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 new peer support program for people newly diagnosed with chronic or serious illness or with a new disability and their caregivers.
Patient Pals are people who have experience with various illnesses and disabilities, who can help someone newly diagnosed or with a new disability work through the fear, frustration, confusion and grief often experienced in the first few months.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
People with new illness or disability fare better when they have a role model -- someone who can help them negotiate their new path in life.
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?