Healthy 4-0

Ericka and I joined 14 other concerned citizens at Congressman Peter Welch's office today in Burlington (parking less than a block from a giant sinkhole that threatened our very lives).  Yes, my beloved is on bedrest but she felt that this issue is so important that, even though we live in an enlightened state that provides its citizens with healthcare, she should be a part of the process that brings a solution to the rest of the country.

We had a diverse group, loosely-organized by Dear Leader, who apparently either seized power in an online coup or was blackmailed by CREDO. There was 1 college student (from Skidmore across the lake), 3 of us middle-aged folks, and the rest were a bit older and included a fair number of people on Medicare (which it turns out is a decades-old, government-run, successful health program--who knew?).

The primary staffer was Susan Elliot, Peter's "Community Liaison" and his point person on healthcare reform.  Peter was actually in Derby today, and called in literally from the roadside (not unlike the time he called me when I was driving and the connection dropped until he called back after I pulled over in an area with reception).

Dear Leader kicked things off, pressing Rep Welch to pledge that he will not vote for any healthcare reform legislation that excludes a strong public option.  Of course, Peter is a co-sponsor of HR676 (Medicare for All) and the Weiner/Welch amendment which will be given a floor vote and proposes the bill be substituted for the 1000-page convoluted reform package that does not give us single-payer.  We thanked him for that, and several people made their case for taking the pledge to further the cause.

I was Tail End Charlie in the initial round, re-emphasizing that we could use a unified bloc of Progs to counter the Blue Dogs and pointing out that folks in the trenches would like him to signal unequivocally that he stands with us and for us.  Peter was predictably unconvinced, being not only a politician but also the guy who worked hard in committee for a lot of improvements to the flawed HR3200.

Really, I do appreciate his point(s).  We differ on tactics, though the outcome we all want is the same.  Still, pushing the pledge is a useful exercise.  The pledge is a tool that we can use to lay out our desired result and demand a line be drawn in the proverbial sand regarding a strong public option.  It fostered some constructive dialog, and the process continues.

If we get too wrapped up in tactical arguments, we miss the strategic opportunity of the moment.  Peter doesn't want to be hamstrung by a rather binary commitment.  We want to know he will not settle for a bullshit compromise with the Blue Dog that sets back reform.  Somewhere our goals intersect and we play in the margins of what's the best way to push the nut forward.

Peter focused on the problems of working with colleagues in committee, and Dear Leader observed that we're talking about a floor vote on the final form of the bill that comes out of conference.  Ironically, we spent a lot of time talking about sausage making even though we want to be goal-oriented and less obsessed with process, but that's part of the sell: we certainly don't want to hamper his ability to cajole and compromise during the ugly markup process, which is now behind us, and just want him to join other Progs in a resolute stand after Recess.

We recognize the Congressman is fundamentally on our side, so the tone throughout the 45 minute meeting was civil and frank.  A number of the people attending have built relationships with Peter and his staff, and I suspect all of us will continue pushing this pledge thing with him despite his reticence.

A funny moment for Ericka and me was when Peter used us as an example in his train of thought: "you and Ericka were just at Fletcher Allen having a baby, and..."  I smiled, patted Ericka's belly and said, "not quite yet."  His liaison noticed that apparently and after the meeting proactively congratulated us on our imminent delivery and promised that she'd remind the Congressman that our baby wasn't quite done cooking--I told her the last time we'd talked to him, Ericka had just gotten out of the hospital after some complications, so the confusion was understandable.

Peter's minor gaffe aside, it was telling that he remembered our healthcare experience.  Our consistent engagement let him know how big an issue this was for us personally, and how much we were willing to continue working on it.  He's a politician, of course, and his job is to remember folks and make them feel like they're the most important people in the world just like any courtesan.  But he was able to do his job in that little slice of politics because we were doing ours: being present and pressing our position with him.

That's what everybody was doing there.  Some attendees clearly had long histories of interaction with Peter going back to his days working for healthcare reform in our state, and some didn't seem to have much experience engaging their elected employees or even following sausage-making in general.  It was great to see so many people--more than the supposed limit was--show up in the middle of the day to be a part of the political process on such a crucial issue.

I'll allow myself a moment of cynicism in the midst of celebration: would that everybody would do this shit.  Yes, lots of people are, but we need orders of magnitude more to get actively involved and really impress upon our Federal representatives that we're deadly serious about our rights to life, health and the pursuit of happiness.

That said, today's gathering gave me hope.  We're of course very lucky to have a delegation made up of Congressman Welch and Senators Leahy and Sanders.  And they're very lucky to have constituents from all over the state who take their time to petition their government and seek redress of grievances.  Dear Leader did deliver on our behalf a petition with around 350 signatures from Vermonters asking Peter to take the pledge that he would stand firm on a strong public option.  That won't do much in and of itself, but it's an important part of effecting change: our officials need to know our demands and that there is a body of people ready to work for our stated aims.

One attendee was an older woman, big Welch and Obama supporter, who lived in Germany for 5 years and was so perplexed by the resistance to the kind of universal healthcare she enjoyed overseas.  She was at the meeting to try getting some of that care here in the United States, and has worked quite a bit with Peter.

Another attendee saw a couple teabaggers out at Five Corners in Essex Junction, and rather than just pointing and laughing, parked his car, stood on an opposite corner and held up a sign saying Honk For Healthcare.  The wingers were so annoyed by all the honking he inspired, they started accosting him.  They also gave him handouts, including an open letter from Doctors On Strike.

