I think the time to pour the pressure on for health care reform is NOW.

[TheKentuckian]

The committees have all acted, we have made the most progress in generations, now is the time to do whatever we can to make sure we have the correct reforms rather than protections for the insurance corporations, the preservation of the chains of an employer based system, and political expedience.

It is time to make sure our reps are still locked on target, tho put some heat in the kitchens of our Democratic Senators, and most crucially to make sure we remind President Obama of his promise on the trail to not let the American people be sold a pig in the poke and to pressure OUR President to hold the line.

This was my message to the President this afternoon.



Mr President, I wanted you, your staff, and associates to be aware of my extreme concern as we move towards the stretch on health insurance reform.

You swore you would not allow the American people to be sold a pig in a poke but I fear such a transaction is coming down the pipe and with even your own fingerprints all over it.
The Senate Finance plan is a disaster that will be an albatross around the neck of the Democratic party and the people of the United States of America.
This piece of legislation is extremely weak in a few areas particularly overall cost containment, price controls from the end user standpoint, and choice.

If this bill were to go into effect in anything resembling its current state the people are still behind the 8 ball because a goodly number of folks will still be on the outside looking in for coverage in general, the vast majority of people would still be at the mercy of whatever their employers elect to offer, total out of pocket consumer expense will grow, there are in effect no brakes or steering wheel on the car and if the insurance industry continues to abuse the American people we have no mechanism to slow down or to change directions, the taxpayer will be paying to subsidize entrance into the world's most expensive medical system for a lucky few in a system that will literally give away 20-30 percent of those tax dollars to this predatory industry rather than using that remainder to get more people in the system or to provide for much needed more comprehensive coverage, and that is just kind of a launching off point.

Needless to say, that without significant improvements to create choice for the majority of the American people, real mechanisms to control cost and price, and much more strict oversight of this industry this bill will pretty much be a breach of trust and make it more than just difficult to support you personally going forward but the entire party. We did not send you people to Washington to protect corporate profits at the expense of the electorate and the taxpayers nor did we wish to have our very pressing problems exacerbated in an effort to prop up a failed system that holds us prisoners to the machinations of insurance corporations and our employers.

Continuing down this path is going full steam ahead towards an iceberg to dance around a little rough water. Mr President, YOU MUST FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE.
If it is your intent to forget about how we are struggling as individuals, how difficult it is for our industries to compete, and how much of a handcuff it is to a person who wishes to create a business both from the standpoint of losing coverage as well as not being able to provide it to potential employees in a cost effective manner, then you are in the wrong job.

I also have to add that it is DEAD WRONG to put a mandate on individuals but to then leave all the functions of choice with employers. Not only are we being mandated to purchase a product simply because we draw breath on God's green Earth but then to have no options in the market is a sin and a crime Mr President. The mandate should be on those with the ability to choose. I find it literally shocking that you can morally allow such a situation.

You and your people need to try to perceive this both on the macro and the micro levels. It is clear as day that neither you nor Congress has spent much beyond the most fleeting moment thinking of what will happen to the individuals or even really projecting much beyond a signing session.

This is legislation with more potential for ill than good that heavily depends on employers and certainly the insurance industry to do the right things and that is a level of trust only a fool or a conspirator could ever permit knowing history at all.

Thank you for your attention,
TheKentuckian

[dajoki]

1. K&R!!

[SpartanDem]

2. You are right this a very critical period

at this point I think we've fleshed out all the public option supporters the focus, the progressive community needs to shift pushing from public option support to party unity. If Nelson(NE),Conrad, Lieberman, Landrieu and other holdouts are your Senator this is the time call pressure them to oppose a filibuster.