Spread the Word: Sherrod Brown's action

Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio promised not to accept his congressional health insurance until his constituents have the same access to coverage for quality care. I read this some time ago in a dailykos diary which I couldn't relocate now and I had a hard time believing it was true so I called his office and confirmed it: he really did this!

Why is this information not more widely known and why isn't it serving to put pressure on everyone else in Congress and the Administration?

We could do that.

One of my favorite Rules for Radicals from Saul Alinksy, father of community organizing, is "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag." For months, we've made repeated calls and written emails with the same message of supporting the public option, or single payer, or Medicare for all. If Alinsky were alive, I think he'd be telling us "Its time for a new tactic, folks."

Let's change the pressure to a new action by urging our elected officials to follow Sen. Brown's example that shows individual commitment to those whose interest they are supposed to represent. At worst, they could afford private health insurance. Then they can see what the degrading experience of applying (and often being denied) is like. Let them feel what it is like to be out here at the mercy of these for-profit corporations.

At this point, the results of deals and compromises can remain abstractions to those in power. They can hide behind all kinds of obfuscations and excuses and let meaningful reform for us slip away once again. They don't know the kick in the gut I felt when I heard Obama say the reform wouldn't go into effect for 4 years. That is 4 more years of worrying and relying on good luck.

This reform needs to matter to them and their families as much as it matters to our's. It needs to impact them personally if they fail or succeed. I would bet they would have thought twice about August recess if their own children weren't covered for pre-existing conditions.

Let's call and write our Senators, Congressional Representatives and the White House with this message: I urge you to follow Senator Sherrod Brown's example of refusing his Congressional health insurance benefits until you pass legislation for reform that provides access to quality health care for every one of us you represent. Show us we are all in this together.

Sherrod Brown offers an example of the kind of American character referred to by President Obama in his Wed. speech. He provides an example of the honest commitment to our nation's well-being that is possible to see in one of our elected officials. Lets pressure the rest of them to get out of the protective government-insured bubble.