Posted on November 27, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe
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| image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net |
Have you heard the latest news about Obamacare? Along with those Americans who want to secede the Union after Obama’s re-election, we now have 17 state governments that want to reject key elements of Obama’s health care reform – before it has even taken effect. I just don’t understand.
Oklahoma. Wisconsin. Maine. Texas. Louisiana. All run by Republicans.
While states have until Dec. 14 to decide if they will run their own exchanges, as stated in the health care law, these governors have already decided that they would rather not allow Medicare expansions and other facets of Obama care for their constituents.
So what happens next? What if you are one of the poor and middle-class Americans living in these states that would benefit from Obamacare? The states’ refusal to expand Medicare will severely affect millions of people, both in their coverage as well as tax credits. Most importantly, they will not have access to services they need to prevent and provide care. What will these people be forced to do? What would you do to take care of someone you care about? What if it is your parent? Your spouse? Your child? Will these states force their residents to cross the state border and move where care is covered?
The sad part to me is that until people get sick, they don’t understand how seriously flawed our insurance system is. They don’t understand until it is their family member who needs treatment, a diagnosis, or even just a test to determine what their next steps might be. They don’t understand when the only hope might be a clinical trial, like those performed by cureLauncher, and the only way to know if you qualify is through a test that the insurance company won’t pay for and you cannot afford. Trust me, it’s not a time to fight over who deserves to have medical care paid for or not. You might think your current insurance is fine, and it might be – unless you get sick.
So governors, please listen to the people. Our country voted for a man and his policies because we believe in them. Don’t quit before it has even started. Don’t be sore losers. It could be you who becomes ineligible next time.
Posted on November 14, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe
“And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed.”
I think 61,173,739 Americans agree with him.
I love Steinbeck. Many people don’t, but I think his words are profound and speak deeply to the heart of America. The Grapes of Wrath, one of my all-time favorite books, tells the story of a family trying to make it in the midst of environmental and economic turmoil. Sounds eerily like today.
It doesn’t matter who they blame; those who came here looking for better opportunities are not interested in ‘self-deportation’. They want to live the American Dream, as they define it.
America’s youth are using their voices and their votes to set a standard for politicians.
The class warfare of 2012 should go down in history; together, we can make a difference.
“What makes America exceptional,” Obama proclaimed, “are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on Earth. The belief that our destiny is shared; that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations.”
Steinbeck knew this to be true when he penned The Grapes of Wrath in 1939. Seventy-three years later, as we pull out of another ‘Great Depression’, we are seeing his words come to life.
Posted on November 6, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe
I’d been getting the emails for several weeks. Each time I opened and read the plea for volunteers to come to Nevada, to work on the campaign, I felt a twinge of guilt. It was so easy to ignore them, delete and they were gone. It didn’t take much. But they kept coming. And I kept considering, and deleting.
Until I got a phone call from a friend that changed everything. I couldn’t resist-she had it all set up, I was free, and it wouldn’t take much for me to step up and walk the talk. I considered, and instead of deleting, I accepted.
I’ve never worked much on a political campaign. I’ve made some phone calls, sported bumper stickers on our cars, made our monetary donations, worked phone banks and made sure I was educated on the issues. Politics is commonplace in our family conversations, but actually participating face-to-face with other like-minded people is new territory. I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as I packed the car and drove through the dark to Reno.
I woke up the next morning twittering with excitement. Breakfast couldn’t go fast enough; the family couldn’t get ready as quickly as I wanted. I couldn’t wait to see what it was all about, especially with my children by my side. As the rally began, chants of “Si Se Puede” rang out above the thunderous clapping of the Unite HERE group of volunteers. The energy built to a crescendo, then the details of why we were there and what we needed to accomplish began. There was a palpable sense of purpose in the air; a definite sense of duty to take action and teach my children firsthand what a presidential election is all about.
Armed with our ‘universe’ of names and addresses and a few hundred door hangers, we headed out to the streets of Reno to knock on doors and urge people to get out to vote. Our nervousness edged away, replaced by a sense of duty and service. As my son and I walked together we talked about his opinions on the election, and who he would vote for, and why. With each step, each contact, and each door hanger left, we came closer to our goal of taking action and walking the talk.
Our lunch break provided another opportunity to open up our world. Eating side by side with union workers from all over California allowed us a peek into a community we know little about. To learn these workers had spent the last two months away from their families in order to work on the campaign humbled me. To hear my son conversing in Spanish with Rosa, a Disneyland banquet server, made me swell with pride.
Our day was long, yet satisfying. Overall, we made nearly 125 contacts as we methodically walked our territory. Together, we moved through gated communities, apartment complexes, and converted motels to spread our message of democracy. We met people of all political persuasions. We felt the importance of each and every vote, and heard the power of the people when united for a common cause.
But most importantly, I sensed the lessons my children were absorbing through the sights, sounds, and people they met along the way. I felt no more guilt. I could no longer ignore it – I needed to take action. To walk my talk. To show my children what true citizenship really is. It didn’t take much. Consider it. Get out and vote. Show your children what you believe.
What have you been wanting to do? What would you need in order to take action?
