Harnessing My Inner Policy Wonk

I have been on a public policy tear lately, venting about health care reform. I'm about to put my "boots on the ground" by going to my Congressional representative's office to talk to them about health care, and I may even canvas my neighborhood this week. (This is an effort organized by Pres. Obama's Internet group, Organizing for America.) I'm finding that I'm having trouble letting my "inner policy wonk" let go of this issue, because I believe it's important for the country and myself personally. If I have offended any of my "gentle readers," I apologize. I also promise to move on to other topics as I feel led.

I'm not willing to cede ground to the irresponsible people in the debate, though. I don't want anyone to think that my silence indicates consent to the outlandish claims of people like Sarah "Beyond the Pale"-in. I need to keep involved in this process because it's about our country's future, and I have a vital stake in that idea. While I haven't been bankrupted by health care costs (yet), I have been nickel-and-dimed for too long. The President's ideas and messages, as conveyed in a town hall meeting that aired this morning here, give me hope that our country can be more fair and more free. This is an economic issue, but it is also a contest of ideals -- do we want the wealthy few to have all the advantages, or do average Americans deserve better than what we've gotten from the insurance companies? Health care should not be the number one cause of bankruptcies in our country.

Here are a few more links to help people get involved in the process:

Email Harry Reid (U.S. Senator, D-NV)
Email John Ensign (U.S. Senator, R-NV)
Find your Congressperson/Senator

Follow the debate on the Washington Post's website