Fake grass roots effort aims to derail reform

Health insurance companies and big pharma have launched an AstroTurf campaign against reforming health care. They are paying millions of dollars to get people to write letters to the editor of local papers and filling town halls with operatives to give the impression that the American people do not want health care reform.

A leaked memo details how members should be infiltrating town halls and harassing Democratic members of Congress:

• Artificially inflate your numbers: "Spread out in the hall and try to be in the front half. The objective is to put the representative on the defensive with your questions and follow-up. The representative should be made to feel that a majority, and if not, a significant portion of at least the audience, opposes the socialist agenda of Washington."

• Be disruptive early and often: "You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep's presentation, Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep's statements early."

• Try to "rattle him," not have an intelligent debate: "The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he even takes questions."

Sixty-two percent of Americans that filed bankruptcy last year did so because of medical bills. Over 72 percent of Americans polled want a public option. The health care reform bill will prevent companies from dropping you when you get ill and disqualifying you for pre-existing conditions.

Currently health insurers are paying $1.4 million a day to prevent reform.

The U.S. pays more per capita than any other country for heath care, yet is ranked 37 by the World Health Organization.

The time for health care reform is now.

John Moran

Arlington Heights