Posted by
Corthell on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:15:31 AM
President Obama has launched an online "health care story bank" that allows citizens to share real-life medical horror stories and stimulate support for his health care plans for the nation.
The blog, located at Obama's Organizing for America website, is titled "Health Care Stories for America." It asks visitors to read stories from people across the country and "see the common thread in a crisis that affects us all."
When a user is moved by a particular story – one that inspires them to act and "reminds us all of the human cost of the status quo" – they may vote to "amplify" the listing by clicking on a megaphone icon or flag it as inappropriate. Clicking the amplify option makes the listing more prominent.
In its terms of service, the story bank notifies users that moderators have the right to "edit, refuse to post or remove any material submitted to or posted on our Website …"
The medical nightmares range from people who claim to have been diagnosed with cancer while unemployed to a single mother who could not afford health insurance after a divorce. Some comments include the following:
- I remember when there was someone who wanted to give every American the same coverage that members of congress receive. Millions of people voted for that man. That man is now in the pocket of the health care lobby. … For shame.
- First when I was in college I went several years without health insurance. I had a part time job but of course benefits don't come with a part time job. I learned the hard way. …
- Why if I'm covered with insurance do I have to pay $150.00 for an ER visit?
- I have spent almost all of my adult life without health insurance, as I could not afford the monthly payments.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=101930