October Evening Meeting
Tuesday, October 13
Home of Senator John Carona
6:00 - 7:30 pm
By invitation for PCRW members and guests
  

 

It's as though August was just a bad dream. In town hall meetings across the nation, lawmakers were confronted by hundreds of thousands of angry voters over the government's attempts at health care "reform." Rallies and protest marches stretched from coast to coast. The August Recess of 2009 was no holiday for congressmen and senators returning home to their constituents. Countless petitions, phone calls, emails, and letters were dispatched to every single representative from the US Congress and Senate. But today it's as if it all had never happened. The Democrats march on undeterred.

This fight is far from over. In the coming weeks actual legislation will be taking shape and will be brought forward for debate, perhaps even a vote. The basic groundwork has already been laid and much remains to be settled behind closed doors before a final draft is presented. Therefore, it remains as important as ever for concerned Americans to stay vigilant. Here are three suggestions for being effectively engaged in this national debate.

Educate yourself. This topic can become overwhelming so quickly, and it takes on new forms and nuances with each day. It can be very tempting to distance oneself from the devilish details if just to keep from drowning in too much information. So allow me to make this suggestion: refresh yourself weekly from a reliable media outlet. Aim only to get a big-picture understanding. Mentally highlight two or three talking points so you are able to converse casually, yet effectively, on the issue. I find online sources to be the most convenient and up-to-date. These sources are also easily shared with family, friends and colleagues, either by word-of-mouth or by links and email.

Equip yourself. Beyond being able to identify the problems with the government's take-over of the health care system, the Conservative must be equipped to provide an alternative. It is not enough that we disagree; we must be able to offer a more reasonable approach to the legitimate concerns of the current state of health care in America. It is for this important reason that Park Cities Republican Women will host a special health care event, Saturday, October 24 at 4:00 pm. We encourage you to join us at this event where you will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to share the Conservative response to the health care debate.

And finally, you must engage. Steps One and Two will empower you to join with the millions of other Americans who have organized on the grassroots level to take on Washington and their dirty meddling in our health care. However, with knowledge comes responsibility. We have the responsibility to engage in this discussion both as individuals and collectively as an organization. Share your knowledge and perspectives with those close to you. Make sure your voting-age children are educated, equipped, and engaged in the issue. Contact your representatives - or even those who aren't, but who carry clout over this debate - and keep the pressure up. And above all, engage in the democratic process whenever the opportunity presents itself. The freedom to participate in our own representation was brought to this country at a great price. May we always be gratefully and faithfully engaged.