Bankruptcy bill horror stories: Where are they?
This is the letter I sent to Professor Elizabeth Warren from Harvard who is doing a guest blogging stint over at Talking Points Memo.
What are your emotional stories attached to bankruptcy bill?
Dear Professor Warren, Michael Negron, Ryan Spear and Jason Spitalnick:
Excellent work on the bankruptcy bill issue! It is so nice to see
lawyers using their advanced knowledge working for the common good and
not to simply line the pockets of some corporate law firm. Law
students: remember this feeling of using your legal superpowers to
defeat evil during your grind under your corporate masters while
paying off your law school bills. It feels good doesn't it?
Two thoughts:
1) Since you are lawyers and soon to be lawyers: Is there anything
illegal in this bill? I might be asking a silly question, but in
something this complex might there be a legal problem that the
lobbyist who wrote it didn't catch? Lately I'm feeling like lawyers
are our last best hope when it comes to holding this administration
accountable for all their mendacious actions.
2) I really like how you discussed the impact on working families and
on soldiers. Things with numbers and complex regulations can be mind
numbing. What is the emotional hook on this bill? Do you have a frame
switching "death tax" vs. estate tax phrase you can use?
You might consider finding and then telling the story of Republican
Joe. He's a Hard working, flag waving, health insurance having kinda
guy whose Christian stay-at- home wife got some disease THOUGH NO
FAULT OF HER OWN. Heath insurance didn't pay it all. Big greedy
hospitals demanded money. Family helped, but it was still not enough.
What would happen to this "red state" soldier if the new bill passes?
How would his life change? Could you reach the "personal
responsibility" folks with a story like this? Maybe. Why should you
consider using their story? Lakoff says that if you talk to people
outside their 'frame' the facts simply bounce off.
It might be worth a shot to find a Republican Joe who is willing to talk. The more reluctant the better.
When republicans defend this bill, what examples do they use for who
this helps? Maybe they assume "everyone knows" that the people filing
are yuppie bums and free spending "welfare queens". Is that true?
They assume that a good red stater would have:
1) Saved enough money for emergencies (they don't)
2) Had enough medical insurance some do, still not enough
3) Had a family that can bail them out, not all were born into wealth.
If you can show with numbers (as you have) and emotional stories of self reliant, non-yuppie bankruptcy filers this might help connect the dots for people to see how this will hurt people "just like them". And only help the bottom line of an already very profitable corporation that isn't happy with the market forces already making them wealthy.
They want more and they will change the laws to get it.
Sincerely,
Spocko
P.S. Prof. Warren you were great on the radio. Good job!
I called the senate today to push to keep the debate open. I never
even got through! I've also written to my senators about the topic as
well as my home state senators.
What are your emotional stories attached to bankruptcy bill?
Dear Professor Warren, Michael Negron, Ryan Spear and Jason Spitalnick:
Excellent work on the bankruptcy bill issue! It is so nice to see
lawyers using their advanced knowledge working for the common good and
not to simply line the pockets of some corporate law firm. Law
students: remember this feeling of using your legal superpowers to
defeat evil during your grind under your corporate masters while
paying off your law school bills. It feels good doesn't it?
Two thoughts:
1) Since you are lawyers and soon to be lawyers: Is there anything
illegal in this bill? I might be asking a silly question, but in
something this complex might there be a legal problem that the
lobbyist who wrote it didn't catch? Lately I'm feeling like lawyers
are our last best hope when it comes to holding this administration
accountable for all their mendacious actions.
2) I really like how you discussed the impact on working families and
on soldiers. Things with numbers and complex regulations can be mind
numbing. What is the emotional hook on this bill? Do you have a frame
switching "death tax" vs. estate tax phrase you can use?
You might consider finding and then telling the story of Republican
Joe. He's a Hard working, flag waving, health insurance having kinda
guy whose Christian stay-at- home wife got some disease THOUGH NO
FAULT OF HER OWN. Heath insurance didn't pay it all. Big greedy
hospitals demanded money. Family helped, but it was still not enough.
What would happen to this "red state" soldier if the new bill passes?
How would his life change? Could you reach the "personal
responsibility" folks with a story like this? Maybe. Why should you
consider using their story? Lakoff says that if you talk to people
outside their 'frame' the facts simply bounce off.
It might be worth a shot to find a Republican Joe who is willing to talk. The more reluctant the better.
"Hell, I voted for George W. Bush, and I'm a Christian Republican, but if all my troubles had happened to me under the new proposed rules I would become an indebted servant to credit card companies and the Humana Hospital chain. Mary didn't choose to get Leukemia, I had medical insurance, it still wasn't enough. I mortgaged my house, is it still wasn't enough. Should we end up on the street so that the First Card and Humana executive can get an additional 5 million dollar bonus? "
When republicans defend this bill, what examples do they use for who
this helps? Maybe they assume "everyone knows" that the people filing
are yuppie bums and free spending "welfare queens". Is that true?
They assume that a good red stater would have:
1) Saved enough money for emergencies (they don't)
2) Had enough medical insurance some do, still not enough
3) Had a family that can bail them out, not all were born into wealth.
If you can show with numbers (as you have) and emotional stories of self reliant, non-yuppie bankruptcy filers this might help connect the dots for people to see how this will hurt people "just like them". And only help the bottom line of an already very profitable corporation that isn't happy with the market forces already making them wealthy.
They want more and they will change the laws to get it.
Sincerely,
Spocko
P.S. Prof. Warren you were great on the radio. Good job!
I called the senate today to push to keep the debate open. I never
even got through! I've also written to my senators about the topic as
well as my home state senators.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home