Health care bill 'Big Read' project proposed by League of Women Voters

Butler County Fair Results, Thursday, July 29
New 29 min. ago
Suspect sought in ‘vicious’ fatal assault
3:00 p.m.
Jewelry store thieves hit store in about 2 minutes
2:58 p.m.
No swimming, fishing advisory for Grand Lake St. Marys continues
2:24 p.m.
Vastly different portraits emerge of Baby Vanessa's father
2:11 p.m.
> More headlines

E-mail this page

By Mary McCarty, Staff Writer 12:15 AM Thursday, August 27, 2009

“How can we have such a heated debate about something we haven’t read?”

That’s the question Janis James has repeatedly asked about the national Town Hall shoutfest over health-care reform.

The local president of the League of Women Voters has cringed at the dueling displays of incivility: fabricated tales of “death panels” versus signs bearing the slogan, “Euthanize the fearmongers.”

James observed, “The League promotes open discussion and exchange of ideas of substance, not this chaos of misinformation and the overpowering of the opinions of others,”

But how could the Dayton chapter weigh in without abandoning its proud tradition of nonpartisanship?

The answer started with “probably an insane idea” — the heading for an e-mail from the chapter’s education coordinator, Susan Hesselgesser. In essence, she suggested a community “Big Read” of House Bill 3200 — more than 1,100 pages of it — recruiting local experts and average citizens to read various sections and formulate questions for their legislators.

James embraced the idea as the perfect complement for the League’s mission: “We advocate voter education and action on issues. But you shouldn’t take action until you know what you’re doing. You should be clear about your concerns and they should bubble up from thoughtful study, not some false notion about how ‘we’re going to off Grandma.’ ”

James announced the health care “Big Read” on Wednesday night, Aug. 26, at the League of Women Voters’ “Women’s Equality Day” celebration at the Old Courthouse building in downtown Dayton.

“Let’s get together and read this bill,” James exhorted. “Let’s form study groups. Each group can take a section. Read it. Summarize it. Report to the larger group. Pose questions to our legislators. Hold a public forum. Let us help our fellow citizens base their opinions on fact.”

At first, it might seem an incongruous setting for such an announcement; it was, after all, an event celebrating the 89th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote.

“I think this is the perfect setting to make this announcement,” James said. “After all, if it weren’t for the suffragettes getting engaged with their government, where would we all be?”

Local women, including prominent politicians, decked themselves out in big feathered hats and recited the words of the suffragettes: Carolyn Rice as Elizabeth Cady Stanton; Marilyn Reid as Alice Paul; Peggy Lehner as Harriet Taylor Upton; Carol Graff as Dayton activist Jessie Davisson. (I played the role of firebrand Carrie Chapman Catt). Actress Pamela Byrd knocked ’em dead with her rendition of Sojourner Truth’s, “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech.

The suffragettes’ soaring words reminded me of what has been largely missing from the national health care debate: Eloquence. Passion paired with reason and a thirst for justice.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2209

How to join  the ‘Big Read’

To take part in the “Big Read” on health care reform, call the League of Women Voters at (937) 228-4041 or visit www.lwvdayton.org

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

DamRepublicants, well you must not have been listening or you only pay attention to state run media. The republicans have offered at least 3 peoples. But Obama and the dems keep telling you they have offered nothing. It just is not true. Republicans have a bill that gives you what Obama promised - to have the same coverage he has. That's what is in the republicans. To open up all of the health insurance choices they have to all of us. Tort reform. Includes pre-existing conditions.

Leslie
4:08 PM, 8/28/2009

REPORT ABUSE

To all of the "socialist" fearmongers-

Put your Godd*** money where your mouth is, and press your friggin Republicant leadership to terminate the Medicare and Medicaid programs. I am tired of hearing Republicants complain, yet offer no alternatives to the current system. Not one, NOT ONE Republicant has offered ANY solution to those who are denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. So grow some balls and sponsor legislation to terminate these programs. If not, SHUT THE HEII UP!!!

DamRepublicants
4:58 PM, 8/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

A resaerch abstract from NYU's Wagner:
The French health system combines universal coverage with a public–private mix of hospital and ambulatory care and a higher volume of service provision than in the United States. Although the system is far from perfect, its indicators of health status and consumer satisfaction are high; its expenditures, as a share of gross domestic product, are far lower than in the United States; and patients have an extraordinary degree of choice among providers.

Rob
2:28 PM, 8/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Why not have the distribution of medical services based on political patronage? Major political donors to the prevailing administration could get top priority, while those who voice "obstructive" points of view would be put near the bottom of the list. Friends of Barack Obama would be placed near the top of the list like Reverend Jeremiah Wright, David Ayers, and Rahm Emanuel. And, as we know in Dayton, UAW members would be bumped ahead of IUE members and nonunion folks.

DavidCrosby'sTransplantedLiver
1:47 PM, 8/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Judi has a problem with facts and the truth.

Leslie
1:37 PM, 8/27/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 22 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.