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The NAACP is going to war for “real” health care reform. And that must include a public option.
In the past decade alone, 880,000 African Americans died because they did not have access to meaningful health care.
For people of color, life is, on average, shorter. Illness is more prevalent, and disability is more common. We live in a system that provides limited opportunities for communities of color to access health services, with fewer options for treatment, and with lower-quality care.
Communities of color are hit hard because of lower incomes and less ability to afford insurance and care. Patients of color also face greater health risks since they are less likely to live in communities with basic access to a healthy lifestyle—local hospitals or clinics with specialized services, parks and green spaces to exercise, and supermarkets where people can buy fresh food.
For this reason, the NAACP has teamed up with the National Urban League and the Black Leadership Forum to form a War Room in Washington, D.C., in order to push for real, meaningful reform in the days leading up to the House vote. We will be holding dozens of rallies, lobby days and press events across the nation.
What do we mean by “real” reform? Here’s what we are fighting for:
· A strong public option. This is crucial—it keeps insurance companies honest and creates competition in an otherwise monopolized market. Simply put, a strong public option is the only way to truly achieve real reform.
· Full, affordable and comprehensive coverage for all individuals and families, regardless of their medical history. Insurance companies must not be allowed to drop coverage for people who become seriously ill.
· Equity in access to care, treatment and resources. Currently, the color of your skin, your ethnic background and where you live do more than just influence your access to health care; they can determine the quality and cost of your care.
Low-income families and people of color have the most at stake in this national debate, and with a vote coming up as early as Friday, we have got to take control of this debate. Left unaddressed, our health-care system is unsustainable. It is crushing families and businesses, and stunting America's economic growth. We can no longer maintain a system that delays, denies and defends the lack of care.
But this won’t happen without activism and our voice. Without your involvement, real health care reform could very well fail.
I hope you will join us in this struggle. In our D.C. war room we are urging people to let their voice be heard, educating people on the health care reform bills and coordinating rallies with our communities around the country. But it won’t happen without you. Together we are the soldiers that have always made our country greater, whether we were fighting for voting rights or the desegregation of our schools, or to save an innocent man on death row. The difference between winning and losing was you. Raise your voice now. You can contact your congressional representative and get involved at our online War Room. Together we can make real reform a reality.
Benjamin Todd Jealous is president and CEO of the NAACP.
Comments
It seems like we could be waiting on a deadline that keeps getting postponed when it comes to health reform. I think that the only thing Americans can do to be prepared for this long wait is to research their health insurance options, and pick something that is tailored to them. It is crucial during this hard economic time to provide stability for our families, and not spend unnecessary funds on health insurance policies that don't fit our best interests.
Websites like eNetInsurance are the solution to easy research on health insurance options. eNetInsurance is a free health insurance agency providing medical quote comparison and affordable health insurance plans for individual, families, small business groups and senior citizens from the nations top carriers. Find a health insurance policy that fits you and your family without hassle.
I agree, no way should children be in need in our country. Unfortunately, we will have to come up with the money to help them. Since less than half the population actually contributes more than they take out of the government coffers, can we really ask those who already burden most of the responsibility to increase their debt? I would say we have to cut programs for adults who are not physically incapable of working after a short period of time. That means no permanent welfare... EVER, for ANYONE. If you can't afford the children you have now and have another. The state should step in and remove the children because clearly, you can not raise them. This is brutal but honestly, those who cover the cost for most of those on the take from the government have every reason to be irate. ( I am not one of those covering the cost but I refuse to take assistance as I am able to fend for myself even though it would be easier to not work and collect govt. assistance) Children should be taken care of and given a chance to succeed. Agreed. but able bodied adults get very little lee-way in terms of assistance if we are to take care of the kids. We can't afford it.
Incidentally, health care is not a right granted anyone in any law written anywhere. healthcare is something we all want, and that is there for the PURCHASING. It is up to each individual to obtain it for themselves. Similar to Food. Children can get it for free as they can not work. Adults, sorry, if you won't get it for yourself, I don't feel I should be forced to work harder to get it for you........
This is one conversation I find fascinating because of the many arguements pro and con. It's really funny that the "pros" appear less fortunate and the "cons" well-heeled. While I can see both sides of the issue, it just seems something has to be done. Boston Conservative seems to be hard line about keeping the status quo with the healthcare issue. Most conservatives do. In reality, it's business as usual, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, have inferior healthcare and die. So, let us face facts, nothing is free. Freedom ain't free! Someone always has to pay. From a moral humane standpoint, everyone is entitled to healthcare, no matter what! Will it be expensive? Sure will! The fact is that no one has an answer that will satisfy everyone. To continue allowing the insurance industry to run amok the way it has for years will not drive down costs. If anything, it will continue things along the same fashion as it has been for decades. Personally, I do not have a solution. I wish I did! However, I do know that if someone does not get it right quick, we have yet to see how crazy it is going to get. The biggest losers will be the nation. Children who do not get proper healthcare eventually die young. Who is to say that child may grow up to discover a cure for cancer, or a way to world peace. We have no idea, but we are quick to place the needs of these children on the back burner in favor of making sure some CEO resigns with a ten figure bonus. The bottom line is no way should we have children suffering from hunger, disease and illiteracy with the resources we have as a nation. Pull it together America because right now...we suck.
No government has ever succeded in any venture outside of war. At best, government programs only bleed cash and breed corruption. At thier worst, they create entire classes of people dependant on the government for survival. (welfare is rarely helpful unless people are forced off of it)
For a prime example of what government intervention brings compare Amtrak to the airlines. Airlines may be struggling bu they keep their heads above water. Amtrak looses money and they are the worst for of transport in the country. Why don't they go out of business? Big daddy government just prints more money for them.
Public option is socialized healthcare. Socialized healthcare everywhere else in the world is exactly why the best doctors are currently in this country. That too will change if the government determines their pay and which services are "necessary" for them to perform.
The left needs to pull their heads out of the sand and start living in the world of reality. Free stuff is not free but you usually get your moneys worth out of it.... for what that is worth
I'm for healthcare reform for US citizens and legal aliens, granted definition isn't changed to include the 25 million illegals that have immigrated to the USA since 1986. Way, way too expensive and we don't have the $$$$$. To grant this benefit when the govt has no information on these 25 million people makes no sense - it's not coldhearted. Of course, Obama administration says no applicable to illegals, these are democrats and democrats will throw the pro-illegal loop hole in there.
It's a long story, but the rich benefit from illegal immigration and those dems are controlled by the richest people in America. Guess who they are? hint - the Talmud.
Don't disturb these folks with a realistic discussion of the issues behind health care, didn't you know Big Poppa Teddy Kennedy died so we could have our national health care? The U.S. federal government, screwing over black folks with a smile since 1783.
I totally agree with you Tork.
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I'm tired of the tea baggers "thinking" they are getting their points across because they are yelling louder. They are still the half that lost the Presidential elections. They are just yelling louder. They are not making headway at all. At the same time, if you continue to sit back and let them THINK they are what ALL AMERICANS want, then guess what...we will lose. I have to admit....the liberal side of the argument is being too "gosh darn" soft. We need to mobilize and yell with the numbers that where shown on the day our president was sworn in. That will send those right wing nuts back to their trailors off on the rural country roads.