Activate!

What is the appropriate verb for "Activism"? Whatever it is, we need to do it.

I have given it a go: I've used the web site Congress.org to write to several representatives. But most representatives will only accept mail from their constituents. Therefore, appropriate addresses need to be entered. Join me in writing to them - especially to members of the Ways and Means committee.

Here is what I've written:

Dear Rep. Cummings,
As a member of your constituency, a public health professional, and a young person, I urge you to work with your colleagues who are stymieing the very necessary health care reform in HR 3200. It is imperative that we have a mandate that all Americans have health insurance. To achieve that, we must provide free and subsidized insurance premiums for those who need it. We must have a public health insurance option to allow those who live in areas with minimal insurance options to have greater choice, and to incite necessary competition for the insurance industry. And, to hold all of this together, Congress must work towards creating an agency which sets fair reimbursement prices, guidelines for when procedures are excessive, and devises a continually updated list of first and second line pharmaceutical preparations which need to be used before expensive new treatments are prescribed.

As a supporter of progress in our great country, I urge you to use your office to sway members of our party who are succumbing to the propaganda that reform in the US = a "Canadian style" health system. Please remind them that every developed nation in the world has better health indicators that we do; That health care decisions which are made based upon medical necessity as opposed to ability to pay is a right, not a privilege; and that if budgetary decisions need to be made to finance this important reform, there are many industries whose benefits can be trimmed to support the transition of health care from an industry to a egalitarian and equitable system.