Brace Yourself for the September Showdown on Health Care Reform

August was a killer month for health care reform. Opponents brought out the big guns of fear and, as is usually the case when people have no confidence in what they are saying, they got louder and more outrageous in their protests. Civility has been in short supply and the wounds are deep.

Brace yourself for the September showdown.

The battle lines are clear, but the outcome is anybody’s guess. With both sides, pro and con, gearing up activity and rallying the troops, this is do or die for health care reform.

Across the state of Illinois, the AARP is sending a message in a bottle — prescription bottles — to members of Congress. The bottles are filled with health care stories from constituents. The message: Health Care Reform Now! They are backing this action with press conferences and community events about the facts of reform.

The Associated Press reports that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will send a letter to lawmakers next week opposing the effort, and is working to bring business people to Washington to lobby legislators later this month.

Millions of dollars in advertising — both for and against — will saturate the airwaves in the coming weeks.

On September 9, President Obama will address a nationally televised joint session of Congress on the topic of health care reform. It is an enormously important speech, one where he is expected to take a firm stand. With Democrats falling all over themselves in an effort to please the impossible-to-please, this is likely his last chance to take the reins and lead his party on the issue of reform. Word is that it has not been decided exactly what position he will take on the public option.

On September 15, the President will address the AFL-CIO National Convention in Pittsburg. The AFL-CIO, representing 11 million members, is a strong supporter comprehensive health care reform that includes a public option, and backed the president in last year’s election. Any wavering on that public option will not go over well with this group. The AFL-CIO website has posted a series of short videos highlighting up close and personal stories of health care gone wrong.

The public option is apparently a deal-breaker on both sides. Progressives in Congress promise not to vote for a bill that does not include a public option. GOP leaders vow to vote against a bill that does include a public option.

The single-payer system was never in serious contention. Now the public option is in trouble. The employer mandate is likely next. The chipping away at comprehensive reform is well underway, and the real danger is that a reform bill passes, but reforms nothing.

If we can’t pass real reform now, with a Democratic President, voted into office on the promise of health care reform, who has a Democratically-controlled Congress, we’ll be at the mercy of private insurance companies indefinitely. They’ve got to be loving this.

It will be years until the events of this summer can be viewed from a historical perspective. I shudder to think how our times will be portrayed and how future generations will judge our actions. Shouting down those who disagree with us, heckling the handicapped, blaming the sick for their own troubles, and generally showing ourselves to be a society of little compassion. It’s not a pretty picture.

Support Health Care Reform:

Support Historic Health Bill

We Demand a Public Option

Healthcare Reform, not Insurance Care!

If you are truly opposed to any form of government-run health care, you’ll want to sign this petition: I Pledge to Deny Myself Medicare for Life!

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

P H.

9:29AM PDT on Sep 10, 2009

The problem is the model, the insurance model is not working, it has never worked, all it does is benefit the insurance companies not the insured.'

When has automobile or homeowner's insurance every improved the quality of the product being insured? Does automobile insurance improve the fuel efficiency or safety of automobiles? Does it make owning one more affordable?

What about life insurance? insurance is a bet that less people will make a claim than are paying into the system. In regard to auto and homeowners insurance this is true, plus auto insurance is mandatory in all states. You cannot register a car without it

What a money maker, forcing people to buy insurance, when most will never make a claim. Do you have any idea the amount of profit they take in.

Health care is different, so the companies disallow amounts for both the insured and for payment to the providers. Then they raise the copay, and increase profits by taking from all. They then dictate what treatments will be covered, which doctors are "network" etc.

Do we really want more of this??

A public insurance option will not reform the system, all that will happen is everyone will now be FORCED to buy insurance.

The insurance companies must be in heaven, its business as usual and their customer base has grown.

We need a new model, say no to public health insurance and yes to universal health care that is NOT based on the insurance model.

send a green star

Past Member .

8:44AM PDT on Sep 10, 2009

like ron and others say, health care reform yes, HEALTH CARE MANDATE NO!

i'm not for taking away the rights and freedoms of our american citizens by forcing people to carry govt health care and denying anyone who doesn't want it or who isn't already carrying private insurance the freedom to choose private insurance if and WHEN they want.

i'm not for even more absolutes in penalizing the american citizens who don't carry govt health care either! we're not talking about liability insurance on your damn car here - coverage you're required by law to carry because you might actually hurt or kill someone! hey, i can tell you personally, 4 weeks ago to the day a jerk ran a red light here in town going at about 50 mph and plowed into me and a second car load of passengers - HE DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE. yet HE was required by law to carry it because of his potential to break the law and hurt someone. well he did it and has mess my life up for the next year thank you. but this gov't wants to DEMAND that i carry govt run health care even though i don't want it? even if i don't have private insurance?

the injuries i sustained require regular chiropractic adjustments which isn't something covered beyond a handful a year and that's with the best insurance, you think gov't's going to be better? oh please. that's true ignorance and arrogance.

there are numerous problems with this bill and i will not support it or any senator or congress member who supports it the way it is currently

Ron S.

