One of our San Diego support group members has made contact with a Barack Obama volunteer who is also partly responsible for getting the movie UNDER OUR SKIN shown in San Diego.
This is an excerpt from their email.
``Hearing your story yesterday when we talked, helped me to be even more inspired to bring the message of Lyme Disease and Health Care Reform to as many people will listen.
I encourage you to help bring to light the plight of Lyme patients. This is a once in a lifetime moment when we can share our health care stories. The Obama administration is listening and they want to help. Please visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/healthcarestory
to share your story and take the time to encourage all Lyme suffers in your association to do the same and then forward this message on to more Lyme sufferers.
The more Lyme stories received the more likely they will get recognition at the federal level. Lyme disease so poignantly illustrates all that is wrong with health care in America.''
Regardless of your political opinions, this is an opportunity to get extensive media coverage about LYME Disease, which can only be a benefit to those currently suffering, and hopefully prevent the future suffering of others. Maritza
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
i'm going to take advantage of this OPPORTUNITY!
3-23-09, I went to obama's health conference in des moines, iowa where we met the director of the health movement; can't remember her title, but i posted about it that day...
anyway, i had planners find someone from washington dc, her staff, and i gave him 2 pages of things i would have addressed that day there IF i were called.
when talking to him about lyme disease war controversies, he knew quite a lot based upon his answers, was very kind, considerate, and said he'd give my comments to his boss, the director!
so again, THEY ARE AWARE OF LYME CONTROVERSIES; let's try again folks.
CONN. LYME BILL WAS SIGNED BY GOV. JUNE 5; opportunity is knocking.
let's work on our HR 1179 IN CONGRESS to get it scheduled to be on their AGENDA to finally be discussed/cussed after 10.5 years in DC !! [Smile] xox
Posted by wtl (Member # 19883) on :
I too hope more people are giving the voice to the process.
This administration holds the best chance probably to pass a favorable bill on a federal level.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
well, i sent my 9 page letter tonight!
i cheated; i used what i sent pj langhoff for her 2nd book of it's all in your head series and just updated it a little!
but it got sent!
do you have anything you wrote up earlier you can send as is, or just update it to the present time? hoping all of you do this!
when you go to the site, after you send it; it asks for a donation! i wasn't prepared for that, but you don';t have to give. betty
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
I shared my story and hope something is done.
But I was annoyed at the solicitation for money at the end. I already contribute too much to our government. If they are short on funds they need only to cut out their own corruption and whalla! all our abused tax funds will become available.
We could probably pay off the national debt by just simply managing better the funds we already pay. And every single politician should be audited ASAP to see who else has not paid their taxes.
I blame our fallen economy, not on CEO's but on the politicians. CEO's are in business to make money and lots of it. That is their sole purpose in life.
Politicians, on the other hand, have been elected by the people and are supported financially by the people for the sole purpose of protecting our interests. That includes regulating big and small business.
But they have not protected our interests. They have been bought out by lobbyists for big business. We are a nation run by crooks and theives.
It doesn't matter which party is in power. Once they hit D.C., they are become the same beast.
When Pres Bush proposed the first bailout and 85% of the american people voiced opposition to the bailout, we had two men running for election to the presidential office.
Commonsense says at least 1 of those two candidates would have jumped on the bandwagon against the bailout just to get a large portion of that 85% vote. But neither candidate did that. They both backed the president on the bailout.
I knew right then that we no longer have control of our country. You can bet we bailed someone out alright, but it wasn't us! Someone else is pulling the strings and our presidents are just puppets.
How on earth did anyone ever think the little guy was going to bailout the big guy????? That is like two parents losing their jobs and then looking to their small children for bailouts. Huh?!
sigh....I'm really serious about this. We have lost our country to someone unidentified at this point in time. I shudder to think what lies ahead.
All the same, I did share my lyme story just in case someone can really help us.
Posted by lemonsnotlymes (Member # 19926) on :
I don't think this was intended to be a political thread.
I am going to submit my story today. I believe we can get this done.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
No lemon, you are right. It was not intended to be political and neither is my response. After sharing my story, the solicitation of my money by the Obama website set me off. Period.
If they really want to help, stop exploiting us!
Posted by Wonko (Member # 18318) on :
Does anyone know if the story is submitted if we don't fill out the donation section?
I entered my story and hit "submit," and was taken to the 2nd screen which does not (as far as I can see) have an option to not donate.
So I can't tell if my story went in or not? I did not hit "submit" on the 2nd screen, as I do not chose to donate at this time.
If anyone knows how to be sure our story does in even if our $$ doesn't, please let me know!
Posted by Wonko (Member # 18318) on :
(I emailed my above question to the website "contact us." I'll update if/when I get a response.)
Posted by maritzap (Member # 11146) on :
I am forwarding the response about the DONATION QUESTION Donation is not required.
