Health Care Nightmare
by Michael Dice—Colorado
While canvassing, I signed up a new member for Working America who is passionate about health care reform in this country. She was diagnosed several years ago with a serious autoimmune disease. She was forced to take medical retirement from a good job in California and to move to Colorado to be near family members to assist her with her physical needs. Her latest hospital bill was $95,000 dollars and she may have to file bankruptcy as a result. She had a very compelling story and wants to help out!
Three Dues Paying Members in One Second
by Jon Caldwell—Ohio
Yesterday in Mt. Healthy I walked up to three people talking by their cars. I told them about Ohio's job loss, and they could relate. They all signed up as members and signed EFCA postcards. When it came time for dues they all said they wished they could but they had no money on them at that time. I thanked them for their support and made my way back to the rest of my call-backs. After 5-7 minutes one of the guys drove to find me with a dues payment for him and both of his friends.
Signing up the whole family
by Octavio Armendariz—
I was canvassing in the area of Lakewood. I had been having a rough night because I kept running into very negative people. However I went up to a door and knocked, and this really nice lady answered the door. I gave her my rap and she seemed very interested. What amazed me most was her three kids who all signed the band-aid petition. But what really got me was their involvement. As I asked what issues mattered most to them, her daughter--who must have only been thirteen if that--started to comment on how important good jobs were. The other two younger kids also gave their input on the economy and health care. I thought to myself: "Maybe there is hope for the younger generation!"
Only in America can you work 3 jobs
by Erin Brainard—Colorado
This week at a door I met a single mother of three who was working three jobs to get by. She said she slept an average of three to four hours a night. She said that she had gotten a promotion recently at one of her jobs but because she was salary she was not eligible for overtime. Therefore even though she had more responsibility & was working a great deal more she was actually making far less per hour than she had been previously.
Cookies, cold and conversation
by Loury Ouk—Minnesota
I knocked on a door in south Minneapolis and met a very nice guy. It was so cold I thought my toes were going to fall off! He invited me in and we talked about issues with health care...
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Health care for his kids, but not himself
by Renee Chandel—Pennsylvania
The man that answered the door held a newborn in his arms and there were two small children at his knees. When I told him "We're fighting to lower the cost of health care for working families," he nodded...
Not interested!
by Jessica Yates—Pennsylvania
I knocked on a door, and as soon as the man opened it, he said, "Not interested!" and started to close the door. I said, "Outsourcing!" and he opened the door exclaiming, "I hate outsourcing!" He grabbed my clipboard and signed up as a member while I told him about Working America; he was that determined to help stop sending our jobs overseas.
Paying absurd amounts for family coverage
by Michael Smida—Ohio
Last week I was able to change the mind of a man that was at first not interested in becoming a member of Working America. After proposing health care reform to the gentleman he became very interested in our organization, telling me that he pays $1,180 per month of provide coverage for his family...
The dad of a lobbyist
by Cicily King—Ohio
I was canvassing on a beautiful day in January and signed up a retiree whose daughter is a lobbyist. He also showed me a picture of his daughter and former President Bill Clinton. He also paid membership dues for the year. It was a rewarding experience!
Three strikes, become an accountant!
by Cicily King—Ohio
I met a woman who worked many years at three different factories until one closed down its U.S. offices and went to Mexico (courtesy of NAFTA). The second factory job she got went down to South Carolina to go non-union. She didn't give up...
Eager to take action
by Claire Pengelly—Pennsylvania
After signing up as member, a woman told me about her work as a professor and we began discussing the toxic imports issue. I told her we are gathering letters, and she said, "letters are THE most effective way! Yes, I will write a letter! I know just what I want to write!" I left her home glad that more people are aware how the decisions politicians make affect their lives.
Downsizing and determination
by Cicily King—Ohio
While canvassing in Newark, OH, I signed up a woman who was disabled. Her husband is the bread winner of the family. While signing, she told me about how he worked a factory union job for 18 years and they closed down due to outsourcing. He now drives an hour each way to work in Columbus and provide for his family.
Speaking up about toxic toys
by Nabil Cristillo—Pennsylvania
Tonight I knocked on the door of a woman directly affected by the toxic toys made in China and played with by our kids here in the U.S...
Write on
by Larry Ford—Pennsylvania
A nurse signing up as a member of Working America agreed to write a letter about imported toxic toys. After writing only two sentences she asked me, "Is it OK if I add more of my own feelings on this issue?" I told her of course she could write what she wanted; she filled an entire page.
Doggone sad
by Jessica Yates—Pennsylvania
While talking with folks tonight, I met a woman personally affected by poor trade regulations. I pet her puppy and said he was cute...
No health care, but she has faith
by Lauren Vlot—Pennsylvania
I spoke with an older woman who answered the door. She sympathized with us, saying she did not have health care. She was hit by a car and spent four months in a coma suffering brain damage, yet she is quite functional...
A chilling hospital reception
by A. Mark Robinson—Pennsylvania
I spoke with a man this evening about health care. He stated he had received a liver transplant. He informed me that he works for a good company with good benefits. However, at the hospital he was told that if he ran out of insurance he would be kept alive with medications but would get no transplant. How cold!
Nurse for 44 years, without health care
by Sandra Wideman—Pennsylvania
As the person was looking at my clipboard she remarked, "I am a nurse. I have been a nurse for 44 years...and I have never had health insurance. Even when you are working in a doctor's office, they hire you for only part time because they don't want to pay for health care."
