Dear friends,

Obama's movement for change in the US is at risk of collapsing -- in large part because of lies about national public healthcare systems!

It's incredible, but Obama's health plan, and with it his entire Presidency, could be derailed if big corporations and the radical right manage to convince Americans that public health systems are a nightmare similar to "Soviet Russia".

We need a huge popular outcry from Australia to show the truth -- demonstrating how much we value our national healthcare system Medicare, even despite its drawbacks. Sign on to the message to America and forward this email -- if enough of us sign with others from around the world, we'll cause a stir in US media and help change the debate:

www.avaaz.org/en/reform_health_care_aus

US healthcare is run by large corporations - it's the most expensive in the world, but ranks 37th in quality, and 40 million Americans can't afford any care at all. It's an awful system for people, but corporations make enormous profits, so they're fighting to keep it. If they win and Obama fails, the Democrats could lose the Congress in elections next year. If this happens, progress on every global issue is endangered, from climate change to the war in Iraq.

We have no time to lose. Industry lobbyists are ramping up their smear campaigns right now to make sure the Obama plan is dead on arrival when Congress meets in September. Americans are hearing a constant barrage of propaganda that the national healthcare is a nightmare. Let's say it ain't so below:

www.avaaz.org/en/reform_health_care_aus

Medicare isn't perfect -- but it works far better than the US system. Let's stand up to the lies, and help save Obama's movement for change with the truth about Australia's healthcare system.

With hope,

Brett, Ricken, Benjamin, Alice, Graziela, Paula, Paul, Pascal and the whole Avaaz team.

Here's some links for more info:

Myths about the proposed health care reforms
www.communitycatalyst.org/proje...alerts

Extreme tactics of the conservative right
www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04...nhalls.html www.voanews.com/english/20...7-voa45.cfm

Paul Krugman on health care
www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17...rugman.html

The extent of the health care lobby
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news

Health insurers stocks rise as health care plans fade
www.reuters.com/article/ho...4BU20090817