Have Your Members of Congress Seen the Light?

By David P. Sloane

There's an old saying, "Some see the light and some don't." Have your Members of Congress "seen the light" and signed our Divided We Fail pledge to support common sense solutions to ensure affordable, quality healthcare and long-term financial security for all Americans?

You can find out by visiting our Congressional pledge page. But, before you do, I want you to know why we've made it a priority to convince our political leaders to sign our Divided We Fail pledge. And, if any of your Members of Congress have not yet signed our pledge, I want to tell you why it's so important for you to contact them and tell them to "see the light" and support us.

Affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security: These aren't luxuries. They are basic needs. They are the foundation for our futures, and for the futures of our children and grandchildren. In a very real sense, they are the foundation of the American dream.

Putting an End to Gridlock

I don't have to tell you that times are changing. The burden of paying for health care and saving for retirement is falling -- more and more -- on us as individuals. Today in America, we've reached a tipping point. For the first time in the history of public opinion polls, a majority of Americans are saying they're afraid the next generation may well be worse off than their parents.

And with good reason! How can we not be afraid when health care costs continue to rise at an alarming rate and when 47 million Americans are without health coverage? How can we not be afraid when millions of Americans are overwhelmed by debt and ill-prepared financially for the future; and when national savings is at an all-time low?

What response have we had from our political leaders? In cities and towns across America, the words "Washington" and "politicians" has come to mean gridlock, getting nothing done, and just empty talk. It is time for our political leaders to put an end to this nonsense and begin working together in a bipartisan manner.

Last July 25, with a Capitol Hill rally of more than 2,000 in Washington, we kicked off our efforts to efforts to press our political leaders to pledge to make health care and financial security top issues in the 2008 campaign debate. On that very first day, 71 Members of Congress signed our pledge or agreed to send a letter of support.

To date, we have collected more than 230 pledges and letters of support. But, with a total of 535 U.S. Senators and House Members, we still have a way to go. We need your help to ensure that all Members of Congress commit themselves to working in a bipartisan way to provide Americans with actions and answers on health care and long-term financial security.

What You Can Do!

Check to see if the members of your Congressional delegation have "seen the light" and signed the Divided We Fail pledge. If your Representative or Senator has not signed the pledge, we'll provide you with a link you can use to send an e-mail insisting that they get on board.

Once you have sent your message to Congress, please help us spread the word about the Divided We Fail campaign by forwarding this message to your friends and family and ask them to join us!

Everyone -- individuals, businesses, and government -- has a role and a responsibility in ensuring health and financial security for all. Please let your voice be heard.

David Sloane is Senior Managing Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at AARP.