She signed up as a member of Working America.
Cosmetic procedure?
by Larry Ford—Pennsylvania
I spoke with a woman recovering from surgery. She had undergone an operation to repair internal damages caused by her four pregnancies and the delivery of her children. Her health insurance plan determined that the procedure was cosmetic and refused to make any insurance payment, leaving her to pay 100% of the expense.
Video: We meet again
Dave Ninehouser was visited by a police officer while canvassing, only to find that he had signed the officer up as a member the week before...
Video: You’re re-hired! Without benefits.
Erin Gill talked to a guy about jobs who was laid off after 23 years, then brought back to the same job without health care or his pension...
Video: Few jobs safe from outsourcing
David Weston talked with a woman whose husband lost his IT job to outsourcing...
Video: Health care worker wants a better system
Jonathan Middleton was motivated by a conversation with a woman who had been working in the health care industry for 18 years. She was sickened by the problems with our current system and was excited by Working America's work to fix it...
Video: Different neighborhoods, same concern—health care
Chelsea found that while going through neighborhoods with different income levels, everyone wanted to hear about the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). People all connected with the need for health care...
Video: A gift for Working America
Wes Gadsden met a lady who offered him a $25 gift card to support the organization...
Video: Keeping good jobs in Ohio
During Kevin Pape's first week of training, he met a guy who was confrontational at first, but was passionate about the fight to keep good jobs in Ohio. He shared how his family is trying to survive in the face of outsourcing...
Video: Lost job, but not hope
Canvasser Jake Sinderbrand was inspired by a guy who had lost his job but not his hope for making a difference...
Video: Older couple glad to hear from us
Marvenus Daniels met an older couple in west Columbus concerned about health care. They had had to move recently because her husband had lost his job and was diagnosed with cancer. They were surprised and glad to know there's an organization engaging on the issues that matter to them...
Video: Can’t afford her son’s medical bills
Cicily King spoke with the mother of an autistic son who can't afford his medical expenses, which total approximately $1,200 a month...
Video: All children left behind
Matt Hall relates an experience signing up a new member who shared with him how important our work is to her. She had also recently lost her health care coverage, her children have no health care and the school her children attend cut programs that her children needed...
Video: Ready to join in Red Wing
Canvasser Christina Jens relates a story of a new member in Minnesota who was excited by our work on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). As a single mother of disabled boy, this new member was glad to know there's an organization working on improving health care, wages and good jobs for working families...
No safety net
by Rachael Townsend—Oregon
Yesterday I knocked on the door of a young woman. She invited me in. She'd just mopped the floor so I took off my shoes and joined her in her empty living room. All that was in the room was a rug and a mattress...
Too long to wait
by Andrea Townsend—Oregon
Every time I go out canvassing I meet the very folks we are fighting for. Last night while we were in a low income neighborhood of Salem, Oregon...
Canvasser talks to man, man gets involved
by Matthew Hall—Missouri
The other day I experienced an unexpected surprise on
turf. I was telling a gentleman about how 48 million Americans have no health care when he stops me and says, "Yeah, but most of them are young and don't want health care..."
Another reason to fix our health care crisis
by Kyle Erickson—Minnesota
Usually at my doors I bring positive energy and people are usually excited for progressive change during out conversation. I was surprised at the lack of enthusiasm from one woman with whom I spoke. She began signing up when I told her about fighting for affordable health care for everyone...
Engaging my generation
by Kim Andrews—Pennsylvania
A young guy on turf approached me and my sides partner after I had talked to him earlier that night. He waved us down about twenty minutes after signing up...
New Jersey families count on Working America
by Andy Hartwig—Pennsylvania
No one enjoys working on a Sunday morning, but getting Paid Family Leave passed in New Jersey would make my lack of sleep completely worth it. It was about 2 in the afternoon when I decided it was about time to use the bathroom. I walked into a laundromat on the main drag of Collingswood, NJ...
Failing our elders
by Jacquea Olday—Pennsylvania
Today was my first day of canvassing the community with Working America. I knocked on my first door and met this elderly woman who has gone through so many problems with her income and health insurance...
Registering to vote for the first time
by Andrea Townsend—Oregon
Last night I was having a hard time getting folks to take my clipboard. It was getting late, but one elderly man invited me into his home and offered me a seat at his kitchen table. He was in his sixties and explained to me that he'd just gotten out of the hospital after recovering from pneumonia, was on disability and can barely afford to pay for his prescriptions...
America is ready for change
by Gregory Jacobs—Missouri
My post tonight is more about the general acceptance of the working families platform we are out campaigning on. I have been getting wide acceptance in the form of members joining up and contributing voluntary dues payments. Overall I am getting a lot of support and what is an out call for change in the American economic and political landscape!
Health care catch-22
by Matt Hall—Missouri
I was canvassing the other day when I came across a older lady that was sitting on her front porch. She was hooked up to a oxygen tank. When I started to talk to her about the issue of health care she started to open up about what has been happening to her...
Losing it all to outsourcing
by Ashley Johnson—Pennsylvania
I talked to a man who had been working as a machinist but who recently lost his job due to outsourcing when the company decided to set up shop in Mexico. He and his family were put in serious jeopardy, left to struggle with a budget in deficit and very unhappy about it!