Yes, in fact, we DO need a public option in any healthcare reform bill. Contact your representatives and tell 'em about it.

Unless you fall into one of the following categories, please contact our senators and congressfolks and let them know you support a public option in healthcare reform:
1. Your crystal ball says that you're going to just drop dead and you really won't need any end-of-life care or all of that silly stuff you might need when you get old and have health problems.
2. You've been oh-so-careful and scrimped and saved and there is NO WAY anything could happen to you that might make you unable to afford good health insurance. Not ever.
3. You plan to leave for Planet Claire on Monday, so you won't be using your current coverage anyway.
4. You are certain you will never get cancer, Alzheimer's or any other illness that might create a need for prolonged care. Because, you know, you're YOU.

So, if you don't fall into one of those categories, please contact your representatives and tell them that you would like to see a public option included in reforming our oh-so-fucked-up healthcare system.

To make it easy, if you live in NC:
An online form to send comments to Senator DICK Burr. *ahem* I mean, Richard Burr:
http://burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
An online form to send comments to Senator Kay Hagan:
http://hagan.senate.gov/?p=contact
If you're not sure who your congressfolks are:
http://www.house.gov/zip/ZIP2Rep.html
And if you live in Durham:
Email contact form for our most awesome Rep. David Price:
http://price.house.gov/contact/contact_form.shtml
(Sorry for those who live in the NC 5th District. Since Virginia Foxx probably can't read, she probably doesn't have email either!)

And what might you say? Keep it simple:
We need a public option in any healthcare reform bill. The private sector has had decades to show they can do this right and they haven't, all the while raking in obscene profits while people are denied care and are dying. If they can't compete, too bad. We need a public option, one that gives American citizens access to affordable healthcare.
*OR*
Write your own letter about the MANY MANY reasons we need a public option.

Thanks so much. Do contact your representatives as soon as possible if you don't want to see the public option eliminated from the health care reform bill. Or, worse, if you want to see a "new and improved" healthcare reform bill written by big insurance companies, errr, I mean, Republicans.