Dear President Obama:
I am 50 years old. I was diagnosed with carcinoma in-situ 16 years ago and following my divorce 12 years ago I became self-employed. After my Cobra ran out I was able to find costly, but affordable health insurance. As a responsible individual, I have struggled to maintain my individual coverage and have increased my deductible and out of pocket-limits in an attempt to control my cost and keep my health insurance.
Last year (2009) my insurance premium was increased over 25% even though I increased my deductible and out of pocket to the highest limits available. I paid out over $6075.24 in premiums, $2415.26 for medical care, $225 in co-pays and $1500 for prescriptions. I never reached my deductible of $2500 so the insurance company only paid out a total $935.32 to my providers.
I must repeat, in 2009 my insurance company received $6075.24 in premiums and paid out only $935.32!
I have just been notified that my premium for next year 2010 has been increased over 40% to $8496.24 ($708.02 per month) !!!! This is the same insurance company I have been with for over 11 cancer free years!!!
I need your Health reform bill to help me!!! I simply can no longer afford to pay for my health care costs!!
Thanks to this incredible premium increase demanded by my insurance company, January will be my last month of insurance.
I live in the house my mother & father built in 1958 and I am so afraid of the possibility I might loose this heirloom as a result of my being forced to drop my health care insurance. The health insurance industry has not denied me insurance directly, but indirectly they have by increasing my costs. They perceive me as becoming a higher risk factor to them despite being a loyal customer. I will never be able to obtain new health insurance due to the lack of real competition.
We are talking about Anthem who apparently has no respect for your attempts to reform the health insurance industry.
Please stay focused in your reform attempts as I and many others are in desperate need of your help.
Sincerely
Natoma Canfield
Friday, March 5, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Be Glad Bayh is Gone, Now Progressives Need to Fight!
Lots of news these days... First of all, people should not be so upset that Senator Evan Bayh has decided a reelection bid. This guy is scum. Not saying he is a bad man, but he is an obstructionist. If you have been wondering who to be mad at over health care paralyzation, honestly you ought not blame the Republicans. Democrats, with a supermajority have not been able to make any of the sweeping reforms that they promised. That the people elected them to accomplish. It is because people like Evan Bayh's wife have received millions of dollars from mega-interests like Wellpoint, a giant health insurance company. These interests certainly expect something in return (i.e. no comprehensive health reform!). Evan Bayh is not a "centrist" Democrat, he is a corporatist, plain and simple. Glad to be rid of him.
The downside to his decision, however, could be that someone worse will win the seat. This is within the realm of possibility, but hopefully Indiana progressives can rally behind a strong candidate. Of course, the weakness of the progressive movement is a serious problem. I can only resort to books and articles to recall a time when progressives actually cared enough to act in the streets. Or at least to have a regular conversation on political matters. To be informed. Nowadays, these behaviors are considered taboo. I know because I experience it on a regular basis. Americans, particularly kids, are severely distracted by technology and pop culture. Dangerously so. We are in the 7th and 9th year of two serious wars, and who could give a damn? During the Vietnam War college student protesters were shot and teargassed for their opposition. Sure, we elected Obama, but if there is no substance behind the vote, then where is the change? If there is no spirit to fight for the most important of causes, to hold Obama and Congress to the fire for health care, climate change, and financial reforms then who would expect them to happen? Congress is terribly corrupt, so it will take a lot of pushing to get these things done.
The push is stronger than in the Bush years, but still not enough to make critical changes for our society's sake. We need to wake up.
The downside to his decision, however, could be that someone worse will win the seat. This is within the realm of possibility, but hopefully Indiana progressives can rally behind a strong candidate. Of course, the weakness of the progressive movement is a serious problem. I can only resort to books and articles to recall a time when progressives actually cared enough to act in the streets. Or at least to have a regular conversation on political matters. To be informed. Nowadays, these behaviors are considered taboo. I know because I experience it on a regular basis. Americans, particularly kids, are severely distracted by technology and pop culture. Dangerously so. We are in the 7th and 9th year of two serious wars, and who could give a damn? During the Vietnam War college student protesters were shot and teargassed for their opposition. Sure, we elected Obama, but if there is no substance behind the vote, then where is the change? If there is no spirit to fight for the most important of causes, to hold Obama and Congress to the fire for health care, climate change, and financial reforms then who would expect them to happen? Congress is terribly corrupt, so it will take a lot of pushing to get these things done.
