On September 8, the United Church of Christ began a campaign to collect 100,000 signatures over the INterbet for the purpose of telling Congress how important it believes health care reform to be. The Web page where the sign-up was taking place proclaims:
Before Sept. 18—in just 10 days—our hope is to send 100,000 messages to Congress and deliver a huge book of 100,000 names to the Democratic and Republican leadership in Congress, starting with the in-district office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during [UCC President] Rev. Geoffrey Black’s upcoming trip to visit churches in the San Francisco area. Together, speaking as people of faith, we have the power to change the conversation and envision a society where each person is afforded health, wholeness and human dignity.
Well, the 10 days was up on Friday, and I went to check out how they did this morning. As of 11:30 AM, three days after the end of their 10-day campaign, they had collected all of 16,500 signatures. This despite the fact that the form was open to anyone–they don’t ask on it whether the signer is a Christian, much less a UCC member. This also despite the fact that when they’ve run campaigns such as this before–for instance, in opposition to the Iraq war–they were able to garner most if not all of the signatures they sought. I’m not sure what their inability to get even 20% of the names they were looking for says. Maybe that UCC members aren’t interested in the subject, maybe that they oppose the denomination’s stand, maybe that the petition was too vague (like so much of the advocacy on health care reform, it talks about goals but not means), maybe nothing at all. In any case, I’d be willing that this is one petition that won’t be delivered to anyone any time soon, or if it is, it will be without an explanation of why their list of names is so short.
UPDATE: According to UCC News, Rev. Black presented Nancy Pelosi with what he termed a “down payment” on Friday:
While visiting local churches this weekend in the San Francisco area, the Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, incoming UCC General Minister and President, brought with him the names, addresses and phone numbers of 16,177 fellow UCC members and supporters which he delivered Friday to the in-district offices of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“This is a down payment on the 100,000 messages that we expect to gather and deliver in the coming weeks in support of health care reform,” Black told Mark Herbert, deputy director of Pelosi’s office. “We come out of the tradition of Jesus, the healer, and we believe that gift of healing should be available to all.”
That was Friday. As pf today, they are up to 16,593. At that rate, Pelosi will get her 100,000 around the time of the next New Hampshire presidential primary.
September 22, 2009 at 3:09 pm
perhaps they’re waiting for God to stop speaking on the subject…
September 23, 2009 at 9:11 am
You sort of have to appreciate the childlike naivete of folks who think that an online petition such as this (or the mass-spam email campaigns such as those organized by folks like the FRC) have any effect whatsoever. Many elected officials will tell you that they ignore both because they’re too easily gamed.
Now if 16,500 people had each sent $10 to one influential senator or congressperson, *that* might have some impact.
September 23, 2009 at 9:21 am
Absolutely right.
September 23, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Let’s be blunt…if somebody out there is NOT in favor of health care reform, they haven’t experienced the health care system as of late. I don’t agree with the UCC’s form — I mean, I’d be all for regulation in the private industry as I would be for a public option — but my gosh, does anybody really think the system isn’t broken? I would rather discuss the various options reasonably, though, which I don’t think UCC form does. It really only gives voice to a certain opinion within a certain community. And, in a welcome change, I am in agreement with Alan here. Nothing gets deleted from my inbox faster than a “me too!” message on whatever topic.
Here’s another thought…Christians were for centuries on the leading edge of medical care. Perhaps we need to step up on the insuring side as well, in an actual tangible way and not just as advocates? Just thinking aloud…
September 23, 2009 at 6:30 pm
If the “down payment” is so small, does that make this a subprime petition?
September 29, 2009 at 6:38 am
Universal health care in places like England and Canada has been shown to be an exorbitant failure. How about a child waiting for 4 months to see a specialist after being diagnosed with a brain tumor? I’m all for fixing some things like the restrictions based on pre-existing conditions, for example, but providing care to people who pay nothing is a sure way to destroy our economy. What usually gets left out of this topic is that those of us who worked and earned our health insurance will have to pay for those who didn’t. There should be a safety net for people who are truly indigent, but you don’t need an overhaul of the entire system to do that. I am quite pleased with the plan I have.