Donna,
Thank you for contacting us with your concerns. All
three branches of government have now agreed that President Obama’s
health care law is the right thing to do. The law is already helping
millions of Americans and will help millions more
in the years to come. It’s time to move past the same political battles
and fully implement the law. Mitt Romney promises to repeal health
reform on “day one,” refighting old political battles of the past and
denying millions of Americans affordable health
care.
The individual mandate was upheld, along with all
the reforms that ensure Americans, not their insurance companies, have
control over their health. By 2014, all Americans will have access to
quality, affordable health care.
Obamacare is already helping millions of Americans
save money and live healthier lives, and will help millions more in the
years to come. Americans aren’t losing coverage or going bankrupt just
because they get sick, preexisting conditions
are being covered, and millions of Americans will keep saving money on
their premiums, preventive care and prescription drugs.
Obamacare will save middle-class families up to
$2,300 a year on top of its largest health care tax cut in history,
worth an average of $4,800 to about 19 million middle-class Americans.
Because the rest of us have to pay for those who
can afford health insurance but refuse to get it, the court’s decision
today means that free riders either have to get insurance or pay a small
fine – which would apply to only about 1 percent of Americans.
The individual responsibility requirement is the same policy Mitt Romney put in place in Massachusetts.
The American people want Washington to move past
the political battle over health reform and get to work on the economy.
Congress passed health reform, the President signed it, and today the
Court ruled that it’s constitutional. It’s time
to move on and fully implement the law so we can cut costs and ensure
all Americans get the care they need.
Insurance companies can’t drop you because you got
sick, made a mistake on your application or hit an arbitrary cap on
coverage. Already 105 million Americans no longer have lifetime caps on
their coverage.
- Free Preventive Care: 86 million Americans got more access to preventive care – from lifesaving cancer screenings to regular checkups to immunizations – covered by Medicare or their insurance without a co-pay or deductible.
- Rebates on Excessive Premiums: By August 1, 12.8 million Americans will have gotten rebates from their insurance company because it spent too much of their premium dollars on administrative costs or CEO bonuses.
- Coverage for Young Americans Starting Their Careers: 3.1 million young adults who would’ve been uninsured have coverage through their parents’ plans.
- Discounts on Prescription Drugs: More than 5 million people got discounts on their prescription drugs in the Medicare “doughnut hole” – each saving an average of more than $600 last year.
Please go to this link http://www.barackobama.com/
Cheryl Green
Democratic National CommitteeAnd here is my response to Ms. Green:
Cheryl,
First, I want to thank you for responding to one of my messages to the DNC. For over two weeks I have been writing to the DNC in response to each email sent to me. You are the first person to respond to any of my concerns.
I do appreciate what President Obama tried to accomplish with his health care law. However, I still do not like the plan. Neither my husband nor I approve of this plan, but it is only one reason why neither of us will be voting for President Obama in November. When the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives are willing to receive the same kind of health care coverage as the average American or they are willing to give all American citizens the exact same health care benefits which they receive and will continue to receive for life, then I will change my mind about Obama Care, but not before.
Both of us have a long history of voting for Democrats although I have been doing so for a longer time. After thirty years of supporting Democrats, I can no longer do so. I believe President Obama and the Democratic Party have lost sight of what life is like for most Americans.
Health care is only one of my concerns. President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Politicians and the DNC need to understand all of the problems facing the average American family. I personally believe they either do not understand the plight of average Americans, or they simply do not care about what life is like for Americans. What is worrisome is both possibilities will prove devastating to our country if they continue.
I was greatly alarmed when President Obama falsely stated, "The private sector is doing fine." In what parallel universe does he live? Perhaps, if the President opened his eyes and saw not only the figures for how many new people apply for unemployment benefits, but also considered how many continue to be unemployed. How many people still receive unemployment benefits? How many people are still unemployed but have now tapped out of benefits?
I can tell you about one such individual, my husband. We will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary on the Fourth of July. During the first seven years of our marriage he found himself regularly laid-off and hunting for a new position. This continued until one day there were no more manufacturing jobs to be had. He has collected unemployment benefits for three years, but we live under the threat those benefits are about to end.
He is an Air Force Veteran who proudly and willingly served his country in the first gulf war and in Columbia when our military went after Noriega. When he completed his service to the country, he would have loved to use the education benefits promised to veterans. Unfortunately, he came home to a mother who not only had heart problems but was now in a losing battle with cancer. In addition, his sister had become a recent unwed mother with no assistance from her son's father. Since my husband has a strong sense of duty, which is what led him into the military in the first place, he also accepted his first responsibility was to care for his female relatives and young nephew.
After his mother's passing, his sister eventually became involved with a man who accepted at least partial responsibility for the boy who became his stepson. This relieved my husband from the overwhelming responsibilities he loving had accepted. Unfortunately, this happened after time limit allowed for veterans to receive education benefits.
