Yesterday Organizing for America, the political arm of President Obama, organized a national day of action to call Congress in favor of healthcare reform. They set a goal of making 100,000 calls to Congress for the President's Plan for Healthcare Reform which includes a public health insurance option. Well after a day of calling Congress they tallied up the results and it turns out 315,023 called Congress for healthcare reform. And news reports said that addition to these calls being for the President's Plan (which as I mentioned includes the public option) 4 out of 5 directly mentioned the public option in their calls.
This is without a doubt one of if not the biggest outpouring of support for real healthcare reform ever. And already it is paying off. Senate Democrats have announced that they will strip health insurers of their antitrust exemption in the healthcare bill and House Democrats are 8 votes away from moving forward with the strongest possible public option. And this is just the start, it will be hard but we are making huge progress. But we can't let down our guard.
If you haven't yet, call both of your Senators as well as your representative. If they are already strongly behind healthcare reform and a public option thank them for it (for example, when you call Franken). If they still need a little nudging tell your personal story about why healthcare is important to you and urge them to back real healthcare reform that includes a strong public option.
Now over 329,046 Americans and counting have called Congress. Don't let up. If you havn't made your calls yet what are you waiting for? The healthcare crises to get worse?
Today Organizing for America, the political arm of President Obama, set a goal of making 100,000 calls to Congress for the President's Plan for Healthcare Reform. That includes a public health insurance option. Well it's only 3:54 CT right now and already 171,215 have called their members of Congress.
This is unprecedented. More than any "tea party" or protests or ads this is what members of Congress will look at when they are thinking about how to vote on a public option and how to vote on healthcare reform. If you haven't yet, call both of your Senators as well as your representative. If they are already strongly behind healthcare reform and a public option thank them for it (for example, when you call Franken). If they still need a little nudging tell your personal story about why healthcare is important to you and urge them to back real healthcare reform that includes a strong public option.
That will give you the numbers for our representatives in Congress and will let you report how the calls went so calls can be tracked.
And let us know in the comments if you've made a call. Anyone called one of our "moderates" like Rep. Peterson to see where he is standing now? Let us know.
Climate change would have a devastating impact on the world and indeed we are already seeing it's effects around the world. And right here in Minnesota climate change would hurt our farmers and the natural resources we value so much. That's why Congress is considering passing comprehensive climate legislation. But like other issues progress is being obstructed by powerful interests. Thankfully some good Minnesota businesses are standing up for Minnesota's future and you can join them in making a difference.
Back in August the Chamber of Commerce called for a new 'Scopes Monkey Trial' on climate change and the Chamber has become one of the leading opponents of action on climate change. As the New York Times noted in discussing climate legislation:
No organization in this country has done more [than the U.S. Chamber] to undermine such legislation
But the Chamber bills itself as the "voice of business" and many businesses recognize the tremendous economic potential of taking strong climate action and transitioning to a clean energy economy. In fact, studies have shown the US could create 1.9 million jobs (PDF) by passing comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation like the Chamber opposes. And so many have been asking, who does the U.S. Chamber of Commerce really represent? Many large businesses such as Apple, GE and Nike have quit the Chamber outright or publicly criticized the Chamber's obstructionist position. And now some Minnesota businesses are speaking up as well.
Companies including Aveda, Perkins and Will and Tires Plus broke with the chamber and came out for action on climate change. This was a very bold step for the companies. As Tom Gegax of Tires Plus said:
"If you speak out, and I've had many of my friends in the business community say, 'you're a traitor and why are you doing this, and many others say 'keep it up.' So some are afraid to step out."
It's great that these great Minnesota companies are stepping up to the plate and taking a stand. Now will you?
Today is Blog Action Day 2009 and this years theme is climate change. Right here in Minnesota we have two Senators who will play an important role in the climate debate going on in the US Senate. Can you make a call to Al and Amy and urge them to take action to protect Minnesota from climate change while creating millions of living wage jobs? Congressional offices track calls carefully and they make a major impact when our Senators decide how to vote. This is the most critical issue of our generation, will you step up and make your voice be heard?
