America has a new Website. And this time it’s for Health Care. It allows you to find insurance options, learn about prevention, compare care quality and understand the new law. That section includes a handy map to show you, the visitor, which states are choosing to not partake when it comes to pre-existing conditions, thus leading to the Federal government running the New Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). Funny how most of those states choosing to sit this one out are rather conservative leaning. Ah, irony.

The site itself seems like a very useful tool, especially for someone like me who does pretty much everything online. So thanks Barack, for the nice new site. I’m really pulling for the rest of the law to be as clear, concise and effective.

Learn About Prevention

The PCIP Map

HuffingtonPost.com at 9 AM on Monday March 29th, 2010

So. Fourteen months after Barack Obama came to Washington, change has now come to America. Just look at those huge, red, all-capped letters from HuffPost. I have to admit. When the House passed the goods, “holy shit” were the first words I uttered. Say what you will about the process. It was ugly. Unfair. Stupid. Secretive. Pathetic. Infuriating. Open. Democratic. Optimistic. Inspiring. Hopeful. All and everything wrapped up into a spectacle of governing. But today, we are finally starting to say that universal health care is something we value as a society. It’s seen as important. Something this country should make sure all of its citizens have in the name of dignity, fairness, equality and justice. It’s an expansion of our common humanity that we actually give a shit about each other. 

32,000,000 each others.

We’ve now proven we can actually do something to make things happen. It’s a good feeling. Pre-existing conditions. Recision. Dropping the sick. All of it no more. Of course, I live in a conservative state so I’ve heard lots from the right about the destruction of America if this passes. About how our premiums are going to go up. Government takeover. How Canada sucks. Pretty much all of the sound bites I’ve gotten first hand. Hearing it all leads me to the conclusion we all have to stop worrying about something getting taken away from us. Instead we need to start envisioning how we can give of ourselves to make this place better. We need more of that “we’ve come to shape the future” attitude. And a big group hug after all of this.

C’mon people, hug it out. It’s a new day. We’ve taken on health care. Next up: climate change, immigration, worker rights. We’ll sure need more civility from here on out. Everybody now!

What's next in 2010? All of the above please.

This morning I received an email from my good friend Dan Schreiber. It was his response to the folks at barackobama.com as to why he was unsubscribing from their email list. I loved it. Such a small form of protest, but so significant. I’d say it captures a particular mood a lot of us are feeling: “Well yeah we’re still with you, but damn man, I’m not so sure you’re with us.” It’s hard to rally around compromise, and it’s even harder to enthusiastically back things that make the corporate interests smile. So. Now that 2010 is really rolling, we’re of course in for throwin’ down. And for all-of-the-above. (Getting at the structural problems that if not addressed will make the next 50 years non-too-pleasant.) Just remember, those of us with punk rock sensibilities aren’t too keen on sellouts. It’s time to lead with a little less COM-PRO-MISE and a little more YES WE CAN. 

For the time being, I’ll be unsubscribing as well. And here is Dan’s response, with the following disclaimer: Those of you who know me best will know where I’ve bridled the appropriate profanities. 

‘Handing MA voters that awful woman was an insult. You are reaping what you sowed. I support President Obama, but we need to follow through. PUSH. RECONCILIATION. Let blue dogs know that they fall in line or fall out. We – President Obama, Congressional Democrats and I – are most certainly not too far left. We are too centrist. Let’s show the world that we have the [golly darn gumption] to give our people what they deserve – real health care reform. We must offer all we have to our neighbors, brothers and sisters in Haiti right now. If we are to continue fighting at home during this period, it must be worth the effort. Unless we move to make real change happen, I won’t blame the American voters for electing another Scott Brown in 2012. For crying out loud – MASSACHUSETTS elected the male Sarah Palin. Please make me believe again that you know what the hell you’re doing in our name. Thanks.’ Dan Schreiber