Three days on speed dial, one hour on hold, I finally got through

[tsuki]

to the WH.

The volunteer was sweet. I explained that I was a big supporter and worked during the election. I told her that I considered the public option a deal breaker.

Then I hit her with the cost of health care for small business:

800.00 for health care
360.00 for workers' comp (mainly healthcare)
20.00 for health care to the auto insurance companies for drivers
3% of my payroll for health insurance under general liability

AND the insurance companies are talking about a 25% increase this year.

How much health insurance must I pay as a small business? I'm retired now, but how is a young person to go into business today?

The White House number is 202.456.1111

CALL

[wryter2000]

1. Well done!

I e-mailed yesterday and today. I'm at work and can't do speed dial or an hour wait to get through.

I also faxed my Senators and Congresswoman.

[tsuki]

2. I wanted to say that Anonymous Sources need to quite referring

to me as the left of the left (trans. looney left) but I kept is short and positive.

[JaneQPublic]

3. Good Job!

I agree with the "left of the left" sentiment. I'm afraid it will stick, and we'll be known as the "LOL Dems" (I haz Public Option!")

I tried to call the White House on my lunch hour yesterday, but got busy signals. However, I did get through to Steny Hoyer, Ben Cardin, and Babs Milulski.

[tsuki]

8. Good. I believe that there are most of us than them. nt

[Cha]

4. Perseverance! Good for

you..that's what Pres Obama asked for.."I need your help!"..he wasn't just whistling at the wind.

[Arugula Latte]

5. If people can't get through by phone, here is the email contact page:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I can't afford to call them, so I guess this is my only recourse.

[tsuki]

9. It is all communication, so go for it! nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Why doesn't the White House have an 800 number? I can't call out of state because

I have no long distance, and I bet others are in the same boat. I can't believe that they don't have one!

[tsuki]

10. Can't you hear the "Pork-Barreling GOP" on a toll free number. Oh,

the deficit, the deficit!

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Perhaps the White House wants to be frugal with our tax dollars

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Maybe. I still badly that I had to write instead of call though. I guess I just feel like

phone calls are somehow more likely to make an impact. :(

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. I wrote to the WH. Here's my letter.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8599702

[tsuki]

15. I jumped over. Great job. We need to keep up the pressure. nt

[xchrom]

14. kick

[Canuckistanian]

16. Why aren't more people talking about small business HC costs?

I've heard several stories about people who have either:

1. Abandoned plans of starting a small business because of high health care costs

OR

2. Dissolved a small business because they couldn't continue high health care costs.

I heard that France has recently had a boom in entrepreneurial start-ups, despite the global recession.

When does this become an economic issue?