Do you feel left out?
Well, apparently, you’re not alone, according to a story on NPR.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113307616&sc=fb&cc=fp
The majority of us feel left out of the health care decisions being made in Congress. I hate to call it a debate because no one’s listening to us.
The insurance lobby has the ears of Congress because it has the money to get people re-elected. We just have ourselved and our stories.
But stories can be powerful, and if enough of us call our legislators and tell them, they will hear us.
Insurance companies have the money to slander the people who want change and lie about what universal access to care means, but we have the votes, and that’s what gets them elected.
The insurance industry and its lobby have the money to charter buses for fake grassroots rallies, but most of us want meaningful reform, not another huge gift to corporate America.
I managed to get one bus to Washington last month by charging $55 and arranging it myself. It wasn’t that hard and it was truly a grassroots effort. There’s another rally coming Oct. 24. Let’s all get there, and if we can’t, let’s call, write and visit the offices of our senators and representatives and tell them what we want.
There’s still time; there’s still a chance. Let’s turn up the heat.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
Is Oct 24 a “for sure” date? Is any particular goup or groups sponsoring it? I think Alan Grayson would be a good person to have on board! BTW, are you on youtbe and did you see the video of you talking in DC?