"I don't want to pay for contraception because I don't believe in it."

Jehovah's Witnessses 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 proceedure thru private insurance and taxes. Examples: Circumcisions, alcoholism treatment, . We pay for the things we don't need so we can get things we do need.

I have very little sympathy for anyone who doesn't "believe in" contraception. What's not to "believe in"? It effing *works*. If you don't believe in something for which the evidence is ample, why bother opening your eyes when you get up in the morning? You can just use your "faith" to guide you as you go down the stairs and cross the street. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

"I already have healthcare."

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

This quote is another "fuck you" which I have a hard time responding to. You already have healthcare, so you don't care if other people don't? There's got to be some way to turn this one around... if people really are saying this. Maybe the point to emphasize is that if you have healthcare now, you will still have it under Obamacare -- and it will probably be cheaper and better-run, because hospitals won't have to charge $10 for an aspirin to make up for all the uninsured emergency cases they now treat for free. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)

"Government can't do anything right."

I love my US postal service (and people seem to like Medicare). There still is a UPS and FedEx. A government plan will improve service. Since they will not be throwing tens of millions in bonuses to CEOs 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 sucesses. So, which country would you rather live in?

"Obamacare can't succeed without bipartisan support."

1. So support it, already! *Make* it bipartisan!
2. Many Republicans supported universal care in the past. Theodore Roosevelt supported universal healthcare. This link is a history of Universal Healthcare in the US. http://tomlovetexas.blogspot.com/2009/07/brief-history-universal-health-care.html

T-Shirts, Buttons, and Bumper Stickers

Responses to attacks on "socialized medicine"

• Medicare = Socialized medicine.
• Medicare IS Socialized medicine. (ask me why)
• Healthcare is for the wealthy
  • Maybe this should be "Healthcare is for everyone; insurance is for the wealthy." or something... message unclear. --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
• I care for all my brothers (Pics of working blue collar Americans. We need to combat the lunacy that healthcare reform is only for the benefit of minorities. )

Christian themes

• Universal Healthcare is a Christian Value. (caring for the sick, the poor, sharing what you have)
• Healthcare is a Christian value.
• I love you- so I support Healthcare Reform.
  • Or "I care about [you / my neighbors / my family / my friends] - so I support healthcare reform" --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
• Love thy neighbor- Support healthcare
• Faith, Hope, Charity - Support Healthcare
• For God so loved the earth he gave his only begotten son= Why can't we support Healthcare?
• In his name + Healthcare now (cross)
• Bible verses in support of healthcare:
  • John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son." Why can't we provide healthcare?
  • Luke 2:17 "...and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." SH
  • Luke 10:33-34 "..But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. (34) He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him."
  • Matthew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." - SH
  • Matthew 10:1 "He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness." SH
  • Matthew 12:15 "Many followed him, and he healed all their sick." SH
• God loves us so we can love each other= Healthcare

Patriotic themes

• Taking care of our own is not Socialism (It's Americanism)
• General Welfare is in the Constitution = Support Healthcare Reform
• Justice, Peace, American Strength= Healthcare
• America the Beautiful= Support Healthcare
• From Sea to Shining Sea = Support Healthcare
• You will know they are Christians by their love= Support Healthcare
• "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." - Benjamin Franklin

Think of the Children

• Mothers and children need healthcare. Daddies too.
• Mommy, will I have healthcare? SH
• Do you care for my future? Support Healthcare
• Support my future by Supporting Healthcare
• US prematurity rate- SH

Other

• US Healthcare: can we please catch up with the rest of the world now? --Woozle 16:35, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
  • or, if it will fit: "US Healthcare: can the wealthiest nation in the world please catch up with everyone else now?" --Woozle 16:35, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
• Healthcare is a human right
  • How about "healthcare is a basic human need" - Cons don't like the idea of "human rights" --Woozle 18:09, 10 August 2009 (UTC)
• Healthcare is not a luxury
• Big Insurance= Rationed care
  • or "Health Insurance = Rationed Care"
• Like your insurance? Don't get sick.
• Support healthcare for the good of our elders
• Healthcare = Caring for everyone's health
• I'm healthy (alive) because of Socialized Medicine- Medicaid. SH
• Love means never having to go without healthcare.
• Medicine or dinner? Support healthcare
• Fight the coming pandemic- Support Healthcare
• Daddy deserves healthcare, too. SH
• I have the right to -a healthy- life. SH
• Healthcare is a family value.
• You don't understand; we already have "death panels"! --Woozle 16:35, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
  • Follow-up: "Obamacare gets rid of them." --Woozle 16:35, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

For Those with Obvious Disabilities or Illnesses

For the obviously disabled and ill ------------- Please excuse if this is offensive. I want shock value to bring people back to reality. The more radical of you may consider these messages.

• Imagine me without healthcare. (I don't have to)
• No healthcare= more sickness. SH
• Walk in my shoes- without healthcare.
• Roll in my chair- without healthcare.
• Ask me about my insurance nightmare. SH
• Denied service. Not sick enough.
• Denied service- pre-existing condition-I lived!
• Denied service= Denied health.
• Denial of Service Attack- It's not just for computers anymore. SH
• Without healthcare I would not be working. Or paying taxes to medicare. SH

There are just a few. Please post other ideas.