GUEST VOICE From a Seasoned Insider: What You Must Do Now re Health Care Bills

Hi there, Dr. E. here. I’d like to introduce you to Senator Ken Gordon, who served as Senate Majority Leader in the Colorado State Legislature until 2009, when term limits kicked in. Over his long career, he has also been former Senate Judiciary Chair, and former Minority Leader in the House. The sentences I bolded below are ones that may catch your eye most.

It is rarer than rain in the Mojave desert to have a politician tell the truth about how politics works. In disclosure, Senator Gordon has been a friend for many years now.

NO ONE IS LOOKING OUT FOR YOU, BUT YOU

Health Care: The public option has become the center of the health care debate. A recent poll showed over 70% of Americans would like the choice between public and private insurance which they could have if we have a public option.

Legislators, who receive campaign contributions from wealthy health insurance companies, seem reluctant to take them on.

The only way it will happen is if they feel that there is a greater threat that they will lose their jobs from angry citizens than angry health insurance companies. They will only feel that way if you contact them.

I put all the phone numbers for the Colorado delegation on my blog at the most recent entry “Making a Killing.”

People often think that elected officials have a tendency to do the right thing. In fact that is almost never the case. What elected officials have a tendency to do is what will get them re-elected. The only way that what will get them re-elected coincides with what is the right thing is if the people make it so.

[So, call your representatives and Senators]… Tell them that you favor the public option.

Ask what their position is on the public option. If the person on the phone can’t tell you, ask them to find out and call you back.

Ask if the Congressperson or Senator takes campaign contributions from health insurance companies. If the person on the phone says they don’t know, ask them to find out and call you back.

Don’t accept bullshit. You wouldn’t accept it from another employee. Be polite but persistent. Politicians try to please everyone. I know. I was one.

The person who talks to you may say, “The Senator is still examining the topic.” Or, “The Congressperson is in favor of health care reform that will cover everyone.” These are not answers to the question.

The person who you are talking to will probably do everything possible to avoid admitting that the member takes contributions from health insurance companies.

They may say, “Well I don’t know.” Or, “If he/she does, I’m sure that it doesn’t affect their vote.”
Tell them you want to know, and if they need to find out, ask for a call back.

Keep track if they call back.

Report how responsive your legislators are by commenting here.

CODA:
After you contact your Representatives and Senators, if you’d like to let me, Dr. E, know in order that we might pool your experiences in another article, please send to me in care of Joe Gandelman our Editor in Chief at TMV. Thank you.