This meant he had no choice but to continue working in manufacturing. Unfortunately, manufacturing jobs were quickly leaving the USA and going overseas. We live in the part of North Carolina known as the Triad which has always been known for the large number of manufacturers located here. What are residents of the Triad supposed to do when there are no manufacturing jobs, and they have training only for manufacturing work? This is especially troubling when they also hear President Obama ridiculously state, "The private sector is doing fine?"
Another problem faced by the Triad area of North Carolina is childhood hunger. We are number one in the country when it comes to this issue. It is no coincidence the Triad is at the very top on childhood hunger, and the area also has such a large rate of both new and continuing unemployment.
Three years ago we lost our home and everything we owned. Currently, we live in a cheap motel which is something I never thought I would be doing. When we lost our home, we did the math. Since we were looking at a very extended stay in our motel room, we received a greatly reduced rate. Our weekly room rate also includes maid service, weekly clean sheets and towels, cable television and other utilities. If we were to move to an inexpensive apartment we would be paying much more per month than we now spend.
The motel also provides us with a dorm room size refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot. We, like other motel residents, were also using a grill, so we could cook healthy meals. Unfortunately, the Fire Chief has now forbidden the use of grills at the motel, regardless of how far from the building the grills are used. We have purchased a crock pot and toaster oven, and along with the microwave supplied by the motel, which allows us to cook meals which we also supplement with sandwiches or microwave frozen dinners.
I never thought I would say it is fortunate we do not have children who would have to live the lifestyle my husband and I now live. Sadly, there are several families with young children who also live in this motel. We are able to have a blind eye toward some of the negative behaviors of certain residence in the motel, but I worry about the young children who can easily witness drug sales and paid prostitutes with their johns.
My husband and I are also doing something else which I never thought we would do. We have applied for and received food stamps. In my past life (i.e., before Multiple Sclerosis and Multiple Auto-immune Syndrome forced me to accept social security disability benefits) I was in the ministry. Many were the times I provided parishioners and local residents with food I purchased on their behalf, but I never expected to be the one in need of public assistance.
In October 2011 my husband began suffering grand mal and smaller seizures. Thus far his regular physician and neurologist have been unable to find the cause for the seizures despite tests for which we may never be able to completely pay. They also have use what can only be described as "hit or miss" drug treatments to control the seizures.
Not only are the seizures a frightening health concern, but they mean my husband cannot work heavy equipment or drive a forklift. Every position he held in manufacturing in the past required him to drive a forklift and/or work heavy equipment. This means even if there were manufacturing jobs in our area he would not be allowed to do them.
During the 2008 election, we heard Democrat candidates seeking election as governor of our state and all the way up the chain to the then Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, promise if elected, they would seek to make it possible for the unemployed to receive a tuition free education from community colleges while still receiving unemployment benefits. The idea behind this promise was it would allow unemployed Americans to receive the education needed to allow them to move from vanishing employment into areas which had increasing employment needs. I have to admit this promise alone had me voting a straight Democrat ticket.
I was greatly disappointed and frustrated when within days of taking office every Democrat newly elected, including President Obama, announced it would not be possible to offer tuition free education in community college. Nor would it be possible for those working on a community college education to receive unemployment benefits. Amazing! The one campaign promise made by Democrats from local to national offices which could have greatly improved the employment status of Americans was the first promise to be abandoned after they took office.
Ms. Green, do not try to tell me how President Obama or any other Democrat is concerned about or understands the problems facing American households today. My personal experience tells me they don't. Also, do not suggest I am abandoning the Democratic Party because I believe the DNC, President Obama and almost all Democratic politicians have abandoned the American people in favor of their own political and monetary gain.
Look at Nancy Pelosi and her husband. During a time when everyone is losing their financial future in the stock market, she and her husband have profited. How were they able to do this? Because of her position Ms. Pelosi had access to information not available to other Americans. In essence, she and her husband participated in what can only be described as legalized insider trading. I did not need the Sixty Minutes investigative reporting of this story to know how wrong her actions were, and I am sure there are many other Americans who feel as I do.
Another problem I have with Ms. Pelosi and President Obama is their habit of blaming every problem or failed action on Republicans and Independents. I cannot decide if they sound most like first graders tattling on classmates and siblings, or should they be likened to the child who says, "You're not playing what I want, so I'm going to gather up my toys and go home?" Either way, they look foolish, disrespectful and uncaring of American citizens who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food in their families' stomachs.
I have spent four years being frustrated, disappointed and embarrassed by Democrats. After thirty-some years of staunchly supporting Democrats even in the face of ridicule and arguments by Republican friends and family, I can no longer align myself with the party I had previously supported. I am now convinced if our country is to survive our current problems, if American families are ever to prosper again and if our nation's huge debt is to be repaid, then Democrats cannot be in control of the Presidency, House of Representatives and Senate.
