Get Out of the Passenger Seat - It's Our Time to Drive

By Lori Theim-Busch

THE HUFFINGTON POST

As the 2008 presidential campaign kicks into high gear, it's time for Americans to get out of the passenger seat and start driving. I know this may sound a little preachy, but if you've ever complained about our ailing health care or education system, a troubled war in Iraq, or a faltering economy, it's time to stand up and be heard.

There's a basic truth to our democratic system: our elected leaders are only as good as we push them to be. As voters, we control more than just the outcome of elections -- we also have opportunity to define the debate, determine the issues, and challenge the plans. We must take this responsibility seriously.

I'm a phlebotomist and EKG tech at a hospital in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Like many others in my industry, I want to see a real change in the way we deliver health care in this country. More and more people wait until they are critically ill to get medical treatment because they can't afford basic preventative care. With 47 million uninsured, this country is long overdue for a major reform.

I try to do my fair share. Through my union, I've participated in contract negotiations, supported employee grievances, and organized my colleagues to speak with a unified voice. Through organizing alone we've been able to make a huge impact on the functioning of our workplace and the lives of our patients. Our hospital's staffing has improved, doctors spend more time with their patients, and there is greater control and accountability over costs.

Last March, I took my activism to a new level by lobbying the Minnesota State Senate to pass the Hospital Accountability Act. I was asked to testify in the State House about what happens to patients when hospitals shut down branches in low-income neighborhoods in order to build new hospitals in high-income communities. Through letters, petitions, and countless meetings with our elected leaders, we successfully pushed our State Senators to pass legislation that will force hospitals to serve the interest of patients -- not just their bottom line. I know that my words made a difference in the lives of millions of Minnesota residents. I had a first-hand experience of democracy, and that crucial legislative victory is fueling my desire to stay in the driver's seat.

Some might say that this was a "small potatoes" victory. Maybe so, but I assure you that it's this kind of activism that can affect the national debate and change millions of lives. Activism has shaped our nation since its founding. It was individuals who stood up to advocate for the standard 40-hour work. It was committed individuals, mothers and fathers, who created a public education system and condemned child labor; who made sure that women had the right to vote; and who made it illegal to discriminate against a person based on the color of their skin.

Today, as many elected leaders become increasingly beholden to the almighty dollar, it's even more important for each of us to play an active role in our country's political process. It's up to us to make sure that our children have the same opportunities that we have enjoyed. It's up to us to uphold justice and protect the little guy. Our democracy and the future strength of our nation are counting on our action.

This weekend, I'll join 2,000 of my fellow Service Employees International Union members in Washington, D.C., to address all six Democratic presidential candidates. The candidates have given us the stage to ask them what their plans are to fix our broken health care system and help rebuild the American dream for average workers. The candidates are not paying attention to us because we've been silent. They're paying attention because they know that we have the ears of thousands of our colleagues, and they know that we will speak up.

No matter your political persuasion, we can all agree that today's national dialogue on the future direction of our country is high stakes. If we expect these presidential candidates to start offering solutions, it's up to us to push them.

The decisions we make now -- whether to stay quiet and leave our future in the hands of others or to get actively involved -- will have an impact for decades to come. This is our unique opportunity to shape the legislative issues that will drive the future of our nation. We will not turn the corner if we just hit auto-drive. Get in, put both hands on the steering wheel, focus your eyes on the destination ahead, and go!

Lori Theim-Busch is a Phlebotomy/EKG tech at North Memorial Medical Center in the Twin Cities, and a member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local 113. In addition to her duties as a mother of two boys, Lori is a union steward and an activist in the Democratic Farm Labor Party of Minnesota. In her spare time, Lori teaches swimming and water exercises to people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Just Work is a series presented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to give a voice to working people to discuss their daily struggles to balance work, afford life and participate in a more just society. SEIU welcomes submissions to Just Work! Please send your story (800 words or less) to ali.jost@seiu.org

About SEIU: The 1.9 million-member SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America. SEIU members are winning better wages, health care, and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers, not just corporations and CEOs, benefit from today's global economy.