Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAdy Barkan Is a True American Hero
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Ady Barkan has been battling terminal ALS, but he's been spending the last year to educate the public on why health care should be a right. He is a true American hero.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
6 replies, 643 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (10)
ReplyReply to this post
6 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Ady Barkan Is a True American Hero (Original Post)
Donkees
Oct 2018
OP
Response to Donkees (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Donkees
(31,409 posts)2. He explains some of it here:
Around the time Republicans were talking about passing their tax bill that things changes again for me. The bill threatened the health care of millions of Americans including me who rely on the Affordable Care Act to stay alive and avoid bankruptcy.
There was too much at stake for me, and so I went to Washington to make the case against the tax bill. I even pleaded with Sen. Flake on the flight back from Washington to vote against the bill. But when the time came to vote on it, he ended up supporting it.
Since then, the attacks on our health care have only continued.
From lawsuits that endanger protections to people with pre-existing conditions, legislation that would leave less Americans, not more, insured, and even slashing advertising budget for outreach, Republicans have shamelessly used every tool at their disposal to try to tear health care away from millions of Americans.
Their sabotage has affected on the life of every American. Last year 3.2 million people lost coverage, and premiums for others have skyrocketed. For families like mine, these increases can be the difference between access to lifesaving care and not. And most recently with the Kavanaugh nomination, Republicans have made it clear that the only thing they care about is undoing the progress the Affordable Care Act ushered in.
I can no longer walk, and Im finding it harder and harder to speak, but as I was reminded on my bus tour over the summer, this isnt just my fight. Im rallying with 130 million Americans who live with pre-existing conditions and the families struggling to afford skyrocketing insurance costs.
There was too much at stake for me, and so I went to Washington to make the case against the tax bill. I even pleaded with Sen. Flake on the flight back from Washington to vote against the bill. But when the time came to vote on it, he ended up supporting it.
Since then, the attacks on our health care have only continued.
From lawsuits that endanger protections to people with pre-existing conditions, legislation that would leave less Americans, not more, insured, and even slashing advertising budget for outreach, Republicans have shamelessly used every tool at their disposal to try to tear health care away from millions of Americans.
Their sabotage has affected on the life of every American. Last year 3.2 million people lost coverage, and premiums for others have skyrocketed. For families like mine, these increases can be the difference between access to lifesaving care and not. And most recently with the Kavanaugh nomination, Republicans have made it clear that the only thing they care about is undoing the progress the Affordable Care Act ushered in.
I can no longer walk, and Im finding it harder and harder to speak, but as I was reminded on my bus tour over the summer, this isnt just my fight. Im rallying with 130 million Americans who live with pre-existing conditions and the families struggling to afford skyrocketing insurance costs.
https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/407007-im-dying-of-als-heres-why-health-care-will-decide-my-last-vote
Response to Donkees (Reply #2)
Name removed Message auto-removed
grantcart
(53,061 posts)3. ALS is what Cliffordu is suffering from
Donkees
(31,409 posts)5. I often think of Cliffordu as I follow Ady's story.
Donkees
(31,409 posts)6. ''We retain hope in the dark. But that hope must drive us to act.''