The push is stronger than in the Bush years, but still not enough to make critical changes for our society's sake. We need to wake up.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Most Important Television Show
Three. Two. One. Time for Real Time! I'm not so privy to writing about pop culture and t.v., but this is one show you better not miss. As the Democrats in Washington squirm in their own slimy ineptitude, and us educated folks watch in utter disbelief, Bill Maher prepares to bring us back to Earth with his "so true" wit and intellectually diverse guest panelists. It is the most important show of our day because it asks the questions that the news will not and cuts deeper than the Daily Show could ever hope. Plus it makes me laugh.
It is fearless and cunning in its design and execution. No guest is taboo--watching Ron Paul, George Carlin, Gore Vidal, Joe Scarborough, Mike Gravel, Chris Rock, Christopher Hitchens, Bill Moyers, Larry King, and Ashton Kutcher chat on a panel has never been so much fun! Maher is an expert at bringing together lefties and righties and all the others in between, cutting past the personalities and ideology so that we may bear witness to an actual conversation about things that matter. Sure, Bill might be a pot-smoking liberal, but he's smart and doesn't allow the show to disintegrate into partisan hackery. Indeed, this entertainment show is of greater quality and information than any on FOX, MSNBC, and CNN.
If you have not checked it out, please do so. For in these times of political and societal insanity, we need someone who can level with us. To prove that it isn't just you going crazy. Plus, the show is hilarious. We all need a good laugh these days.
The new season premieres on HBO Friday, Feb 13 at 10!
This is great:
It is fearless and cunning in its design and execution. No guest is taboo--watching Ron Paul, George Carlin, Gore Vidal, Joe Scarborough, Mike Gravel, Chris Rock, Christopher Hitchens, Bill Moyers, Larry King, and Ashton Kutcher chat on a panel has never been so much fun! Maher is an expert at bringing together lefties and righties and all the others in between, cutting past the personalities and ideology so that we may bear witness to an actual conversation about things that matter. Sure, Bill might be a pot-smoking liberal, but he's smart and doesn't allow the show to disintegrate into partisan hackery. Indeed, this entertainment show is of greater quality and information than any on FOX, MSNBC, and CNN.
If you have not checked it out, please do so. For in these times of political and societal insanity, we need someone who can level with us. To prove that it isn't just you going crazy. Plus, the show is hilarious. We all need a good laugh these days.
The new season premieres on HBO Friday, Feb 13 at 10!
This is great:
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
How to Change a Culture: Question of Imperialists
What is the U.S. military's goal in Afghanistan? This is a difficult question to answer. It ought to puzzle the most intellectual of minds because no single response could make sense entirely. The American Revolution was a conflict to break from the bondage of an empire. The Civil War was a battle for national identity and unity. World War II had a concrete objective: to defeat fascist aggressors in Europe, and end Japanese imperialism. These are wars with clear objective and victory.
Afghanistan on the other hand? We invaded to destroy Al Qaeda, but we remain to rebuild a nation. What could this possibly mean? No one knows, apparently. The fact that we support its shameful democracy is proof of our misdirected efforts. The U.S.-backed Karzai Administration casts an inescapable shadow of corruption over the entire government. Scandal and fraud have plagued his recent reelection, delegitimizing the very democracy we have set in place.
Corruption aside, this sham of a government does not seem to be a whole lot better than Taliban rule. A provision in legislation passed this April states: "...a wife is obliged to fulfill the sexual desires of her husband..." What this could mean I do not know, though some have said this law essentially condones rape. Mastermind of the law, Ayatollah Mohammed Asef Mohseni (yes, Ayatollah), defends the statute by refuting Western analysis, and claiming that married women do indeed have the right to refuse sex, though "If a woman says no, the man has the right not to feed her." Oh okay, cool. All cleared up. Thanks Asef!
