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What do you think is the most effective way to turn this idea into real policy? Add your suggestions here for how you think we should run an advocacy campaign to advance the idea – including the overall strategy, messaging, targets, and tactics.

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  1. sally means

    As a health care worker for the past 30 years, I've seen alot of service and DISREVECE to the typical citizen. I've been told and found it to be true over the years that compassion and caring are not what it adds up to be now. If I had wanted to be wealthy, it still would never have been enough for me. Because so many of the fundemental caregivers of medicine in this country today are people who get sick,too.
    Look for people inside the health care industry, who have some true ideals, and who understand FIRST HAND how things have strayed away from those ideals. We are not the high price physicians, or the drug companies, or the outrageously demanding costs of the "you have to have this tesr to save your life" technology. We are people just like you. And if we EVER found ourselves in this world and in this field of work, its because we're just like you.

    Suggested by sally means on 06/15/2009 @ 10:52PM PT

  2. Marjorie Boggs

    For me, health freedom depends on being able to decide what is best for my own body and to be able to grow natural, organic food to put in it.  That is why I am appalled by the idea that our congress is going to vote on the Food Safety Modernization Act (HR 875) which would, if it passes basically outlaw organic food by requiring the use of cerain fertilizers and insect sprays.  Since this bill is being promoted by the Monsato Corporation, it has a good chance of passing unless people organize to prevent this outrage from becoming law.

    Suggested by Marjorie Boggs on 04/06/2009 @ 09:30AM PT

  3. mikey johnson

    The main aversion people have to government supplied health care is the cost. Nothing is free so if you are not paying for it out of pocket then (theory has it) you will be paying for it in dramatically higher taxes. Something that should be considered when putting together health care reforms is the possibility of paying for American health care through tax revenue generated by marijuana legalization. Marijuana itself is a medicine used (both legally and illegally) by millions of Americans. Legalization would not only allow patients to legally access their medicine, but the taxes generated by recreational use would pay for all of our health care needs without the need to excessively raise taxes.

    Suggested by mikey johnson on 03/31/2009 @ 11:29AM PT

  4. Joe Johnson

    Health care is not a right. I hate to say it but it's true. What is the justification that this is a right?

    Protection is a right.
    Free Speech is a right.
    Right to bear arms is a right.

    Health care is not free. For everyone to have health care, it costs money. That money comes from me and other tax payers. By providing people with a "health care right" you are taking away my earned money and giving it to someone else who feels they deserve it. Essentially, my rights are being taken away in order to satisfy another rights.

    Suggested by Joe Johnson on 03/19/2009 @ 08:50PM PT

  5. Joe Johnson

    Health care is not a right. I hate to say it but it's true. What is the justification that this is a right?

    Protection is a right.
    Free Speech is a right.
    Right to bear arms is a right.

    Health care is not free. For everyone to have health care, it costs money. That money comes from me and other tax payers. By providing people with a "health care right" you are taking away my earned money and giving it to someone else who feels they deserve it. Essentially, my rights are being taken away in order to satisfy another rights.

    Suggested by Joe Johnson on 03/19/2009 @ 08:50PM PT

  6. steve brandt

    change.. whats my suggestion ? let me make my own choices !! this word change is nothing short of meaning socialism. i've had enough of change. i dont want uncle and obamas administration telling me what i can buy , eat , drive , do , where i can go , what i make an hour, how i live.... i've already had enough of CHANGE i cant wait for the next 3 1/2 years to get over. anyone wanting government doing everything is only wanting socialism.

    Suggested by steve brandt on 03/18/2009 @ 11:13AM PT

  7. Karen Lowrance

    Whatever happened to what obama said about opening the doors of goverment and asking us to become involved in our own democracy again? I am wondering how he thinks pushing the stimulus bill with the health care provisions in it lets us become involved in our own democracy. He didnt even let congress read everything about it. Many men and women died for our country to give us our freedom rights and he wants to take them all away and give the government control over our health and our food. i agree with Dustin's suggestion above - that any food regulation should be at the local level. What does the government know about us anyway? nothing! i want the freedom to choose - both my food and my medical choices - as well as everything else. Any bills that are to be passed should go through the works on their own and have nothing else slipped in within the many pages that are already there. Give congress and the American people time to read and know what's in it before voting on it. Let people actually be involved and have a say in what goes into a bill in this country. No one knows half the things that are passed because there's way too much to go through. Put one thing into one bill at a time and give everyone time to know what's going on! Let us keep our freedoms!

    Suggested by Karen Lowrance on 02/16/2009 @ 06:31PM PT

  8. Joyce Simmerman

    We need to keep priorities on health rights by insisting that any government agencies whose actions ERODE, abrogate or otherwise replace our freedom of speech on health issues, our freedom of choice with our personal health issues, and otherwise unconstitutionally erode our constitutional rights, be held accountable AND that each person so affected should have an easy, swift, and effective means of having the issue reviewed and corrected.  As the system stands now business and government have totally abrogated important rights. The average person has no "effective" and "efficient" way to say those rights have been stripped ... they are voiceless! Their "free speech" and "free health choices" have been silenced, chilled, and replaced.