"I am the member from the San Diego support group who is working to promote the Under Our Skin movie here in San Diego. Noel is the other person who just happens to also volunteer for the Obama Health Care Reform Project. I personally have Lyme and Noel's has a close loved one that has Lyme. We had just both happened to make contact with Open Eye Pictures and our local theatres soon together, and because of this miraculous timing we were able to get the movie shown here locally!! We have since become new friends brought together to pull a miracle off in only 3 weeks time. Our goal is to fill every seat for each showing for all 7 days!!! We are looking at filling approximately 6000 seats! A hefty goal, but since each of our individual goals to get the movie booked here in San Diego happened....we are confident if we work together we can fill all the seats!!
Now in regards to the topic at hand...SHARE YOUR STORY WITH OBAMA...I can assure you that you do not have to make a donation in order to submit your story! Please understand that Noel is an amazing new connection that can help us to make a huge impact nationwide!!!
Here is what Noel says in response to what "overman74" posted earlier:
"You do not need to make a donation to share your story. They continue to raise money to fund efforts to ensure that congress does not pass a watered down version of health care reform. The plan that Obama would like to see is not true universal health care (some call it single payer) program like the Canadian system. I heard an LA Times reporter call it a hybrid program - one that builds on our existing foundation of employer based insurance coverage. The most critical element of his plan is what he is calling an insurance exchange. This is merely a collection of insurance options that all people have the freedom to choose from. Pre-existing condition exclusions would not be allowed under any plan and insurance companies could not charge sick people more for their insurance as the currently do now. The government would also offer a "public insurance plan" that would be not for profit unlike the other insurance carriers which are for profit companies. The thinking is that an efficient public insurance option that people have to pay into would force private insurance companies to be more competitive and ultimately lower medical costs. The "public option" is in a sense single payer health care. But the President does not want to tell everyone that they have to choose that plan. The people that are happy with their health coverage as it is, get to keep it the same. That eliminates the fear of half of the people in the country that their choice of doctors and hospitals is somehow at risk. The insurance companies are going to fight the "public option" with everything they have. They know that they will not be able to compete with government run non profit insurance. Right now it is the private insurance companies that run the show - the foxes guarding the hen house. And they finance the campaigns of many of our Congressmen and women, republicans and democrats. So, Congress may be willing to cave and send a bill to the President that does not reform much at all. That is what I want to make sure does not happen which is why I am working to support the President's vision of health care reform. This must be reform that is in the peoples' best interest not the insurance companies. I hope that helps a bit." -Noel
So, I urge you to please consider sharing your personal experience in regards to Lyme Disease and your personal thoughts, opinions, etc. on the ENTIRE lyme situation. Anything YOU feel is important for Obama to know... Political situation between IDSA and ILADS, your experience with finding a doctor to care for you, diagnosis & treatment issues, lack of testing, your medical coverage...or lack there of, etc. Obama truly does want to hear what is really going on!!! THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO SPEAK UP!!! Regardless of your political beliefs...Obama needs to hear from EVERY single lymie and their loved ones!!!"
Posted by Wonko (Member # 18318) on :
Thanks, maritzap.
I wish the website made it clear that a submission has been accepted before redirecting. That was my concern. Usually, you get some sort of confirmation page or email.
I haven't heard back from my query, but I feel more optimistic that my story was accepted based on your post.
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
maritzap
First, thank you for all you have done with the film and thanks to Noel. Your efforts are appreciated.
I know it is easy to hate the big bad insurance companies, but it is a misguided anger and the statement about medical costs coming down if the insurance companies have government competition is inaccurate. Insurance companies don't establish medical care costs. The doctors and the pharmacutical companies do that. Insurance companies have tried to control those costs by limiting how much they will pay for services.
Insurance companies have to file a request with each state any and every time they want to raise their premiums and THE STATE determines whether or not the increase is warranted. Not the insurance company.
People do not realize how regulated the insurance industry is. Heavily regulated and they can't breathe in or out without the state's permission.
Government insurance is not going to be considered competition to the insurance companies. As an example, we already have government insurance in the form of The National Flood Insurance Plan, Assigned Risk Auto, Fair Plan Home insurance, medicare, medicaid and some states have state run workers compensation programs. Most of these programs are very limited in their coverage and are for risks that private insurance companies will not write. No one considers it to be competition. Nor are these programs anywhere near the quality of coverage provided by private insurance.
Just wanted to set the record straight.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
mari, could you possibly edit what you posted of your leter?
those of us w/severe neuro can't read it at all the zip zag of a full row of text and a few words next line and doing that all the way down the page.
Betty's suggested POSTING GUIDELINES . many of us have neuro lyme where we can NOT read long solid block text and be able to comprehend and read it as is.
please edit your post by CLICKING PAPER/PENCIL ICON to right of your name. that opens up BOTH subject line and body text.
now please break up your WORDY SENTENCES into one sentence paragraphs. Then hit ENTER KEY ``TWICE`` after each paragraph; we need that space for comprehension.
then go to left hand corner and mark box to receive ALL REPLIES, and click EDIT SEND
we thank you for helping us; otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me.
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otherwise, we will SOB, SCROLL ON BY, since we can't read to help you. If I see posts like this, I SOB them; to hard on me.