With the passage of health care reform, we now need to focus on not selling it, but rather, educating people. We have heard the dishonesty and misinformation regarding the new law, such as "It's free healthcare" or "giving money to lazy people". I like this site like the next person and love reading all the diaries and information. However, let's do something with it. Let's educate using a way that we can reach hundreds of thousands of people. Please join me in pledging to write 1000+ letters to local and national newspapers for publication. There is actually a great tool to use on Organizing For America. Please read below.
I have been involved in writing lettrs to local and national newspapers for a while now and have had many letetrs to the editor published in the Indianapolis Star. By writing letters, you have the possibility of reaching thousands of people in a single day. Just last Friday, I has a letter published in the Indianapolis Star whcih has a circulation of over 350K. As you probably know, not all letters are published. However, when they are, it can be beneficial.
Here are some tips to follow.
- Pick a topic. That's easy. Healthcare. Woohoo!! Step #1 completed. Glad I can help you with that one.
- Research what you want to write about and stick to the facts. Don't make comments that can be easily disputable. Be honest and factual. They usually don't print citations, but write if you are responding to another letter or article. Write about how these aren't "lazy people" that benefit ftom the new law, rather working class Americans that can't afford insurance. Or the unemployed. Not lazy, but unemployed. Stress that they are WORKING CLASS AMERICANS. Write about how it's not "free", rather, these working class Americans will still have to pay a percentage of their income towards coverage and that the government may subsidize the rest if needed.Write about the CBO score and the reduction of the deficit. Write about how the vast majority of people are for insurance companies not being able to deny coverage for preexisting conditions, but that people would need to be required to get insurance as a counterbalance to that in order to avoid people not getting covered until they have a medical emergency which definitely raise premium and potentially bankrupt multiple, entire corporations.
- My father always told me to speak with my head and heart. Find that balance in your letters. Don't be overly emotional because people may see that as you being a "leftwing nutcase". Speak from your heart using your mind as a tool. Don't rush through your letters. Take your time and have friends proof read it.
Great Tool To Use
Got to the Speak Out on the Organizing For Change webiste. It's a great thing to use!! You type in your zipcode and it lists all the local newspaper and national newspapers that you can send your letters to. And....it will send them for you!! Just write your letter, fill out your information, click which newspapers you want to send it to, and send it!!
Let's pledge to send 1000+ letters to educate people about this bill. Use Speak Out tosend to multiple newspapers at once. In your comments, please indicate how many letters you plan on sending. The same letter in 2 newspapers counts as 2 letters.
Let's Do This!!