It's pretty amazing what people are saying the health reform bill will do. We need to start spreading the truth before health reform disappears in a cloud of misconception and fear. You can make a real difference right now by attending a town hall meeting (there are hundreds across the country) or by writing a letter to your local paper and setting the record straight.
While members of Congress are home in their districts for the August recess they are meeting up with constituents. They want to hear from you!
We built a map with all the opportunities to meet up with a member over the next few weeks. We also have tips to help you have the best possible experience. And we have a fact sheet to help you bust all the myths!
If you can't make it out to a town hall, you can still be heard -- loud and clear, by writing a letter to the editor in your local paper.
One of my first experiences with activism and public opinion was when I wrote a letter to the community paper in my hometown. I was in high school and I was standing up to the court of public opinion for my government teacher, my mentor.
The interesting thing I learned was not just about how to use the media to forward a goal; it was just how many people read the local paper. I got calls, the neighbors cut out my opinion piece and brought it over to the house and people I only knew in passing came up to me in the grocery. Not only were the folks congratulating me, people had actually read what I had wrote!
It was a completely exhilarating experience. I had never truly understood the statement about pens and swords, but in that moment I got it.
Now it is your turn, Consumers Union is looking for volunteers to write letters to papers across the country in support of real health care reform.
Lawmakers need to know that the majority of Americans want Congress to fix our broken health care system and not squander this opportunity on politics and infighting.
Sign up today to go to a town hall or write a letter and join thousands of people across the country in getting the message out for reform.