But the perverted and broken government of Afghanistan are actually not my primary arguments against the war. No, my critique is one against the imperialist mind. We Americans are, after all, imperialists, plain and simple. Two countries we now occupy (facilitated by foreign mercenaries... ask me), with hundreds upon hundreds of military installations throughout the world... the aggressors in over 200 conflicts since 1945. We alone determine global economic policy.
Living in the Empire has many perks, I must say. I've had a privileged life (though not without my parents' comprehensive health insurance plan) and we are all blessed with relatively few foreign attacks (with two days of exception, of course). This country is somehow able to wage endless wars without the public even remembering! A miracle? Must be! "A million Iraqis died? Oh, hey did you see that new iPhone app? Pretty sweet, huh. Tiger Woods had an affair? What sport does he play again? Hey, pass the cocaine. And hand me that silly as shit magazine. Yeah, the one about nothing."
When I bring up Afghanistan in public, I most often get a "remember 9/11" line or some defensive variation of our "moral duty" to save those people over there. Who are they again? Also popular is the "we broke it, we bought it" line. These latter defenses seem silly to me, though they are common to the 'moral' imperialists. To address the 9/11-imperialists: Al Qaeda does not even need Afghanistan because they have such a wonderful home in Pakistan to conduct operations. Al Qaeda left long ago, and if they ever returned from over the Kush Mountains, they would not have nearly comparable resources as they had further East.
The 'moral' imperialists talk about some kind of higher responsibility to save these people. But really we should not be meddling in such drastic ways in foreign lands at all. It is just so imperial to believe in your state's sole right to wage devastating wars and heartless occupations in the name of Freedom. That is not Freedom, that is tyranny. President Washington would be ashamed. Jefferson too. Barack Obama says we are fighting for something just, but is it 'just' to impede on another's sovereignty? To be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands? What American cares about those people? Please, tell me if you do!
We are trying to change cultures. Cultures that are so unlike ours we cannot imagine. We do not understand--or even bother to understand--the Muslim world. Perhaps we never will. The West spent many centuries fighting its own religious wars, yet we seem to believe it is possible for a foreign occupation to end ideological feuds in a matter of years. It cannot be done, and thus we have no business in such affairs.
Afghanistan on the other hand? We invaded to destroy Al Qaeda, but we remain to rebuild a nation. What could this possibly mean? No one knows, apparently. The fact that we support its shameful democracy is proof of our misdirected efforts. The U.S.-backed Karzai Administration casts an inescapable shadow of corruption over the entire government. Scandal and fraud have plagued his recent reelection, delegitimizing the very democracy we have set in place.
Corruption aside, this sham of a government does not seem to be a whole lot better than Taliban rule. A provision in legislation passed this April states: "...a wife is obliged to fulfill the sexual desires of her husband..." What this could mean I do not know, though some have said this law essentially condones rape. Mastermind of the law, Ayatollah Mohammed Asef Mohseni (yes, Ayatollah), defends the statute by refuting Western analysis, and claiming that married women do indeed have the right to refuse sex, though "If a woman says no, the man has the right not to feed her." Oh okay, cool. All cleared up. Thanks Asef!
But the perverted and broken government of Afghanistan are actually not my primary arguments against the war. No, my critique is one against the imperialist mind. We Americans are, after all, imperialists, plain and simple. Two countries we now occupy (facilitated by foreign mercenaries... ask me), with hundreds upon hundreds of military installations throughout the world... the aggressors in over 200 conflicts since 1945. We alone determine global economic policy.
Living in the Empire has many perks, I must say. I've had a privileged life (though not without my parents' comprehensive health insurance plan) and we are all blessed with relatively few foreign attacks (with two days of exception, of course). This country is somehow able to wage endless wars without the public even remembering! A miracle? Must be! "A million Iraqis died? Oh, hey did you see that new iPhone app? Pretty sweet, huh. Tiger Woods had an affair? What sport does he play again? Hey, pass the cocaine. And hand me that silly as shit magazine. Yeah, the one about nothing."
