(Continued, thanks for reading to the end)
8. Preventive care is the most important aspect of healthcare reform and that includes check-ups, mammograms, chronic disease management and this will result in a healthier America and savings in the long run;
9. August is the critical month to be heard constructively about healthcare reform so please visit your Congresspersons, write to them, join grass roots organizations, talk to your family and friends, attend community meetings, town hall meetings, read information posted on various websites such as HealthcareReform.org, DNC.org, Healthcare For America Now at
www.healthcareforamericanow.org or by requesting information or leave a voice mail message at ofainfo@dnc.org. The floor was then opened to attendees as follows:
Q: Caller from Ohio asked if the environment of all town hall meetings based on shouting and drowning out real voices from being "heard?"
A: No. These unfortunately happen to be the ones that get publicized by the media for sensationalism. Although it is an emotional issue and every voice is important, there are many more town hall meetings that are calm, orderly, constructive, and positive and we should encourage this type of town hall meeting format at all cost. Please help us to accomplish this by attending town hall meetings in your area and maintain calm and get your voice heard.
- Remember, we don't want to exclude anybody, but we do want to encourage constructive dialogue so that we can hear and understand each other respectfully;
- A constructive town hall meeting is the most effective town hall meeting!
Q: Caller from Indiana asked how will young voters be affected by healthcare reform?
A: Good question. After attending college kids learn that they are dumped from the family's health insurance and their only choice is to go to the Emergency Room. This healthcare reform plan will require coverage up to age 26.
- Healthcare Reform will also create a healthcare exchange plan where kids can choose an affordable plan. This will focus on preventive care at no extra charge. You know in Washington, DC, there is this echo-chamber of hyperness and the appearance of a win/loose battle, but across the country, folks are working very hard and calmly and talking to people with these types of concerns and who have probing questions and it this is appreciated as you help to make healthcare reform a reality. Let me turn the call over to Mr. Jack Deneebley, Community Organizer from California.
Mr. Jack Dneebley, Community Organizer from California is currently attending a town hall meeting in California.
1. Thank you. I am currently at Congressman Adam Smith's town hall meeting and I also stand with the President on healthcare reform;
2. Attending this meeting are doctors, nurses, veterans, scores of people and it is a very orderly crowd. OFA volunteers are passing out Fact v. Myth flyers and there are some opposers present with signs that read, 'What's the rush?" They are orderly.
3. Mr. Deneebley share his story of how his father arrived in America as an immigrant and worked in a major hospital cleaning floors for several decades. Mr. Deneebley shared that his father attended medical school and soon became a doctor. As proud as he is of his father's accomplishments, Mr. Deneebley shared that when his father developed a brain tumor and after years of paying insurance premiums, his insurance company denied coverage for chemo-therapy. His father paid for his own therapy until the time came to make a decision between continuing paying for his own chemo-therapy and paying for Jack to attend college. His father stopped paying for chemo-therapy and paid for his son's college tuition. Seventeen days after stopping chemo-therapy, Jack's father succumbed to the brain cancer. Jack now works hard to see a change in healthcare for the country and he shared these important facts:
1. We can change lives, save lives, and we have to do this by respectfully telling the truth about healthcare in America and the truth is in our history;
2. This August recess in Congress is a crucial time to share our stories with our elected officials and we can accomplish this very great thing called healthcare reform;
3. We have to count on each other to roll up our sleeves and knock on doors together, talk to our neighbors, and reform healthcare brick by brick and mortar by mortar. We can change our lives and communities and we can do better for our children. Thank you.
Mr. Jeremy concluded the teleconference and invited questions or comments be sent to either healthcare@barackobama.com, ofainfo@dnc.org, or by leaving a voice mail message at 1-866-495-2004. Of course, you can count on me to keep U.S. up to date on this social network. Remember, knowledge is power and lobbyists are counting on the fact that ignorance will guarantee them continued control and power over our health at our expenses!
Tonight's teleconference illustrated that most of the town hall meetings across the country are peaceful and an opportunity for both sides to be heard. Healthcare lobbyists are sending in their own people to be disruptive at town hall meetings, too. Our task must now become using wisdom urging the passage of healthcare reform in the U.S. Won't you please, please join this effort? Thank you.
Agnes B. Levine
Compliments of
The Obama Healthcare Advocacy Team
Agnes B. Levine is the Author of "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By an African-American Bipolar Woman" (ISBN 13 978-9754612-0-4). Available NOW on Amazon.com
Posted By: agnes levine
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 at 1:54PM
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