Just click here to use a easy tool that let's you call Amy and Al. You can do it any time of day, if their staffers have gone home to sleep you can leave a message, if you are there you can leave a message with the staffers. Whatever you do make sure you make the call.
Last night President Obama made a very clear and compelling argument for health reform and clearly laid out his vision. That vision if enacted into law would be the biggest progressive policy enacted since LBJ. It will mean the difference between life and death and between bankruptcy and affordable healthcare for millions of Americans.
But if that vision, which includes a public option by the way, is to become a reality we must keep our eyes on the ball. We need to get active and get active now. The President has staked his Presidency on healthcare reform. Now we need to make Congress deliver. Because the stakes are too high not to. For Laura
Keep reading for the 5 ways that you can take action TODAY.
The Obama website makes it super easy to make a few phone calls for health care! I am republishing this action item from Sharon Sudman, peace organizer extraordinaire:
Folks! We know we need health care reform. The public option (better known as the American Plan) needs your support. As a self-employed person whose insurance went up 18% this year, I can only say, this can't go on!
Right wingers are shouting down supporters at town-hall meetings. We need to take this to the ground. Luckily Organizing for America has made it easy.
Here's How Please help call!! Go to Obama website and login or create an account. When you are in your account, go to "My Home" (on the right) and then your "Campaigns" will be available to you in the left column. Click on "Get Started" next to "MN Health Care Call."
This is so easy! Make a few calls before or after dinner, or call for a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon. It will really help if everyone pitches in! We have to spread the word, and now (August) is our opportunity. It can happen if we really want it.
If you are on the fence about this, let me tell you, this problem is real. One of our neighbors here in our precinct had to bury her brother last year, because he became sick and died. He didn't have health insurance. You may have insurance through your job or spouse, but you are just one pink slip away from having your right to health care taken away. In Norway, they spend $4300 per person, and here we spend over $7000 per person for health care. I pay $4200 a year for health insurance I can't even use because the deductible is so high. When I got sick in Norway once, my hosts just went to the pharmacy and got medicine -- free. If that's socialized medicine, I want it! Please help. Go to Obama website!
On a listserv for progressive activists that I am on there has been a ongoing debate about the term and idea of "slacktivisim" generally defined as the feeling of being a activist by signing e-petitions, joining Facebook groups, changing your twitter avatar or similar actions. The general consensus that I agree with is that it's a derogatory, useless term.
However I think the debate about slacktivism is a useful discussion related to a important debate that the netroots needs to be having about how to integrate the online activism the netroots is so good at: raising money, signing petitions, writing blogs and spreading messaging and the more traditional tactics needed to win campaigns and legislative fights: calling voters and representatives, canvassing, data entry, organizing events and training activists. And it's a topic I will be discussing at Netroots Nation on the "Yes We Did: How Blogging Can (and Can't) Support a Field Campaign" panel with some awesome activists from around the country.
An estimated 6 million Americans can vote from an overseas location. Will their votes be counted? (and how you can help!)
I returned to Minnesota late Tuesday night after spending Monday and Tuesday at the "Democracy at a Distance" national military and overseas voting summit. The Pew Trusts and the JEHT Foundation sponsored the conference to ensure that every military voter and every overseas American can be guaranteed their votes will finally count this year.
NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday ran a great story about the conference that you can listen to yourself.
In Minnesota's 2006 election, 81% of our troops who tried to vote did not have their ballots counted(source: Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie). The delay in mail as well as outdated laws and red tape are to blame for this unacceptable situation.
In 2008, our Military and Overseas Voting Bill ended this injustice in Minnesota.
"None of us is truly free while others remain enslaved. --Archbishop Desmond Tutu
This Christmas people around the world celebrate. But take some time to think about the problems of the world. For example. Think about this.
27 Million People Live in Slavery.
Even today our fellow humans live enslaved. That's why I am a abolitionist. And despite being Jewish. I am making a Christmas wish and goal to end slavery. 2007 marks the 200 year anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain so what a better year to make a commitment to end slavery? Thankfully we can take simple steps to help end slavery. Keep on reading to learn how.