I would have thought after the results of the 2010 mid-term elections, Democratic politicians would have realized they were not pleasing American citizens. Sadly, they did not. Democrats made no change in policy, and instead, they continued along the path of doing more damage. More and more people became unemployed while previously unemployed continued in this status. Childhood hunger has grown to epic and embarrassing proportions for a country as great as ours. The debt which has precariously yoked our country has grown to an astronomical number which will be unable to paid in full until current generations grand children or great-grandchildren come of age, and that is only if it increases no more.
Our country cannot take another four years of a Barack Obama Presidency. I cannot tolerate another day of association with the Democratic Party. I am repulsed by the behavior of elected Democrats. I am convinced the DNC and all Democratic politicians are clueless about the hardships faced by the average American citizen.
The only hope I see for our country is to remove Democrats from office. Therefore, I am changing political parties. Come November I will be voting solely for Republican candidates. I still find it odd to write such a statement, but I believe current Democratic politicians have left me with no other option. I must become a Republican and vote only for Republicans, and I must do so for the good of my country and my fellow citizens.
First, I want to thank you for responding to one of my messages to the DNC. For over two weeks I have been writing to the DNC in response to each email sent to me. You are the first person to respond to any of my concerns.
I do appreciate what President Obama tried to accomplish with his health care law. However, I still do not like the plan. Neither my husband nor I approve of this plan, but it is only one reason why neither of us will be voting for President Obama in November. When the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives are willing to receive the same kind of health care coverage as the average American or they are willing to give all American citizens the exact same health care benefits which they receive and will continue to receive for life, then I will change my mind about Obama Care, but not before.
Both of us have a long history of voting for Democrats although I have been doing so for a longer time. After thirty years of supporting Democrats, I can no longer do so. I believe President Obama and the Democratic Party have lost sight of what life is like for most Americans.
Health care is only one of my concerns. President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Politicians and the DNC need to understand all of the problems facing the average American family. I personally believe they either do not understand the plight of average Americans, or they simply do not care about what life is like for Americans. What is worrisome is both possibilities will prove devastating to our country if they continue.
I was greatly alarmed when President Obama falsely stated, "The private sector is doing fine." In what parallel universe does he live? Perhaps, if the President opened his eyes and saw not only the figures for how many new people apply for unemployment benefits, but also considered how many continue to be unemployed. How many people still receive unemployment benefits? How many people are still unemployed but have now tapped out of benefits?
I can tell you about one such individual, my husband. We will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary on the Fourth of July. During the first seven years of our marriage he found himself regularly laid-off and hunting for a new position. This continued until one day there were no more manufacturing jobs to be had. He has collected unemployment benefits for three years, but we live under the threat those benefits are about to end.
He is an Air Force Veteran who proudly and willingly served his country in the first gulf war and in Columbia when our military went after Noriega. When he completed his service to the country, he would have loved to use the education benefits promised to veterans. Unfortunately, he came home to a mother who not only had heart problems but was now in a losing battle with cancer. In addition, his sister had become a recent unwed mother with no assistance from her son's father. Since my husband has a strong sense of duty, which is what led him into the military in the first place, he also accepted his first responsibility was to care for his female relatives and young nephew.
After his mother's passing, his sister eventually became involved with a man who accepted at least partial responsibility for the boy who became his stepson. This relieved my husband from the overwhelming responsibilities he loving had accepted. Unfortunately, this happened after time limit allowed for veterans to receive education benefits.
This meant he had no choice but to continue working in manufacturing. Unfortunately, manufacturing jobs were quickly leaving the USA and going overseas. We live in the part of North Carolina known as the Triad which has always been known for the large number of manufacturers located here. What are residents of the Triad supposed to do when there are no manufacturing jobs, and they have training only for manufacturing work? This is especially troubling when they also hear President Obama ridiculously state, "The private sector is doing fine?"
Another problem faced by the Triad area of North Carolina is childhood hunger. We are number one in the country when it comes to this issue. It is no coincidence the Triad is at the very top on childhood hunger, and the area also has such a large rate of both new and continuing unemployment.
Three years ago we lost our home and everything we owned. Currently, we live in a cheap motel which is something I never thought I would be doing. When we lost our home, we did the math. Since we were looking at a very extended stay in our motel room, we received a greatly reduced rate. Our weekly room rate also includes maid service, weekly clean sheets and towels, cable television and other utilities. If we were to move to an inexpensive apartment we would be paying much more per month than we now spend.
The motel also provides us with a dorm room size refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot. We, like other motel residents, were also using a grill, so we could cook healthy meals. Unfortunately, the Fire Chief has now forbidden the use of grills at the motel, regardless of how far from the building the grills are used. We have purchased a crock pot and toaster oven, and along with the microwave supplied by the motel, which allows us to cook meals which we also supplement with sandwiches or microwave frozen dinners.
