Healthcare - At least one national entity continues to represent all Americans

And it may not be the Office of the President.

See today's NYT's lead editorial, presenting more facts about the (enormous) numbers of uninsured and underinsured. It's more objective reporting than editorial, peppered with a few measured comments. The need for affordable and accessible healthcare is (still) clear.

In other news, see who has been advising President Obama, as recently as last Friday before the president flew off for a much needed vacation. Tom Daschle, who you may recall fell to the wayside as possible HHS Secretary because he couldn't manage to correctly report income and pay taxes. Mr. Daschle now works for a law and lobbying firm, Alston & Bird, which represents hospital, drug, pharmaceutical, and other health care industry clients. For example, United Health and the Tennessee Hospital Association.

Mr. Daschle, not registered as a lobbyist, reportedly believes there is no conflict in his advising the president and advising the Alston & Bird clients because he tells them both the same thing. True enough. Plus, it's not as though Mr. Daschle is a public servant any longer (if he every was, really). The pertinent question is what the president is doing having cosy chats about healthcare reform with the compromised Mr. Daschle.

So, let's be grateful for the Times. The paper seems to have the public's interests more in mind than our president. Subscribe if you don't. We need a national conscience more than ever. LLII.

Healthcare Reform - No letting up.

Did you hear NPR this morning? Senator Chris Dodd and another Congressional rep assured us that mixing fundraising from healthcare special interests while drafting healthcare legislation doesn't affect their decision-making, or distract them from keen advocacy for their constituents. All together now: eye-roll. Seriously: it's to be expected that all of Congress are booked for events with healthcare special interests (some may even have views we support), now through the date of the August vote on the legislation.

We know we need healthcare reform that gives us affordable care designed to both keep us healthy or restore us to good health. I for one am weary of the emails asking me to tell my representatives I still care about the subject. But last night at a LWVSF advocacy meeting, I heard an impassioned recitation of the systemic miseries defective healthcare creates. I was reminded that lobbying only gets more intense as a vote looms; the promises more lucrative and irresistible.

We voters, one voice becoming many, must provide balance. Most of us may not be able to substantially add to a campaign coffers but we can, one voice becoming many, firmly promise that disappointment will result in turning people out of office. Opening those emails, then clicking to send the messages to your reps actually works.

Over these next critical weeks, let's try to click and send in support of healthcare reform - whatever reform you believe to be best for your family and friends - at every opportunity. I will. If the money people can stay motivated, so must we. After all, we have more to lose, and to gain! LLII.