No strength in numbers for America's uninsured

[babylonsister]

No strength in numbers for America's uninsured

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- If the uninsured were a political lobbying group, they'd have more members than AARP. The National Mall couldn't hold them if they decided to march on Washington.

But going without health insurance is still seen as a personal issue, a misfortune for many and a choice for some. People who lose coverage often struggle alone instead of turning their frustration into political action.

Illegal immigrants rallied in Washington during past immigration debates, but the uninsured linger in the background as Congress struggles with a health care overhaul that seems to have the best odds in years of passing.

That isolation could have profound repercussions.

Lawmakers already face tough choices to come up with the hundreds of billions it would cost to guarantee coverage for all. The lack of a vocal constituency won't help. Congress might decide to cover the uninsured slowly, in stages.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UNINSURED?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Wapsie B]

1. The way government is structured and run by powerful special interests

real work cannot get done without first making sure hospitals and insurance companies can be assured of making a similar level of bank as before. Hundreds of billions? How many trillion did Rummy lose in Iraq? Remove the Social Security earnings cap. Put that money towards SSI and health insurance.

edit: The only real difficult choices I see are trying to avoid ruffling the feathers of these special interests.