Did you sign the beverage petition and now wish you hadn't? (from the League of Young Voters)

[fight4my3sons]

If so, you are not alone, and Health Coverage for Maine
needs your help:

ASK TO HAVE YOUR NAME REMOVED. If you have signed the petition and wish to withdraw your name please visit the website www.healthcoveragemaine.org. Under the Take Action tab you will find a letter that can be written to your City Clerk and the Secretary of State. They need to know that you say, "No, thanks! We want health coverage for Maine" and that you were given misinformation when signing. Let us know you've sent these letters. Send us an email telling us you sent these letters: [e-mail]

SHARE YOUR STORIES. If you have a story you would be willing to share, of how you were misinformed when signing the petition, please contact Jen White at info@healthcoverage MAINE .org. This is very time sensitive--please contact Jen as soon as possible!

Maine's efforts are working. Maine is one of the few states that has reduced its number of uninsured citizens in recent years. We need to build on that success and work together to find creative ways to get more people covered by health insurance. Coverage is key. Maine prides itself on a solid sense of community So please, take some time from your summer pleasures to visit the website, write a letter, volunteer or contribute to the campaign at www.healthcoveragemaine.org.

Thank you for supporting Health Coverage for Maine!
The League

PS. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS HELP COLLECT THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THE BEVERAGE PETITION AND NOW WISH THEY HADN'T. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ABOVE AND FORWARD THIS ALONG TO OTHERS!

[high density]

1. I wish I could've signed the petition

I support health coverage by paying $1,000 a year in premiums and the company I work for spends another $3,000 on my behalf for it. I don't need any more taxes for "health coverage," since that's already one of my top expenses. A small state like Maine cannot afford Dirigo Health, no matter how valiant the effort may be. The beverage tax is a bad idea. We're already taxed out.

[luckyleftyme2]

2. your right

these single state health plans are doomed to fail. like corn as a source of fuel.
it cost as much to fund it as it produces.
we need a national health care system to be competitive with the rest of the world.
the cost of private health care has run rampant. there have been dozens of studies that show we pay twice as much for health care as other countries and have a poorer system with less people per capita covered.
the answer is greed and propaganda to maintain a private system. other countries have learned you need government control. we have learned how to corrupt the health system.

[punkpatriot411]

5. That's not true, Maine could do single-payer

But the Democratic leadership in Maine are a bunch of spineless wimps who'd rather suck a big fat corporate cock than stand up for principals.

Hell, they give away our tax dollars to corporations to stay here-- these corporations end up MAKING MONEY on their tax returns. That's INSANE!

We ought to be taxing THE CORPORATIONS so that we can provide services to THE PEOPLE.

The Consumer is the person who drives the economy, not the other way around!

[fight4my3sons]

3. I understand your position.

One of our biggest expenses is health insurance. We are a family of five. My husband just got a job with the state and he will be covered by them, but he still has to pay for us to be insured. It is very expensive. When I go back to work next year it won't be so bad since I will get coverage under my employer.

A lot of people signed the petition not knowing what they were signing. My husband and I did not sign.

[punkpatriot411]

6. This whole thing ignores the point-- GO SEE SiCKO

There is a bill in committee right now, HR 676.

It provides a national single-payer health care plan.

Call Tom Allen, or Mike Michaud (or both) and tell them to support it.

Chellie Pingree already does-- it's part of her platform.

[luckyleftyme2]

7. name a state

sorry this is not true -50 buyers combined can out bid a single state. economics 101. their isn't a single payer state program that is working.
name a state that has one.

[punkpatriot411]

4. I agree with you... I didn't sign it and wished I did...

I don't even care about the expense-- what the Dirigo system is is CORPORATE WELFARE.

The Democratic Leadership here in Maine has found a way to funnel YOUR TAX DOLLARS directly into the bank account of a for-profit company- Anthem Blue Sheild.

It's the textbook definition of FASCISM.

Until we get real and pass a SINGLE PAYER, NOT FOR PROFIT, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PLAN, I'm not interested.

I will also be voting to repeal that tax on beverages, because it's CRAP and it's supporting something that is wrong on its face.

DO IT RIGHT OR DON'T DO IT AT ALL.

[luckyleftyme2]

9. gee

exactly my position but your so full of hatred you can't read. I believe I stated this much more effectively than you Ray!
their is no way we can compete in a world market until we have corrected our healthcare system.
and I've said this for years! and for that group in hope your killing our base!

[tburnsten]

8. I didn't sign it

but it made its way onto the ballot, and I will be voting not to increase beverage taxes. Taxes already reduce my small income by thirty percent, plus sales taxes, registration, everything else that requires me to pay local or state government, too much. I can't afford even a tiny increase in taxes, and I will not see any benefit as I already pay for my own health insurance. Maybe we could get a better system together than just increasing taxes on drinks and calling it good.

[Old and In the Way]

10. If we can't get a national healthcare bill passed now...

why don't the Democrats leverage their 80MM+ members? Let the Party negotiate with HCP's to lower prescriptions, negotiate costs, etc? Make it a national plan that all Democrats can opt in on. Develop it in such a way that it can eventually migrate to a federal plan. Maybe a tangible and cost effective healthcare plan would actually motivate lower/middle-class Republicans (those making under $5MM/year) to join the Party and start voting for their best interests.

[luckyleftyme2]

11. a good idea

I'd second that. It's fool hardy to think the insurance companies have our best interest at heart. The ceo's salaries and perk's tell us that!

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[luckyleftyme2]

13. OLD NEWS

THEY will just fund it anyway.

[Jarody]

14. I know

However it at least got Baldacci to start lying about no increased taxes. Its a start.

[MaineDem]

15. Are you a Democrat now?

Are you here at DU because you agree with this:

"We welcome Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals."

[Jarody]

16. Now that is a vague statement

You see I walk to the tune of my own drummer. One Party, one ideology, these are both limiters to the objectivity of a logical independent mind. I am here to expand my horizons. To listen to,and respond to things that I wouldn't usually hear day to day. I'm not really interested in the circle-jerk philosophy most people settle into when it comes to those they are with. I have a personality and mind that functions and grows best while being constantly re-examined with meaningful and insightful debate. There are some goals that need to be accomplished. Which goals and visions we share though are left to the future.

You might not believe it but under duress I am one of the calmest human beings in the world. All I need is for some angry activists to constantly be against me.

[MaineDem]

17. I wish you luck at DU.

:shrug:

By the way, the above quote comes from DU's rules.

[Jarody]

18. Thank You

Hopefully this political website will be more open minded then others I have be to.