The Honorable Senator Mark Udall

Hart Office Building

Suite SH-317

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Udall,

I am writing to you today because I recently learned that the senate is talking about a new gimmick for health insurance/care reform, the opt-out. What bothers me about the opt-out idea is that it pushes this long fight for reform off for every state to continue and it feels like yet another way to get 'nothing' accomplished.

Congress and the health insurance corporations have 'highly' overestimated the willingness of the majority of Americans to accept a 'mandate' to purchase health insurance without being given the 'choice' of a 'true', robust public option that brings down costs and is available to 'all' Americans preferably before 2013.  It is crucial that the public option be made available to 'everyone' in order to give everyone the same 'choice' and to prevent insurers from holding hostage the health of the American people.

Based on the behavior of the health insurance industry and their lobbyists, I feel we should actually be passing a single payer plan because it is in the best interest of the country's health and economy.  It appears that the health insurance corporations are threatening dirty tricks no matter what kind of reform passes in congress.  They have a financial stranglehold on the throat of America and this will not change if you are not strong enough to take a stand and remove it. 

Please do not try to sell me that the right to 'choice' is more deserved by those who want to keep their private insurance than those of us who want a public plan.

The majority of the American people want at a minimum a true public option.  This is pretty plain and simple and should not be hard to accomplish.  However the nature of the debate in DC has revealed the corruption and poor character of far too many of our congressmen and women.   We deserve real reform, not games and gimmicks, triggers and co-ops and other such measures that in truth are simply ways of trying 'not' to deliver what the American people need and deserve.

We should have universal healthcare.  It would be best for our health and our economy.   However, congress refused to entertain what was best for our country in favor of special interests and in service to their own political fears and limitations.  I am very disappointed to learn how weak and corrupt many in congress truly are.  I hope that you will support the amendments and substitutions that will be offered by Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Anthony Weiner, and Representative Dennis Kucinich.

When it comes to health insurance/care reform you have people's lives in your hands.  We cannot go about the business of trying to rebuild our economy and heal our nation if we as a people are not committed to bolstering the health of our fellow citizens.   The health of our fellow Americans is affecting us all.

 Everything is tied to the bottom line of how the country treats its people.  Right now the people of America are quickly becoming corporate slaves, expendable when no longer useful to their purposes.  This is not the nation I hoped my daughter would find herself in.  We are at a crossroads and yes, something as simple has how we manage health care in this country will be a reflection of and a telling sign for our course for the future. 

There are far too many people in our country who want to be in power and control 'more' than they care what happens to our country and its people.  I consider it your job to protect us from those people.

When something is right... there should be no question.  We all know universal health care is the right thing... so why then is it that our congress is trying to do as little as possible to entertain real reform?   Our economy, truly the ability of our democracy to continue to exist depends on the character and decisions of our leaders right now. 

I will NOT accept a mandate, without a 'true' robust public option that cuts costs and is available to 'all' Americans. 

How better able is an American to work, to pay taxes, to honor his debts, to volunteer, and live a productive life and participate fully in democracy if he is healthy, if his family is healthy, if his co-workers are healthy, if his employees are healthy... and when they are not healthy to know with confidence that they will get the care they need?

I am counting on you to stand up to the big money, corporate interests and pass real health care reform for the American people.  This is the moment real change can happen.  Please do not waste it.