Monroe/Seattle Healthcare House Party
The Raw Story

We promptly start later than anticipated because one participant wanted cocoa.

The Participant noted: “This really is like a Tupperware party. It seems like it’s a party because there are little wieners with toothpicks in them, but really, it’s about selling you Tupperware.”

The Host went through the goals as stated in the Moderator’s packet:

We'll be picking up the discussion

Today, Saturday, Dec. 27 at 8EST

Lambert will be rolling out the survey so we can spread the word.

Amberglow linked to an excellent article on why single payer opponents fear the single payer option. Basically, peons like us would like public insurance so much, we would choose it instead of more expensive private health insurance plans.

Hello and welcome. First a little business...

Thanks, lambert for the place and the constant support.

Thanks DCB and hipparchia for yeo-woman work on the issue of single payer. You are why I got involved. Well, that and I got really pissed off.

Next virtual house parties:

All 8pm EST
Friday, Dec. 26
Saturday, Dec. 27 (fab Gf and ohio report)
Tuesday, Dec. 30 (Paul L's report)
Possibly a wrap-up on the 31st.

Spread the word.

Here's the list of questions we gathered.

1. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford it? (h/t a little night…)

2. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford treatment though you had health insurance? (h/t a little night…)

Edited to correct spelling of "bugaloo." And to add Paul L's info.

Our responses (Monroe/Seattle):

Date and time:
December 27, 2pm

Please describe your event:
Lunch and discussion in support of single payer national health insurance.

What are the major areas you want to discuss?
Making single payer national health insurance a reality now.

Why should the health policy team send Senator Daschle to your event?
Please don't. But any co-sponsor of HR676 will be welcomed and well fed.

From Paul_Luckasiak (outside Philly):

Date and Time of Event
Monday Dec 29, 6:30PM

Please describe your event
Potluck dinner with health care as the topic

What are the major areas you want to discuss?
Best way to fund health care for all

well, I signed up to "moderate" a house party on health care. But with a twist -- its going to be a "pot luck" dinner as well.

And only Correntians (or those who are endorsed by correntians) will be invited.

Here is how I answered the survey questions

Revise, replace, rewrite, do your on as you see fit---okay, just fix it. It sucks. trying to get a one-pager that cracks the whip a little. Our goal is to get press to the house party and to write a story about how single payer/healthcare for all/whatever you want to call it is a real solution and not some half-assed attempt.

(I am pleased with the last quote, I will say.)

Edited based on comments...

Don't stop now.

====

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
[YOUR EMAIL]

Headline: Locals Agree with Obama: Healthcare Is A Right

There was a lot of eyerolling with this---I mean, honestly, the original is all sleazy and weasel-y, no offense to weasels.

Anyway, revise, replace, and add your own as necessary.

====
1. What do you perceive is the biggest problem in the health system?
a. Cost of health insurance
b. Cost of health care services
c. Difficulty finding health insurance due to a pre-existing condition
d. Lack of emphasis on prevention
e. An emphasis on health insurance and not on healthcare for all as the solution to our healthcare crisis

2. What do you think is the best way for policy makers to develop a plan to address the health system problems?
a. Community meetings like these
b. Traditional town hall meetings
c. Surveys that solicit ideas on reform
d. A White House Health Care Summit

Questions to get us started. Revise, replace, add your own as necessary. We'll compile and you can choose the ones you want to use at house parties or online as you go.

Edited based on comments. Sorry if I missed tipping a hat to anyone.

The list is getting long. Damn, good questions though.

=====

1. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford it? (h/t a little night…)

2. Have you or anyone in your family ever failed to seek medical attention because you couldn’t afford treatment though you had health insurance? (h/t a little night…)

3. Have you ever lost your health insurance? If so, why?

4. Have you ever been refused health insurance? If so, why?

[I'm leaving this sticky because it's important and creative -- a virtual Daschle house party with reality-based material! But I'm also seeing people volunteering for house parties on the ground. Kudos to all on this thread, and let's do it! --lambert]

Edited to add:

RL house party volunteers as of 12/18:

• allys gift in Baltimore
• basement angel in L.A.
• Paul Lukasiak in Philly
• Me and the fab GF in Monroe/Seattle area

Can't host but will help a host:

• ElizabethF in West Palm Beach

We also have document development:

• -6Qs That Should Be Asked
• -Press release and PSA templates
• -Fun Facts factsheet

[I will revise and sharpen if others will draft. Perfection is not necessary! --lambert]

Keep a lookout for dates for virtual house parties here in the Mighty Corrente Building.

Via the PNHP website, I downloaded the Participant Guide PDF and the Moderator Guide PDF to HHS Sec.-designate Daschle's healthcare house parties thing just to take a quick look. My impressions as follows...