Health Care for All

Unless you've been on the space station or otherwise planetary traveling you know the health care debate is heating up. One cannot turn on the tv, radio, or log on without being bombarded with information and/or propaganda on the subject of "reforming" the nation's health care system. From the point of view of this author, universal health care is now a vital part of the defense of the Commons.

But it's not my intention now to inundate you with yet more and more information EXCEPT that I saw a story the other day that everyone should see. The story cites a new poll indicating overwhelming support amongst all Americans (Democrats, Republicans, and Independents) for a publicly funded insurance OPTION as a part of the overall health reform package. In fact 72% of all respondents, including 87% of Democrats, favor a public insurance option!

Yet despite these overwhelming numbers IN FAVOR of a public insurance OPTION that does not deny anyone the right to choose a private insurer, we will hear from Republicans AND from at least some Democrats that providing this public option is simply the whimsical fantasy of a small number of radical "socialists" on the left and thus not to be taken seriously. A recent piece by Paul Krugman in the NYT's makes this point nicely.

Now is the time for us to act. The word on the street in our communities seems to go something like this: Mass Democrats and our congressional delegation especially, strongly favor a progressive health reform plan which includes a public insurance OPTION. What usually follows then is: So what are we supposed to DO? Meaning, hey, we're the good guys, we're all for this. This attitude, in my humble opinion, is a prescription for a big disappointment come the fall. First, in my fair City, Peabody, I know there are lots of folks who would be very surprised to learn that nearly three-quarters of Americans FAVOR a public insurance OPTION. The most surprised might even be some of our elected representatives. This is TOO IMPORTANT to leave to chance or to the mistaken belief that at least in our Commons the battle is already won.

We should call upon ALL of our ELECTED OFFICIALS WHETHER LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL TO COME OUT OPENLY AND FORCEFULLY IN FAVOR OF REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM, or they should explain themselves to the great MAJORITY of Americans who now favor real reform. In addition, all of us need to take the time to continue to inform ourselves and ACT together over the next few months as the onslaught of health insurance company lobbyists work feverishly to convince us that only THEY have the best interest of the American people at heart.

If you want to help us work locally on this critical issue please join our network and let us know what you would be willing to do to stand up for real health care reform in this country. If not now, WHEN? And if not us, then WHO?