3:25PM PDT on Sep 8, 2009

Health insurance reform--yes! However, not at the expense of making the lives of countless millions of Legal American Senior Citizens more miserable than is already the case, by cutting 1/2 trillion dollar$ from medicare over the next decade!

Dragonfly K.

3:09PM PDT on Sep 8, 2009

We've got to just wear down the opposition. There are more of us than there are of them. We will turn out like we did for the election. Turn out in support of Health Reform with a robust public option that takes place as soon as the bill is signed. No triggers, no chicken co ops. The American people spoke in November and they will speak again this September. Tell your congresspeople every day that they need to strongly support a public option. Just do it!

James D.

9:47AM PDT on Sep 8, 2009

The only wholly adequate public option is single payer. If
Decomcrats do not have the nerve to push that through
(face it, you will have to go it alone on any half way
meaningful plan, so forget the Reublicans and twist arms in
your own ranks), you must see to it that a public option
insurance plan is: non-profit, available to All at the
absolutely lowest prices, and Fully Funded at the start.
Public insurance will be going up against a multitude of
giant companies, all of which are worth Many Times the only
paltry figues I have seen mentioned anywhere.

8:11AM PDT on Sep 8, 2009

Insurance is not health care. We need universal health care that is not based on the insurance model, it is not working.

A public insurance option will just force everyone to purchase insurance and will have no effect on reforming our health care system. It is a win win for the insurance companies.

Mary B.

10:14PM PDT on Sep 7, 2009

Since everything seems up in the air again, lets go back in and demand single payer and by-pass the insurence issue all together.I'd sure rather have my taxes go to pay for healthcare directly. I'd also like to insist that healthcare includes alternative therapies.You want free market? Then stop subsidizeing mainstream medicine only.I'm thinking that this whole healthcare 'debate' is just a big smoke screen to make sure health insurance companies funnel everybody into drugs and supper expensive western medicine. I personally, don't go to Dr.s or take perscription meds, but a lot of people do, and it's eating up what little money they have. Single payer is for us low income folks, and any fool who tells you that we don't pay taxes is a lier.No body's getting a free ride, except maybe the investers of big pharma and big insurence.Notice how they got rid of the option {Obama's first choice} that had no insurence company middle man right away. People have been indoctrinated to think they have to have insurence to get health care.It also would not hurt to mention that those right wing folks and their representatives will be held accountable for preventing healthcare from reaching those who need it the most.They know they are doing this and they're trying to hide it behind all sorts of fearful propaganda.They will lose because their intentions are dispictable and the God they say they believe in is no fool.

James R. S.

8:03PM PDT on Sep 7, 2009

Fellow Americans: I left a message here a few days ago. I will repeat it. I am 76 years of age. I was laid off by my company in the middle of last January. I live on social security and very
little else. We constantly look for Temp jobs, but there just are none to be had. Please Get This Message: I Am Very Poor. In Excellent Health, but Very Poor. I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE. IT WOULD BANKRUPT ME IN LESS THAN A YEAR, JUST TO PAY THE PREMIUMS, NEVER MIND THE CO-PAY. I NEED MEDICARE. THOUSANDS OF US SENIORS DO. We have worked VERY HARD for MANY LONG YEARS for this wonderful nation, and when YOU are in our place, YOU WILL NEED MEDICARE TOO. This is still a free country. If you can afford it, you will still have the option of private health insurance. No one is going to take it away from you. But we seniors (and other POOR PEOPLE) DO NEED MEDICARE. WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. NO INCOME. ZERO. NADA. NO CHOICE. GOOD GRIEF. HELP.

John H.

3:22PM PDT on Sep 7, 2009

Debra W,
You are so right about Huffington Post.

As for health care reform, I'll be on Medicare in 10 months. After spending well over $100,000 for insurance in the past, that will be the first time in my life that I'll really feel "covered". All private insurance companies are thieves.
I'll be safe, but I worry about my son & his family, and his employees, and all of the rest of those in the US who aren't old enough for Medicare.
If this fails, we have nobody to thank but the Repiglicans, and a few bought & paid for Blue Dogs who will roll over for the Insurance companies! The ONLY way to keep the Private Crooks honest is THE PUBLIC OPTION !

Mary Ann B.

1:36PM PDT on Sep 7, 2009

I can not imagine not having healthcare coverage. I live in Canada and am so grateful for our healthcare system here. Four kids and numerous trips to the emergency contributes to my thankfulness. My sister lives in the U.S. so I am aware of the differences between our healthcare systems.
We in Canada have healthcare and still have to fight to keep it. For profits are constantly trying to horn in - so they can make money at the expense of human health and lives.
I don't totally understand the choices available for you but I sincerely hope the American people show themselves to be the great champions of and for the people that I know they can be - and work hard to put through their own healthcare system - one that works for them. It makes a huge difference knowing you can go to a hospital or clinic and receive the best care possible without needing money.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you as you work through this decision.