When I bring up Afghanistan in public, I most often get a "remember 9/11" line or some defensive variation of our "moral duty" to save those people over there. Who are they again? Also popular is the "we broke it, we bought it" line. These latter defenses seem silly to me, though they are common to the 'moral' imperialists. To address the 9/11-imperialists: Al Qaeda does not even need Afghanistan because they have such a wonderful home in Pakistan to conduct operations. Al Qaeda left long ago, and if they ever returned from over the Kush Mountains, they would not have nearly comparable resources as they had further East.
The 'moral' imperialists talk about some kind of higher responsibility to save these people. But really we should not be meddling in such drastic ways in foreign lands at all. It is just so imperial to believe in your state's sole right to wage devastating wars and heartless occupations in the name of Freedom. That is not Freedom, that is tyranny. President Washington would be ashamed. Jefferson too. Barack Obama says we are fighting for something just, but is it 'just' to impede on another's sovereignty? To be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands? What American cares about those people? Please, tell me if you do!
We are trying to change cultures. Cultures that are so unlike ours we cannot imagine. We do not understand--or even bother to understand--the Muslim world. Perhaps we never will. The West spent many centuries fighting its own religious wars, yet we seem to believe it is possible for a foreign occupation to end ideological feuds in a matter of years. It cannot be done, and thus we have no business in such affairs.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Time to Pressure Evan Bayh, Hoosiers!
This democracy stuff is tough business for sure. The legitimacy of the process is in a constant war with destructive media elements and corporate favoritism in Washington, and the American people have been slow to realize the game being played at their expense. If you want to get things on the right track again, participation must become the norm in American politics and ignorance can no longer be an acceptable excuse.
Today the good fight is in health care reform, and while there is an ideological debate to be had on the size and role of government, now it is time to decide for the future. I've already made my case for a robust public option tied to Medicare rates (Medicare rates are crucial in preventing private influence on the government's purchasing power. Simply, Medicare rates will let the government negotiate rates and keep the costs down), and now we need to push the politicians. My targets are now set on Senator Evan Bayh, a Democrat from my home of Indiana.
Evan Bayh represents the most typical of corporate politicians striving to maintain a centrist persona with his fiscal conservative values, tough-on-terror media tactics, and that unmistakable midwestern candor. He is not the progressive his father, Senator Birch Bayh, once was.
Regardless, my Hoosier friends and family should pay particular attention because Evan Bayh plays an especially influential role in the future of health care reform. Though Bayh has received most of his campaign funds from the finance, insurance and real estate sector (career, $4,295,250), his $1,100,536 from the health industry makes him a man for health business--not fundamental reform.
As much as I hate calling attention to these unsettling facts, it is important to know whose interests our leaders are actually serving. Evan Bayh is deeply vested in the health industry, so the people of Indiana must rise up to let him know that we will not stand for anything less than a public option! It's time to make some phone calls to his office, and organize with others who believe in forcing the insurance conglomerates to compete in a marketplace (check out the revealing competition map). Bayh needs to know that if he does not support real reform, he will have a tough time in the mid-term primaries. I for one will support a real progressive in 2010, not a closeted Republican; but hopefully I won't have to.
Hoosiers, I know that you are a conservative people in general. That you are wary of the federal government meddling in your affairs. This a legitimate concern, and one that I often share. But you must realize that this reform can either go for the people or against. If there is no public option, big insurance will continue raising premiums while limiting coverage. They will continue forcing small businesses into bankruptcy, and persist in maximizing already exorbitant profits. Our country cannot afford it, and the 45,000 people who die from lack of coverage every year didn't deserve it. It is time for Evan Bayh to know where you stand. He must understand that reelection is not guaranteed in 2010 because WE have the power to decide, not the insurance lobby.
call him: (202) 224-5623 (DC office); (317) 554-0750 (Indianapolis office)
email him: http://bayh.senate.gov/contact/email/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