I never thought I would say it is fortunate we do not have children who would have to live the lifestyle my husband and I now live. Sadly, there are several families with young children who also live in this motel. We are able to have a blind eye toward some of the negative behaviors of certain residence in the motel, but I worry about the young children who can easily witness drug sales and paid prostitutes with their johns.
My husband and I are also doing something else which I never thought we would do. We have applied for and received food stamps. In my past life (i.e., before Multiple Sclerosis and Multiple Auto-immune Syndrome forced me to accept social security disability benefits) I was in the ministry. Many were the times I provided parishioners and local residents with food I purchased on their behalf, but I never expected to be the one in need of public assistance.
In October 2011 my husband began suffering grand mal and smaller seizures. Thus far his regular physician and neurologist have been unable to find the cause for the seizures despite tests for which we may never be able to completely pay. They also have use what can only be described as "hit or miss" drug treatments to control the seizures.
Not only are the seizures a frightening health concern, but they mean my husband cannot work heavy equipment or drive a forklift. Every position he held in manufacturing in the past required him to drive a forklift and/or work heavy equipment. This means even if there were manufacturing jobs in our area he would not be allowed to do them.
During the 2008 election, we heard Democrat candidates seeking election as governor of our state and all the way up the chain to the then Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, promise if elected, they would seek to make it possible for the unemployed to receive a tuition free education from community colleges while still receiving unemployment benefits. The idea behind this promise was it would allow unemployed Americans to receive the education needed to allow them to move from vanishing employment into areas which had increasing employment needs. I have to admit this promise alone had me voting a straight Democrat ticket.
I was greatly disappointed and frustrated when within days of taking office every Democrat newly elected, including President Obama, announced it would not be possible to offer tuition free education in community college. Nor would it be possible for those working on a community college education to receive unemployment benefits. Amazing! The one campaign promise made by Democrats from local to national offices which could have greatly improved the employment status of Americans was the first promise to be abandoned after they took office.
Ms. Green, do not try to tell me how President Obama or any other Democrat is concerned about or understands the problems facing American households today. My personal experience tells me they don't. Also, do not suggest I am abandoning the Democratic Party because I believe the DNC, President Obama and almost all Democratic politicians have abandoned the American people in favor of their own political and monetary gain.
Look at Nancy Pelosi and her husband. During a time when everyone is losing their financial future in the stock market, she and her husband have profited. How were they able to do this? Because of her position Ms. Pelosi had access to information not available to other Americans. In essence, she and her husband participated in what can only be described as legalized insider trading. I did not need the Sixty Minutes investigative reporting of this story to know how wrong her actions were, and I am sure there are many other Americans who feel as I do.
Another problem I have with Ms. Pelosi and President Obama is their habit of blaming every problem or failed action on Republicans and Independents. I cannot decide if they sound most like first graders tattling on classmates and siblings, or should they be likened to the child who says, "You're not playing what I want, so I'm going to gather up my toys and go home?" Either way, they look foolish, disrespectful and uncaring of American citizens who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food in their families' stomachs.
I have spent four years being frustrated, disappointed and embarrassed by Democrats. After thirty-some years of staunchly supporting Democrats even in the face of ridicule and arguments by Republican friends and family, I can no longer align myself with the party I had previously supported. I am now convinced if our country is to survive our current problems, if American families are ever to prosper again and if our nation's huge debt is to be repaid, then Democrats cannot be in control of the Presidency, House of Representatives and Senate.
I would have thought after the results of the 2010 mid-term elections, Democratic politicians would have realized they were not pleasing American citizens. Sadly, they did not. Democrats made no change in policy, and instead, they continued along the path of doing more damage. More and more people became unemployed while previously unemployed continued in this status. Childhood hunger has grown to epic and embarrassing proportions for a country as great as ours. The debt which has precariously yoked our country has grown to an astronomical number which will be unable to paid in full until current generations grand children or great-grandchildren come of age, and that is only if it increases no more.
Our country cannot take another four years of a Barack Obama Presidency. I cannot tolerate another day of association with the Democratic Party. I am repulsed by the behavior of elected Democrats. I am convinced the DNC and all Democratic politicians are clueless about the hardships faced by the average American citizen.
The only hope I see for our country is to remove Democrats from office. Therefore, I am changing political parties. Come November I will be voting solely for Republican candidates. I still find it odd to write such a statement, but I believe current Democratic politicians have left me with no other option. I must become a Republican and vote only for Republicans, and I must do so for the good of my country and my fellow citizens.
PLEASE NOTE:
I will be posting a second message with the President's message and my response to it shortly. I wanted to post this one immediately since I received it first. I will prepare my response to President Obama's message and then post it when I have finished compiling my response.
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