Medicaid, Medicare, Planned Parenthood and the Affordable Care Act. All four provide millions of Americans with health care, and yet gutting all four - without any real plan for what will replace the services and care they provide - is what Republican dreams are made of.
Let’s break these down for a second. Is the ACA perfect? Absolutely not. But it has helped millions of Americans get health insurance. Despite the right-wing talking points, federal dollars do not directly fund Planned Parenthood. So when Republicans say they want to “defund” it, what they really are saying is that they want to stop millions on Medicaid from having access to medical treatment at Planned Parenthood health centers simply because they offer abortion services. While millions in poverty rely on Medicaid for their healthcare needs, Trump and Republicans want to effectively kneecap the program. And when it comes to Paul Ryan’s obsession with privatizing and gutting Medicare, even Republican voters are furious.
What makes this all the more sickening is that Republicans want to cripple our healthcare systems while at the same time giving tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. And you know who gets really worked up about healthcare and America’s widening wealth gap? Bernie Sanders.
That’s why on Sunday, January 15, Bernie, Democratic members of Congress, trade unions, senior groups, health care activists and all those who believe in economic and social justice, are organizing a day of action in cities across the country to tell Republicans loudly and clearly: You are not going to get away with it.
Go to berniesanders.com/ourfirststand to read about the day of action, download materials to help spread the word and find a rally taking place near you. Use the #OurFirstStand on Twitter to join the conversation.
So, if defending your right to health care is important to you, be sure to hit the share buttons to spread the word about this campaign’s call to action via social media so that others in your network can get involved too.
If you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired…fighting for your rights is the only cure.
On January 15, join a day of action to stand up to Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress and save health care. https://t.co/oVtr4LCpHV
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 9, 2017
TAKE ACTION
Save Health Care on Jan. 15th! Find an #OurFirstStand rally near you.
Use #OurFirstStand, #ProtectOurCare, #SaveHealthCare, #MakeAmericaSickAgain, #CareNotChaos and #IStandWithPP to join the healthcare conversations online.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Not Just Obamacare: Medicaid, Medicare Also on GOP's Chopping Block (The Huffington Post)
Republicans’ 4-Step Plan to Repeal the Affordable Care Act (The New York Times)
Repealing Obamacare Could Leave 59 Million Americans Uninsured (The Atlantic)
Repealing Obamacare Effects Everyone (CNN Money)
GOP to Defund Planned Parenthood in Obamacare Repeal (The Hill)
9 Things People Get Wrong About Planned Parenthood (The Cut)
Posted on January 10, 2017; Written by Best of the Left Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.
Hear this segment in the context of #BestoftheLeft Edition #1070: Readying the wrecking ball (Reproductive and Health Rights)
