| DFA is taking names.  You can click on the graphic and be able to find out where your elected officials stand.
If they fall in the "don't know" column, give them a call or drop them an email. Elected officials respond to public sentiment and pressure. Remind them that THEY have a public option available to Congress, paid for by OUR tax dollars. A public option is not as good as Single Payer, but Single Payer is off the table for this cycle. While a public option is not the best choice, it is better than simple "free choice and cost cutting" - an option that is 100% guaranteed to change nothing, and ensure that medical costs continue their exponential rise. It's also important to remember what happens if Congress can't come up with a plan and get it passed this year. Assume that happens. Nothing will happen next year since it's an election year and the general spineless nature of individual members won't allow them to take on something as critical as health care while simultaneously having to meet voters on the trail. Unemployment is stated now at 9+ percent, higher in a number of places. The U6 number is at about 17%. When people lose their jobs, they often lose their health insurance. Even if they can continue on COBRA, often they cannot afford the premiums. The Obama administration's 65% rebate on COBRA payments is great, but only lasts 9 months, so if unemployment doesn't turn around (and no one expects it will in the near term) expect to see a whole bunch of additionally uninsured people starting late winter. People without health insurance tend to get sick more often than people with health insurance. Not that having health insurance prevents cancer, heart disease, and the like, but the reality is that if you can't afford health insurance, you probably also can't afford maintenance medicines, healthy food and a healthy lifestyle. When the uninsured seek treatment they are usually "sicker" and their care costs more. When people cannot pay for their health care, either because they use emergency rooms, or just plain run out on doctors' bills, those costs still need to be covered. Thus, the nice little stat that came out yesterday indicating that health insurance premiums will likely rise a minimum of 9% next year for those Americans who have coverage. That's a huge jump, and if you receive employer-paid health care you can expect your portion of the premium to rise, and there will be fewer dollars for things like raises. In addition, people who are self-insured start to drop coverage as the cost becomes unmanageable. It won't matter how much "cost" Congress plans to cut. Without fundamental change, there is no way that the system itself changes. Eventually, health care costs will crush us. |
