08/26/2009--Letter to Editor--Supporting Robust Public Healthcare Option

I submitted this letter this afternoon to the Wilmington News Journal.

Robust Health Requires Robust Public Option

Public health insurance serves our soldiers, our seniors, and our Senators. Why not the rest of us: self-employed persons, small businesses, people between jobs, and young persons with multiple part-time jobs?

Private health insurance works quite well for those employed by large companies. But it fails the rest of the country, the almost 50 million Americans without health insurance, who are often one illness away from bankruptcy. It fails those who lose their job, and with it their health insurance. It fails those who stay at their job purely for the health insurance, unable to leave or retire, due to healthcare concerns. It fails those whose economic life is overwhelmed by the cost of their chronic disease.

Our current system works for many, but also fails a great many. Our country is too great to permit this injustice to continue, and to grow. If you feel that private health insurance companies alone provide the best health care our country offers, then insist that your senator vote to terminate the public health coverage they themselves enjoy, and that enjoyed by our soldiers, and your parents and grandparents.

If, instead, you recognize that millions will benefit from the choice of a robust public option, then let your senator know.

Progressive Update--08/05/2009

Health Care Reform—With the Delaware state legislature on its 6 month hiatus, job #1 for many liberals is helping to get good reform to health care. In Newark, Richard Field (rtfield@verizon.net) and Jennifer Hill (jennannhill@gmail.com) and several others are helping to push this along. With legislators such as Tom Carper, a lot of pushing is necessary, to counter-balance the insurance lobbying they are receiving. Let Richard know by email if you would like to be added to his email list of those interested in learning more about planned health care reform.
Richard and Jen and others have organized a forum this Monday, the 10th, at 6:30pm. Are you confused and uncertain about what will happen when health care reform passes? There is so much information and misinformation it is hard for us all to discern the truth. So we are bringing to you a real expert (nationally recognized Families USA Deputy Director Kathleen Stoll) who can explain the bill and how it will help us here in Delaware. There is a flyer at http://udel.edu/~rtfield/Training.pdf. Please print and distribute it. Please attend, and bring a friend!
Legislative Wrap-Up—With Democrats in charge of the state House, and with one fewer Blue Dog Democrat in the state Senate, finally some good legislation made it through Dover this year. Hopefully we can continue this momentum in January when the legislature re-convenes.
Equal Rights for All—Newark—I understand that the city council meeting next Monday will address some of the equal rights proposals, however 1) I have not confirmed this, and 2) I am certain that you will first attend the health care reform meeting that begins at 6:30pm, as described earlier.