And Now a Word from Our President - Volunteer Today to Support Health Care Reform in Alaska

If we support our President, then we must strike while the iron is hot, and today the iron is practically slag. I am going to post the link to the President's, "Organizing for America." Use this link to sign up for a health care reform event near you, or, use this sight to organize a health care event yourself.

Organizing for America: Organizing for Health Care. http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/commitaugust

How can Alaskans help reform Health Care?

Fight fear with knowledge. Share what you know whenever the opportunity avails itself. Fight negative with positive. Smile when someone sneers and rattles off one of the worn out slogans of the conservative right, then, with all the fervor of an American tired of the constant juggling act required to balance a budget that typifies the working class household, tell them your story. Ask them, "You told me what won't work, now tell me what will work?" Do not be afraid to break in to their well rehearsed conservative mantra, pull out your copy of the summary of H.R. 3200 (a link to which I previously posted), and read off the list. If they break out into a foaming onslaught of stepped up rhetoric wielding such terms as "socialized medicine", "Canadian health care", and begin dropping names of "esteemed" conservative think tanks, simply ask them to quote their sources. Smile some more. Then, when the other person has managed to regain composure, just make some comment to the effect "golly, that sounded very intense and well organized, almost rehearsed, but I really cannot fathom how any of it applies to health care reform." Don't worry that they might make sense, because they won't. Leave them to simmer.

If by chance, you enter into the same conversation with another person who claims to understand health care, opposes reform, but doesn't respond with what appears to be the standard slogans, then engage them, and share what you know. Be prepared to put yourself out there for scrutiny, and be honest in your sincerity. Telling your story is a great first step. Reach out to the middle ground, and try to persuade them to at least consider reform. The information with which to prepare yourself is out there in abundance.

Good luck.