Open Letter on Health Care Reform

Wanted to share an email I just sent off thanking a writer for something I found at KansasCity.com

 

I just wanted to thank you for writing a great article.  Your  Germany shows public, private insurance can coexist was a breath of fresh air. 

 

I am a State House candidate in Georgia and I hear a lot of misconceptions and lies flying around.  These have many people in my community scared, confused, and angry about health care reform.  While their anger is legitimate--our health care system is broken and leaving people without the quality care they deserve--the fear and anger are directed at those trying to reform our broken system rather than those trying to sustain the status quo.

 

As someone who nearly lost their life because they lacked health care I am grateful to those who are working to inform and educate people on this important issue.  Facts and context are vital for us to have a productive debate.  Your article was a constructive contribution in this process.

 

The debate on health care has been needed for a long time... the lies and fabrications only hurt the level of discourse and will only lead to more of the broken status quo system that is harming the the health and quality of life of millions of Americans.

 

Regards,

Jim Nichols

Take a moment to write or email someone working hard to provide facts, rather than fear and lies, in the current health care debate.

 

Millions are being spent each day by those who profit greatly from our broken health care system--their goal is to drag this debate down to the lowest common denominator to block needed reform. 

 

I learned a lot in the antiwar movement when we were trying to talk about the facts and those who supported the war were playing on peoples fear and lack of context about the issue.  Those opposed to the war were correct about the facts and policy, but fear won the day, and we are paying the consequences--many of our children the ultimate sacrifice.

 

By getting people angry, by making them more afraid, we lose the ability to have a productive debate.  It makes people distrustful of government, of their neighbors, and left to feel as if there is no one who is looking out for their interests. 

 

To raise the tone of this debate we must appreciate those who are trying to deal with the issue at hand rather than feeding the fear, anger, and distrust.  Those who are willfully feeding the anger with things they know are lies--shows they lack the qualifications or judgement to be leaders in our society.  Our sense of community and common purpose in this nation have been undermined by these people and we cannot passively sit by and do nothing.

 

Take a moment to say thank you to someone working to make sure a good bill is passed through Congress this year.

 

Posted via email from Jim Nichols