On Community in Rough Economic Times

Charity Woods is special. I met Charity in Atlanta, where she is coordinating advocacy for Health Care for America Now. Charity and I talked recently about our hopes for an increased sense of community in the new year, especially in light of the hard times that are upon us.

Charity told me that she looks out for a homeless man who lives on the porch of a house in her neighborhood. Charity bought him a winter coat and sleeping bag at the thrift store and picks up a few cans of beans every time she buys groceries. She pays him a few bucks for odd jobs.

Most people, including me, aren't brave enough to befriend the homeless. But Charity fears not. She just does.

Enjoy this feel-good video of Charity talking about community in bad times.

Have You Voted Yet?

Fearing long lines on November 4th, I decided to vote early. Let me tell you, it wasn't easy. I waited more than three hours to cast my ballot. It took that long because a handful of poll workers were on duty to process ballots for hundreds of voters waiting in lines wrapping around and through the building. Tensions mounted as voters got tired of the wait.

I shot some video of voters' reactions, and here's what one voter had to say. This video has been viewed more than 34,000 times on CNN's iReport.com. When you hear this voter's complaint, you'll understand why.

Purple Bus Lady Says Vote Healthcare!

Senator Kennedy's January Surprise

The Washington Times reported today that Senator Kennedy has been secretly working with lobbyists and lawmakers from both parties since June on legistation for a health plan to provide affordable coverage to all Americans. Senator Kennedy's plan is to have the legislation ready to submit in January, 2009.

The Times article quotes Senator Kennedy's speech at the Democratic National Convention in August: "I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate. This is the cause of my life, new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American - north, south, east, west, young, old - will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege."

Talking Health Care and Bad Times in Tampa

Hello from Tampa/St. Pete -

I was on Rob Lorei's show Radioactivity (WMNF 88.5FM Tampa) yesterday talking health care. Click here to listen.

There were two important news reports in the last few days that are canaries in the mine for the state of American health care.

First was the news that people scaled back on their medications in the first eight months of the year. (NY Times, 10/21). It's no wonder because medicines are ridiculously expensive. You don't need a crystal ball to predict that pharmaceutical sales are now plummeting. I'm not weeping for Big Pharma, but I am concerned that people get the medicines they need. The silver lining here may be that doctors will make a stronger effort to prescribe affordable generics when appropriate.

The second troubling report was that "Wal-Mart has noticed a spike in sales of baby formula when checks are issued at the beginning and the middle of the month — a trend that suggests consumers are rushing to buy basic necessities when they have cash." (Reuters, 10/22).

The Wall Street $700 billion bailout is going to look frivolous when compared to the human suffering that is about to occur as a result of unfettered Wall Street greed. The next President better be ready to reshape health care in 2009. Babies can't wait for their formula, nor diabetics their insulin.

Beware of Mama Bears

With more than 75 million Americans going without the health care they need, you’d think that people would be marching in the streets, demanding a solution to the shameful state of American healthcare.

That we have not yet reached the tipping point speaks to our resignation to the powers that control our government, namely the special interests that are profiting from our $2.2 trillion health care system. Some call this the "Politics of Cynicism." Deny people hope, and sure enough, they’ll go along with the status quo.

I refuse to accept this view of our democracy – obviously – since I’ve given up my paying job to drive a little purple school bus around the country to educate and motivate people to speak up for health care. I refuse to believe that we, the people, are powerless to change this disastrous state of affairs. My reason is that I refuse to resign my children to a bleak future.

We moms are like that. I think of us as Mama Bears. We see the world through our children’s eyes. We are willing to fight for their safety and well-being, and, most importantly, for their future. We don’t give up easily.

I met another Mama Bear the first day of my journey. Sharon Utiss-Thomas would move heaven and earth to save her son, Branko, who has Aspergers Syndrome, a form of autism. Sharon lost her home to pay for Branko’s medicines, and she is working hard for change in North Carolina. Watch her video. I’m not the sentimental type, but I cried as I taped her story.

Stay tuned. I’ll be telling you about two more Mama Bears, Margaret Demko from Athens, Ohio, and Doreen Hodges from Washington, DC.

Every American should be fighting for change. I urge you to join the fight. Do it for yourself, for your family, and for the future of our country.

Health Coverage McDonald's Style

While traveling America's highways and bi-ways, I never miss the opportunity to ask people about their health insurance coverage. I've spoken with several restaurant workers including Sandy, who was working at the McDonald's in Holland, Michigan, when I passed through last month.

Sandy is typical of the 30 million low-wage workers in our country. Like Sandy, two-thirds are white and female. Many have a high school education and are single parents supporting their children.

Believe it or not, Sandy took the job at McDonald's to get on the health plan. Her premium is $42 a week or $182 a month. The co-pay for non-generic medicines is $50. That's a lot of money when you make $7.00 an hour and have to fight for a full 40-hour work week.

But here's the real kicker. There aren't any local doctors on Sandy's plan. She had to drive more than 40 miles to see a doctor. Many low-wage workers don't own a car (because they can't afford it) and would be hard pressed to pay for the gas if they did.

So, despite her hopes, the coverage wasn't worth the cost. Sandy recently found another job paying twice as much and was planning to move on soon. Sandy is one of the lucky ones. There aren't career ladders for most low-wage jobs, and most never earn a median wage during their lifetime.

For more information on the challenges facing low-wage workers and their families, go to www.lowwagework.org sponsored by the Fairness Initiative on Low-Wage Work, a project funded by the Ford Foundation and the Nathan Cummings Foundation.