Being a woman = pre-existing condition?

What a bunch of crap. Rape, pregnancy, domestic abuse, c-sections are considered pre-existing conditions so women pay more for health insurance and get less coverage. Nice.

Sign here to send Congress a message that being a woman does NOT = pre-existing condition.

Support the Public Option

Slinkerwink over at Daily Kos put together this great video in support of the public option. My son and I are in it, too (at the very end). Please watch and pass along.

Letter to Editor

Hi All,

I need to write a letter to the editor about the public option and am too lazy to research it myself. Anybody have any good talking points for me? Our city paper ran an article about the Chamber of Commerce opposing the public option (well, all/any healthcare proposals really) and I'm mad. So, help?

Thanks.

Not an option

The public option is not optional! Sign here to let Obama know that we will not settle for a health care plan without the public option. Seriously.

Healthcare Reform

From my cyber friend, lyn:

Not everyone has the time or inclination to join in the health care debate. But if you'd like to take a second to be counted, here are some easy links. Just click and add your name. I set up a separate hotmail account for things like this to keep autospam out of my real email account, and my browser will autofill the info for me. It takes less time than reading a single MT thread.

HealthReform.gov
Democracy for America

Change.org

Credo Action
The White House

I've posted some of these on earlier threads, but as lyn said, "Vote early, vote often."

More stuff to do today.

Tell Sean Hannity to STFU here.

Keep health care reform moving forward by clicking here.

Tell NY Governor Paterson to stop shackling pregnant inmates during labor here.

Help save Sumatran tigers from extinction here.

Help the Save Darfur site name their new campaign and send a message to Obama to remember the plight of those in Darfur here.

More stuff to do today.

Click here to ask the UN to end violence in schools.

Click here to help stop the Alaska wolf massacre. And. Also. You betcha.

Click here to tell the Department of Labor to release its list of goods tainted by slave labor.

Click here to demand Paid Family leave.

Click here to stop opponents of health care reform from distorting the truth. And. Also. Death Panels, doncha know?

Click here for some nice talking points on healthcare reform.

Another chance to speak your mind

President Obama is encouraging everyone to tell their healthcare story:

Share your personal story about the importance of health care reform in your life and the lives of those you love.

We will share your stories with members of Congress to build support for health care reform. Here are a few pointers for making sure your story is heard:

Be Personal: This is your story, and should focus on your own life experience, your beliefs, and the changes you hope to see.
Be Specific: The most powerful and memorable stories include specific, real-life examples.
Be Concise: There's no specific limit on the length of your story, but you should try to communicate the essence of your story as clearly and concisely as possible.
Your personal stories can be a powerful call for change. When the lobbyists for the status quo tell Congress to hold back, your personal story will give them the courage to press forward.

Go here to share your story. No story is too great or too small and all should be heard. The stakes are high and the wingnuts are already in a full court press to derail real health care reform. Please share your story today.

Stand up for Health Care

The wingnuts are out in force and ready to kill any health care proposal put forth by President Obama. I am so sick and tired of them bemoaning socialized medicine (of which they know nothing about), insisting the "free market" will make the necessary corrections, and throwing up straw men (Social Security and Medicare) to divert the conversation. While I'm sure I won't feel the President's plan goes far enough, I will stand with him on the basics he is proposing:

*Reduce Costs — Rising healthcare costs are crushing the budgets of governments, businesses, individuals and families and they must be brought under control
*Guarantee Choice — Americans must have the freedom to keep whatever doctor and healthcare plan they have, or to select a new doctor or healthcare plan if they choose
*Ensure Affordable Care for All — All Americans must have quality and affordable health care

Click here to declare your support, too.

Quickie: Kids and Healthcare

From Speak Now for Kids:

Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform is a national campaign sponsored by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.). N.A.C.H. is joined by national partners and supporting organizations from around the country who all care deeply about how children will be treated in health reform. Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform urges parents, family members, health care providers and other advocates to tell Congress why children matter in health reform – through stories, photos and videos.

Speak Now for Kids in Health Reform provides an open forum for the public to express their thoughts and concerns about children and health reform. The opinions expressed on this Web site are those of individuals visiting the site, and do not represent the views of the Web site sponsor, partners or supporters.

Be a champion for children. Take a moment to Speak Now to let Congress know in your own words what you think about children's health care and share this information with your friends.

If you have a story to tell, please send it in soon. Thanks.

Take action now

Here are several actions to take with just the click of your mouse:

Push for a strong climate change bill here.

Help prevent a dramatic increase in homeless families and children here.

Get federal stimulus money to people who really need it here.

Urge passage of an Energy Resource Efficiency Standard here.

Send Congress a message that healthcare reform can't wait here.

Support Paid Parental leave here.

Not the change we need

Family planning has been stripped from the stimulus package. From Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood:

I'm stunned. We've just confirmed news reports that provisions to expand access to affordable family planning will be stripped from the economic stimulus bill. Removing this provision is a betrayal of millions of low-income women, and it will place an even greater burden on state budgets that are already strained to the breaking point.

I was frustrated when I saw a parade of legislators and talking heads on television this weekend spreading false information about this commonsense bill. House Minority Leader John Boehner even claimed that the provision would cost millions of dollars — when the fact is it would save the federal government $700 million over 10 years.

I was even more shocked to read today that congressional leaders have taken these false arguments seriously and will remove family planning provisions from the stimulus bill. It's time for Washington to hear from the millions of Americans who support commonsense policies that invest in health care and help ease the economic downturn.

Let me be clear. The Medicaid Family Planning State Option is a simple way to make health care affordable for millions of Americans. It would do two important things:

1. It would allow millions of women to obtain basic health care. It would extend safety-net health care coverage for millions who are losing their jobs and health insurance in the economic downturn. Studies estimate that 2.3 million low-income women would receive coverage under this provision by 2014, and 500,000 women would be able to avoid unintended pregnancies.
2. In these difficult times, this provision would save states money. State budgets are being squeezed by the economic downturn, just as millions are losing their jobs and health insurance. The Medicaid Family Planning State Option not only would help states extend their coverage, it would generate savings for states and the federal government by expanding access to preventive care.

What to do? Again from PP:

Call the White House at 202-456-1111 — it's a quick and easy way to make a big impact. Click here for more details on what to say, and to report back to Planned Parenthood on your call. (A phone call is the best way to make your voice heard, but if you can't make the call, you can send an email here.)
Please, take two minutes now to help us raise a public outcry.

One-stop activism

End hunger, raise funds for breast cancer research, give books for literacy, support children's health, help rescue animals,and save the rainforest, oh my! Click on each tab every day to help support these very important causes. I feel guilty if I don't click each day because it is THAT EASY to help.

It is truly an amazing site run by Greater Good. Please support them with your time and mouse button.

I signed up for the daily reminder email so I'm sure to click every day. You should do that, too.

Here's the link.