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Crossposted from LJ
I just thought of an idea to create some push back on these crazy anti-health care reform activists. It doesn't involve making signs with swastikas, or shouting at people until you're blue in the face, or making threatening phone calls. There's no need to sink to their level. No, all it requires is some stamps, envelopes, paper and... band-aids.
We're fans. We've all heard and perhaps even been a part of one of those fan campaigns to save a show. I've sent faxes and helped shut down Paramount's phone lines for a day. People have sent peanuts, and hot sauce, and god knows what. Why not do the same with health care reform?
Just start sending senators and representatives band-aids with a short letter telling them that you support health care reform and why. Give them a few details about what you support, like a public option, universal health insurance, etc. If you have one, tell them a story about how the current health care system failed you or someone you care about. Tell them a little bit about yourself, the kind of things that pollsters want to hear- age, education, occupation, as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Don't forget to put your address and contact info. Then put the letter in the mail with a stamp. Send one to each of your elected officials. If you feel inspired, send one to every member of the committees working on the legislation too. If you really feel ambitious, send one to every member of Congress. There's only 535 of them. It's easy, it's cheap, and I think it would be effective.
I also thought that you could send an email instead, with the same info and a picture of a ban-aid. I looked on the Google but I haven't been able to find any that are in the public domain. Anyone interested in taking a picture of a band-aid? Or maybe 2 band-aids crossed over in an X?
Sending letters and emails serves a purpose. Using a gimmick like a band-aid gives it more punch. People notice things like that. It creates interest, it gets media attention, it makes your letter or email stand out from the thousands that they receive.
The political hacks, cranks and lobbyists have been creating Astroturf movements. Let's create a real grassroots movement. We've done it to save TV shows. We can do it to save millions of people from going bankrupt due to medical bills. We can do it to get millions of uninsured people coverage so they can afford to get the treatment they need. We can do it to get a public option that will push the health insurance companies to treat their customers better. But most importantly, we can do it today before the health care industry manages to kill any chance of creating a better health care system in America.
Further Info:
You can find out who your Rep in the House is here, and then there's a form to write them an email. You can also get their snail mail address on this website. Just click on 'House Directory' to the left after you've found your Rep. You can look them up alphabetically. You can find out who your Senators are here, and it will give you links to their websites.
Committees- The links will take you to Wikipedia pages showing the current members of the committees, complete with links to their Wiki pages showing their districts and web pages.
House Committees- the House has already passed a bill, but their going to have to argue with the Senate over what ends up in the final bill. They need some encouragement.
Ways & Means
Education & Labor
Energy & Commerce
Senate Committees- These are the guys who are really dragging their feet. They're also threatening to get rid of a public option, which would compete with the health insurance companies and force them to lower their rates.
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP)- No really, it's called that!
Finance
Let me know what you think, and if you do send a letter, please comment here about it. Power to the People!
I just thought of an idea to create some push back on these crazy anti-health care reform activists. It doesn't involve making signs with swastikas, or shouting at people until you're blue in the face, or making threatening phone calls. There's no need to sink to their level. No, all it requires is some stamps, envelopes, paper and... band-aids.
We're fans. We've all heard and perhaps even been a part of one of those fan campaigns to save a show. I've sent faxes and helped shut down Paramount's phone lines for a day. People have sent peanuts, and hot sauce, and god knows what. Why not do the same with health care reform?
Just start sending senators and representatives band-aids with a short letter telling them that you support health care reform and why. Give them a few details about what you support, like a public option, universal health insurance, etc. If you have one, tell them a story about how the current health care system failed you or someone you care about. Tell them a little bit about yourself, the kind of things that pollsters want to hear- age, education, occupation, as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Don't forget to put your address and contact info. Then put the letter in the mail with a stamp. Send one to each of your elected officials. If you feel inspired, send one to every member of the committees working on the legislation too. If you really feel ambitious, send one to every member of Congress. There's only 535 of them. It's easy, it's cheap, and I think it would be effective.
I also thought that you could send an email instead, with the same info and a picture of a ban-aid. I looked on the Google but I haven't been able to find any that are in the public domain. Anyone interested in taking a picture of a band-aid? Or maybe 2 band-aids crossed over in an X?
Sending letters and emails serves a purpose. Using a gimmick like a band-aid gives it more punch. People notice things like that. It creates interest, it gets media attention, it makes your letter or email stand out from the thousands that they receive.
The political hacks, cranks and lobbyists have been creating Astroturf movements. Let's create a real grassroots movement. We've done it to save TV shows. We can do it to save millions of people from going bankrupt due to medical bills. We can do it to get millions of uninsured people coverage so they can afford to get the treatment they need. We can do it to get a public option that will push the health insurance companies to treat their customers better. But most importantly, we can do it today before the health care industry manages to kill any chance of creating a better health care system in America.
Further Info:
You can find out who your Rep in the House is here, and then there's a form to write them an email. You can also get their snail mail address on this website. Just click on 'House Directory' to the left after you've found your Rep. You can look them up alphabetically. You can find out who your Senators are here, and it will give you links to their websites.
Committees- The links will take you to Wikipedia pages showing the current members of the committees, complete with links to their Wiki pages showing their districts and web pages.
House Committees- the House has already passed a bill, but their going to have to argue with the Senate over what ends up in the final bill. They need some encouragement.
Ways & Means
Education & Labor
Energy & Commerce
Senate Committees- These are the guys who are really dragging their feet. They're also threatening to get rid of a public option, which would compete with the health insurance companies and force them to lower their rates.
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP)- No really, it's called that!
Finance
Let me know what you think, and if you do send a letter, please comment here about it. Power to the People!
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