Your Weekly Dose of Sanity-Saving Good News! – The Real 4th of July Edition

This kind of makes me cry. This is what makes all of our resistance efforts worthwhile. This is what makes it imperative that we continue. These kids know what is right. We owe it to them to keep fighting the cancer of hatred and fear that is spreading through our society. We owe it to them to keep fighting the dark-money forces that are entrenched in every branch of government. Let this be a real 4th of July, where we celebrate the true gifts that America promises. Then, go out and protest, because that’s how we keep them.

We still have a long way to go…

Continue reading →

Time to stand Indivisible.

How many of us are discovering that there are people we know, seemingly sensible people, who are not following the healthcare debate as if their lives depended on it?
– Perhaps they are young and healthy and plan on staying that way forever. Good for them!
– Perhaps they think that their employer will shield them from any of the harsh changes that are coming.
– Perhaps they think the controlled chaos that is Congress will get this all resolved before it gets to their door.
– Perhaps, they’ve just been lucky enough never to receive a medical bill that their insurance company refused to pay.
– If you have any other good reasons why people don’t think this affects them, please add them in the comments section.
Continue reading “Time to stand Indivisible.” →

Thank Ventura-based Patagonia for supporting Planned Parenthood – Brieitbart is slamming them!

Patagonia is being slammed by Breitbart and other right-wing media outlets for its strong defense of our national parks and monuments and for its donations to Planned Parenthood. As a result, the company has been receiving tons of negative phone calls, which has been demoralizing to the staff. A little love from the public would be very much appreciated.

Script: I’m calling to thank Patagonia for its support for our environment and Planned Parenthood. We’ve heard that you’ve been getting a lot of harsh calls, but we want you to know that a lot of people appreciate your support for these important issues. I’m proud have Ventura-headquartered Patagonia as my neighbor.

Call Patagonia: 805-643-8616

More Info: Continue reading “Thank Ventura-based Patagonia for supporting Planned Parenthood – Brieitbart is slamming them!” →

Call health care what it is…a human right.

Today’s fabulous resource is an article from 2009 about reframing the the healthcare debate into what it has always been – an issue of human rights. Even as our rights to clean water and air are being wrenched away from us, let’s take back part of our history, the language of justice, human dignity and equality which makes us proud to be Americans.

This isn’t the first time we’ve fought for this.

“January 9, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his Four Freedoms speech, articulating the relationship between socio-economic rights and freedom. He declared “freedom from want” to be one of four essential liberties necessary for human security. Continue reading “Call health care what it is…a human right.” →

“Recklessly Indifferent”…

“The Washington Post has calculated the number of deaths as a result of the repeal of Obamacare at 43,000 per year—the near equivalent of total American lives lost in the Vietnam War, every single year. These figures are all of public record—they aren’t a mystery to Republicans.”

There are several other sources and calculations ranging from 28,000 to 100,000 a year, here and here. We picked one fairly conservative estimate that puts the additional death toll at 217,000 by the end of 2026. We then added that number to a wikipedia graph of American military casualities to see how the War-On-The-Rest-Of-Us stacks up. Over 10 years, the GOP’s plan makes a respectable showing by disposing of more of us than World War I. Continue reading ““Recklessly Indifferent”…” →

Oppose Cuts to Core Public Health Programs – We’re Not in the Mood for an Epidemic!

The ACA provides nearly $1 billion annually to the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which combats bioterrorism threats, responds to epidemics like Zika, and provides routine preventive services like immunizations. The Senate Trumpcare bill eliminates this funding, which will increase vaccine-preventable disease, food-borne infections, and hospital-contracted infections.

Script: I’m calling Senator (Feinstein and Harris) to vote NO on cutting funding to Core Public Health Programs, like any sensible person. I can’t believe that the GOP, in their rush to give a huge tax break to the wealthiest among us, would be willing to put us all, including the rich, in danger of preventable diseases and infections.

Senator Feinstein: DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430

Senator Harris: DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884

More Info: Continue reading “Oppose Cuts to Core Public Health Programs – We’re Not in the Mood for an Epidemic!” →

The GOP has been trying to shut down Planned Parenthood for years, and they’re getting alarmingly close.

Buried amid Medicaid cuts and regulatory changes in the Senate Trumpcare bill is a provision stopping Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood for one year. The organization’s clinics could lose between 30 and 40 percent of their funding. This would devastate Planned Parenthood which provides health-care services to 2.4 million people each year.

Script: I’m calling to ask Senator (Feinstein and Harris) to vote NO on any attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. I expect my Senator to vote against any attacks on Planned Parenthood and the vital health services they provide. My zip code is [#####]. Thank you for your time.

Call Senator Feinstein: DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430

Senator Harris: DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884

More Info: Continue reading “The GOP has been trying to shut down Planned Parenthood for years, and they’re getting alarmingly close.” →

Last Week! – Release the Kraken!

Mitch McConnell is rightly worried that vulnerable senators might be swayed by discussions of real-life healthcare issues with their constituents. He wants this national trauma wrapped up in a bow before the summer recess, so they can present it to us as a done deal. Continue reading “Last Week! – Release the Kraken!” →

This Week In Resistance – “The Empire Strikes Back” Edition

As you know, the Senate 13 have crept into the daylight with a “healthcare” bill which will destroy the middle and lower classes, as well as the elderly, special needs children and people with HIV or disabilities.

Here’s what our Secretary of Health and Human Services DOESN’T have to say about it… Continue reading “This Week In Resistance – “The Empire Strikes Back” Edition” →

Medicaid is not “somebody else’s” insurance.

Who does Medicaid serve?

Surprisingly, the answer is most likely you.

“Roughly one in three people now turning 65 will require nursing home care at some point during his or her life. Over three-quarters of long-stay nursing home residents will eventually be covered by Medicaid. Many American voters think Medicaid is only for low-income adults and their children — for people who aren’t “like them.” But Medicaid is not “somebody else’s” insurance. It is insurance for all of our mothers and fathers and, eventually, for ourselves.”
Embed from Getty Images Continue reading “Medicaid is not “somebody else’s” insurance.” →