    Just try demanding, e.g., raw milk in some states. IF you are female, just try getting over-the-counter bioidentical hormones necessary to one's whole system from heart function to control of one's own mind! Counter that with ALL the hormonal ads littering our TV screens with suggestive ideas which become impossible to explain away to young children. Counter the bioidentical hormone situation for women, their physicians AND compounding pharmacies ... all whose rights to appropriate exercise of their rights to either use or prescribe or dispense female hormones other than certain big companies, are threatened and/or shut down. IF successfully navigated, the medicare programs, plan D does not cover without specialized paperwork. Contrast that situation with male hormonal aids being dispensed easily even to sexual predators and even mandated to be dispensed to the idiots in some cases.
    The rights to choose unpasteurized, unfumigated, NON-GMO basic food has been stripped and many farmers and customers suffer those lacks of basic freedoms. 
    We need the rights ENFORCED to KNOW from whence our food comes, (labels),  to know whether it is adulterated with hormones and GMO feed, (or heaven forbid .. nuclear waste in animal foods, melamine in our foods, or blood meal to cows who are only meant to eat grasses and natural grains, to choose the production methods we choose to support, to choose to eat raw foods if we desire, and for farmers to have the freedom to choose seeds which are not modified and adulterated, to know the sources of the fertilizers used on the land so nuclear waste or infective animal waste is NOT included in fertilizer.
    We need the health freedoms to have a more effective means of enforcing clean, unflouridated, (i.e., adulterated), and unchlorinated waters if we so choose.
    We need the health freedoms of being able to have our own well sources if we so choose as a basic human right.
    People need to have the RIGHT to refuse vaccinations for themselves and their children or others they may be guardians of ... no gestapo-tactic lining parents up at gun point to get their children vaccinated before school admittance as happened recently in one eastern state!
    This is the United States. We need HEALTH and free speech and choices around our health enforced as constitutional rights ... quickly and effectively.   Joyce M. Simmerman, J.D. 

    Suggested by Joyce Simmerman on 02/06/2009 @ 01:17PM PT

  9. Darlene Zwolinski

    As several people have already amply stated in their suggestions, we live in a toxic world - our food, our environment, our water.  If every American knew exactly what this assault of toxicity on our bodies meant, they would all demand this stop NOW!

    However most people believe that anything in small quantities won't hurt you.  However, the truth is, numerous amounts of toxins in small quantities do add up and what are at the root cause in the rise of chronic illness in this country. Our bodies are laden with toxins which causes the slow degradation of health, turning into cancers, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. For the first time in generations, life expectancy rates are going down. I don't expect my own parents to live as long as their parents did.

    I would like to suggest a new agency tasked with examining all the chemicals now allowed in our food, water, cleaning products,  etc. and determine what is toxic and what is not.  No level of toxicity should be allowed in the name of taste.  We've lost sight of what food truly is, a means to live and nourish our bodies to survive.  Most of what we eat and drink is slowly killing us.

    For example, so many of our teenagers are hooked on diet soft drinks which contain the chemical aspartame, which penetrates the blood brain barrier and kills neurons.  We should not allow chemicals such as these in our food supply.

    Food companies can then be given time frames to eliminate the toxic chemicals from their foods or face significant fines.  Labels should contain itemized list of any toxic chemicals contained in the food.  This will educate the consumer.  An informed consumer will make healthier choices.

    Drinking water in homes and businesses should have to pass a standard level of health, much higher than we have now.  I believe home owners should be entitled to one free test per year from the water department if they mail in a sample.  Results could be posted on-line by mailing address.  Individuals who install water purification systems should receive a break on health insurance in some way.

    Mother Earth has given us all we need to live long and well. In the name of progress, we've managed to depart so far from what nature intended.  Its no wonder our bodies are rebelling.  Let's do what we can to restore our food and water supply towards a more pure and natural state.

    Darlene Zwolinski, ND



    Suggested by Darlene Zwolinski on 02/05/2009 @ 08:32PM PT

  10. Darlene Zwolinski

    I'd like to see health insurance cover visits to Naturopaths, who focus on health and healing the body with natural approaches instead of suppressing and eliminating symptoms, which do not "cure" disease. 

    Right now, there are two types of Naturopaths, Natuorpathic Physicians (have some medical training, attended 1 of 4 Naturopathic colleges, & have natural health training, can perform minor procedures, draw blood and prescribe medications). 

    The other type is a Traditional Naturopath, which only uses natural methods and does not perform any medical-type work.  Each carries the acronym, ND (Naturopathic Doctor).  Both can be very helpful in proactive health and a holistic, natural approach. 

    Some states have licensed Naturopathic Physicians, thereby limiting the NPs as the only type of Naturopaths to carry the ND name.  This is in an effort to promote their own and eliminate traditional Naturopaths from practicing.

    I would like to propose:

    a) To License Naturopathic Physicians as NPs (credentials as one that has graduated from 1 of 4 NP colleges)
    b) To License Traditional Naturopaths as NDs (credentials passing the CTN exam as administered by the American Naturopathic Certification Board (ANCB)
    c) Allow people to see an NP or an ND as part of an annual check, so they may get guidance on their health from a holistic approach

    The world is big enough for both types.  With licensing, the public can go to for an alternative approach and be covered by insurance.  I personally am approaching my 50th birthday and am  not on any medications, for which I credit my attention to my health over the years utilizing a natural approach.

    The public needs us more than ever these days.  Make it available, reimbursable and legal. 

    Windsong Holistic Health, Inc.
    Darlene Zwolinksi, ND - Colorado

    Suggested by Darlene Zwolinski on 02/05/2009 @ 07:56PM PT

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