Obama Op-Ed and the Millions

As August moves towards September, as kids go back to school, I find myself ready to work for HC/HI reform via the organization that bears the name of my candidate and now President, Barack Obama:  Organizing for America aka Obama for America (OFA).

Yesterday, OFA had a grassroots training session at area public library with aproximately,125 people in attendance...people ready to volunteer for HC/HI Reform.  I scanned the crowd for familiar faces, found a few and saw one of the staff from the campaign.  42 states now have staff placed and offices are slowly opening.  I felt the vibe of the campaign for the first time since Election Day.

I must admit, at first, I was not thrilled to see the DNC invovled.  The first event after the election at one of the Union Halls was heavly attended.  Our brand new MO Director of OFA and 2 or 3 other Staff, did not count on the lousy accoustics when the breakout groups formed.  You could not hear much of the process.  Many of the women that had been vital to our neighborhood during the campaign, were turned off by what they had experienced that evening.  Others I know got tired of being asked for money.  After all, the campaign was over.

Daily life has a way of taking over.  Working hard for 2 years to get someone elected is a lesson in active citizenry, active being the operative word.

Forward a few months.  My husband lost his job for the second time in 5 years.  We are in our 50's.   My brother came to my door a couple of days ago.  He had just lost his job.  He is 43, father of 3, and a wife with a chronic disease.  Like me.

Every man in my immediate family (5) has lost his job, at least once in the past 6 years.  Only one recovered in a better place, with comparable pay.  To be flung into unemployment as an "older worker" and try and come up with the premiums needed to feed the COBRA is daunting at best.  If you can't keep up, you loose big time. It would be such a boon to the economy if good people were able to start businesses and perhaps employ others without the fear of loosing insurance or providing it to those few others because they would be covered too.  Not too much hiring of 50+ folks.  We had better be creative.

Since Barack Obama was the first community organizer I've worked with so intensely for almost 3 years, I have decided that I must to continue to work with him, now that he is in a position to really help the millions of US, who must have change in Healthcare.

Yes We Can.  Yes We Must.

Included Links:  Obama Op-Ed; NYT

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/opinion/16obama.html?_r=1

Andrew Sullivan:  The Dish

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/08/conservatis...