Things We can do to Help get Public Option Passed

Why Act?
I’m frequently asked this question. “Do you think writing letters, making phone calls, and tweeting will really change anything in Washington?” Of course, there are no guarantees. But, as a seasoned student of politics, what I can say is this. If politicians have to choose between corporate lobbyists or getting re-elected, they’ll always choose the latter. So, OUR job is to make them feel insecure about re-election. Stated differently, I can guarantee that, unless WE speak out, nothing will ever change and there will be no public option.

So, what can WE do? Here is a list of some of the basics. In a nutshell, if you sign the petitions, call your local representatives, email 4 or 5 members of Congress, you will have spent about an hour. Not to bad!

Petitions: sign them all!
http://www.americacantwait.com/kospost
http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/resolved
http://standwithdrdean.com

Emails
Most are web forms. Pick as many as you feel you have time for and drop them an email. Also, I posted an email template as the bottom of this post. Of course, it’s best to write your own. But, since I like OPTIONS, you can save some time by copying and pasting this template. DON’T FORGET to fill in names.

Here’s a list of Senators, along with contact info
http://www.opencongress.org/people/senators

Here a list of House members, along with contact info
http://www.opencongress.org/people/representatives

Here's a list of Senate Finance Committee members

http://tinyurl.com/qaa4xt


Template
Use it if you're a loss for words or don't feel for writing your own.


Dear Honorable [FULL NAME], United States Senate,

Americans like me appreciate and admire your service to our country. We especially appreciate the values and ethics you share with, as demonstrated by your vigorous efforts to make America’s promise of a better life a reality for all.

Senator Max Baucus will present you us with a health care reform bill that I think we both believe falls far short of meeting our shared values and ethics. A health care reform bill without a public option is, in reality, a preservation of a status quo which is risking our country’s financial future and failing to provide adequate health care for millions of Americans. Indeed, the public option is absolutely vital for any reasonable attempt to “bend the health care cost curve” over the decades to come, and absolutely crucial for providing health care for the 47 million people currently without health insurance.

I appeal to the values and ethics we both share by asking you, Honorable [FULL NAME], to echo the voices of those that have been overlooked by America’s promise. Speak out by insisting that the public option is not simply a legislative option, but is instead a requisite for bettering the lives all Americans, present and future.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]