The Voice of the People

The Walk (Chicago to DC) is done but the Journey has just begun. What is most important in this healthcare reform debate, indeed what holds the key to our democracy, is the voice of the people. The Walk, in addition to making a statement about the urgent need for healthcare provided a unique opportunity to gather real stories from real people along the way. I met with hundreds of people: with insurance, without insurance, Democrats, Republications, liberals, conservatives, indigent, middle-class, wealthy—the full spectrum of Americans along a route that took me through six 'Swing' states.

The stories are interspersed in this blog but for easier access they have also been placed in the 'sidebar' to the right. These include written dispatches as well as videos which can also be found on the Walk's YouTube channel. I continue to upload these stories so visit here often for updates.

I am deeply obliged to those who have shared with me their heartrending stores, otherwise private. They opened up to me out of both a desire that these stories would be heard and out of a frustration that among the raging cacophany of corporate interests they, their voices, were not being heard. Out of this obligation, privilege really, I encourage you to read/view these stories and share them with your friends and, most importantly, with your lawmakers, local and national.

The voice of the people must be heard.

The Walk, the Fight, Continues (Email to the Facebook group for the Walk)

This is an email sent to the Facebook group for the Walk. Click here to join the group.

Greetings from Chicago! While the Walk was a great success—I arrived in DC in one piece, met hundreds of people and gathered their stories, and have already met with several Congressional staffers—the journey has only begun. The special interests are fighting healthcare reform to the death (literally) and you can see the results (or more precisely non-results) in Congress. I met with Dennis Kucinich personally on Tuesday and he immediately recognized the value of the Walk and its message of the “Voice of the People.” He will be publishing an official notice in the Congressional Record urging all his fellow members of Congress to read the stories being posted up on the blog http://walk4healthcare.org/.

But the fight has just begun. I am driving (not walking) back to DC early Thursday morning where I will be speaking later that afternoon at the large Healthcare-Now! rally (http://www.healthcare-now.org/campaigns/single-payer-rally/) along with dozens of other distinguished speakers.

If you can, please attend the rally! This is too important an issue—an issue that crosses both human rights and economic security—to sit in the comfort of one’s home. Please invite everyone you know to the event (and this Facebook group). Please support the Walk For Healthcare which now continues its trek in a multitude of ways to bring the voice of the people back into our government.

Here are some words that kept me going through the Walk leading up to its conclusion on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, as I listened to Aaron Copeland’s Lincoln Portrait on the iPod.

“That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

That says it all.

Thank you again for all your continued support,

Ogan

ogan@walk4healthcare.org

Huffington Post: "One Doctor Goes To Great Lengths For Universal Health Insurance"

Click here for Sarah Lovinger's article about the Walk in the Huffington Post.

"Some people will do anything to advance the cause of universal health care in the United States. One dedicated doctor with blisters and sore muscles just completed a rather long walk for the cause--700 miles long. … "

Click here for the full article.

NPR podcast: "Doctor Walks Cross Country to Raise Awareness for Health Care"

The White House hopes the U.S. House will vote on a revamp of the health care system this week. Getting people to talk about health care reform is one of Chicago physician Ogan Gurel’s goals. He’s been walking to Washington, D.C. for the past month, meeting people along the way and hearing about their struggles with health care and the insurance system. For the podcast, click here.

Arrival in DC at the People's Rally - 7/26

Stories from Washington, DC

Walk for Healthcare: Stories from Washington, DC

Doris in Washington, DC

Doris in Washington, DC
Originally uploaded by walk4healthcare

Doris, from New York, is here in DC visiting. “No insurance, can’t afford it,” she told me. “And I never go to a doctor—I’m otherwise lucky,” she said with a smile and went off with her friends.