Britney Spears or Health Care?

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/11/09/britney-spears-or-health-care/

This is a cross post from the Firedoglake blog.




Every evening, Kiel Macey goes door to door talking with working- and middle-class people in Pennsylvania about issues like health care, jobs and the U.S. economy. Even though most have just come home from work and are busy with dinner, their families and yes, television, many of them take time to talk with Kiel, a canvasser for the AFL-CIO community affiliate Working America.

Kiel’s goal is to sign up new members with Working America. When they sign up (at no cost, or for whatever they want to chip in), people who don’t have the benefit of a union on the job get a voice in a growing community of workers who increasingly have a major say in changing the political direction of the nation. Sometimes, as Kiel says, it comes down to this: Britney Spears or health care.

I spoke with a man who was hesitant to join, but invited me in to further inquire about our organization. While talking, the news on the television behind me was reporting Britney Spears was able to gather thousands of names in support of her in her child custody battle. After commenting on how absurd it was that millions of people could get behind Ms. Spears but we still don’t have enough organization in this country to have universal health care. Just then he grabbed the clipboard and became part of the solution as a member of Working America.

Health care is a blockbuster issue. But the hunger among working people to get involved in changing the direction of this nation goes well beyond this critical concern. There has been much hand-wringing over the past few election cycles about the increasing trend of America’s working class to vote against its interests. In What’s the Matter with Kansas, Tom Frank laid out that big fear, asserting that reactionary extremists’ appeal to divisive social issues, such as abortion and gay marriage, will be the defining factor going forward for those whose economic interests are not served by the far right.

But did anyone think to actually talk with working people and share with them the reasons to vote for candidates who support affordable health care, secure retirements and work to keep jobs from going overseas?

FULL story at link.

[OHdem10]

1. It appears both parties prefer to keep Americans distracted

with Religion and War----This way you do not have to solve
this nations' problems. You know "Split the Difference.