DOS (which oddly enough means 'Denial of Service' in my field) was founded a month ago by a psychologist in Florida.  They have a Factual Ammunition page that's supposed to help opponents fight the public option.  Sadly, they haven't really populated it yet, but there is a link to a summary of HR3200.  I'm still digging to find the stuff in there that violates our right to make medical decisions without government interference--perhaps I'm so far gone ObamaCare will have me euthanized according to Section 1233 of the proposed legislation (oh, wait, that just adds advanced care planning language to the Medicare handbook).

So we have more work to do.  More work educating citizens on our side.  More work countering the bizarre memes of the day.  More work getting bloggers to publicize events.  More work on Congressmembers to get them on board with our ends and means.

Many of you out there are doing the necessary work.  Keep at it.  Be vocal about it.  Inspire others.

I have to say this was such a cool 40th birthday.  I got to go with my pregnant partner and hang out with like-minded, passionate fellow citizens and jump into the machinery of the Republic.  What could be a more empowering, constructive way to counteract mid-life crises and teabaggers?

ntodd

Comments

[Matt Lockshin from CREDO Action]

Thanks so much for writing this up! I'm glad to see that you had a good experience and found it a useful political exercise.

Yours was actually the first constituent meeting we setup for the August recess, so the detailed summary helps me get a feel for how the meeting itself played out. If you think there's anything specifically we can do to make the upcoming meetings in other districts better or more effective, please don't hesitate to send me a note at mlockshin at credomobile dot com.

Thanks again.

[jacksmith]

LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. (Thomas Paine)

We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world. Conservative estimates are that over 120,000 of you dies each year in America from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don't die from. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Insured and uninsured. Men, women, children, and babies. This is what being 37th in quality of healthcare means.

I know that many of you are angry and frustrated that REPUBLICANS! In congress are dragging their feet and trying to block TRUE healthcare reform. What republicans want is just a taxpayer bailout of the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry, and the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry. A trillion dollar taxpayer funded private health insurance bailout is all you really get without a robust government-run public option available on day one. Co-OP's ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION. They are a fraud being pushed by the GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry that is KILLING YOU!

YOU CANT HAVE AN INSURANCE MANDATE WITHOUT A ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION. MANDATING PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTH INSURANCE AS YOUR ONLY CHOICE WOULD BE A DISASTER AND UNETHICAL, CORRUPT, AND MORALLY REPUGNANT. AND PROBABLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS WELL.

These industries have been slaughtering you and your loved ones like cattle for decades for profit. Including members of congress and their families. These REPUBLICANS are FOOLS!

Republicans and their traitorous allies have been trying to make it look like it's President Obama's fault for the delays, and foot dragging. But I think you all know better than that. President Obama inherited one of the worst government catastrophes in American history from these REPUBLICANS! And President Obama has done a brilliant job of turning things around, and working his heart out for all of us.

But Republicans think you are just a bunch of stupid, idiot, cash cows with short memories. Just like they did under the Bush administration when they helped Bush and Cheney rape America and the rest of the World.

But you don't have to put up with that. And this is what you can do. The Republicans below will be up for reelection on November 2, 2010. Just a little over 13 months from now. And many of you will be able to vote early. So pick some names and tell their voters that their representatives (by name) are obstructing TRUE healthcare reform. And are sellouts to the insurance and medical lobbyist.

Ask them to contact their representatives and tell them that they are going to work to throw them out of office on November 2, 2010, if not before by impeachment, or recall elections. Doing this will give you something more to do to make things better in America. And it will make you feel better too.

There are many resources on the internet that can help you find people to call and contact. For example, many social networking sites can be searched by state, city, or University. Be inventive and creative. I can think of many ways to do this. But be nice. These are your neighbors. And most will want to help.

I know there are a few democrats that have been trying to obstruct TRUE healthcare reform too. But the main problem is the Bush Republicans. Removing them is the best thing tactically to do. On the other hand. If you can easily replace a democrat obstructionist with a supportive democrat, DO IT!

You have been AMAZING!!! my people. Don't loose heart. You knew it wasn't going to be easy saving the World. :-)

God Bless You

jacksmith — Working Class

I REST MY CASE (http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

Republican Senators up for re-election in 2010.

* Richard Shelby of Alabama
* Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
* John McCain of Arizona
* Mel Martinez of Florida
* Johnny Isakson of Georgia
* Mike Crapo of Idaho
* Chuck Grassley of Iowa
* Sam Brownback of Kansas
* Jim Bunning of Kentucky
* David Vitter of Louisiana
* Kit Bond of Missouri
* Judd Gregg of New Hampshire
* Richard Burr of North Carolina
* George Voinovich of Ohio
* Tom Coburn of Oklahoma
* Jim DeMint of South Carolina
* John Thune of South Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas
* Bob Bennett of Utah

[Jim Goble]

Hey, most of the time that Clinton was President he could get no legislation passed without Bob Dole's consent. And Tom Delay, during the Bush years, acted like the Fuehrer of the House of Representatives. When we tried to get our point across, they said they represented the majority and they didn't care what we thought.

But the Republican team lost in 2008! Why are they trying to tell us that the majority of the American people support them on this health care issue?

[Mens True Religion 5]

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