I go to the capitol today to tell them they suck. I wish I had a better strategy. Maybe I should throw a chair. If one has to terriffy a member of the legislature, I think its best to wear pink. That way they don’t see it coming and it has more impact. Its been five years…no concrete progress yet. I wish they would, at a minimum, follow the laws they create. They don’t seem very interested or able to do that. Optimism meter = low.
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Good for you @mohe0001! Times two, because of course you have selected the correct musical accompaniment, in the correct version (IMO), though you can hardly go wrong with IFTL.*
This is the MN state legislature we’re talking about? Is there a specific bill or hearing that you’re showing up for? And is it just you, or is this part of an organized group action?
*Important trivia note: written by Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly & the Crickets. But I think Bobby Fuller did the definitive version.
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I would ask one question…In the past year tell me one legislative effort you have been involved with that improved the lives of people living with diabetes?
You go get ‘em! And I would wear power red! Let them know you are there! I wish I could go with you! I am a firm believer you gotta speak up and speak up often. Letters, phone calls, marches, visits! Everything is necessary and I feel we need to do whatever we can to get our points across. Keep us posted!
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My optimism was not nearly low enough. I took time off work, borrowed a car, put on a suit that almost fit, drove to the capitol and waited 40 minutes until they told me he had cancelled my meeting.
This is only making me angrier and more dedicated to destroying them. Ooooh, he’s on my list, now. I have a secret ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ list. People go on that list when they are not worth keeping alive. He’s almost on that list. This is the biggest small town on earth and sometimes I bump into those people, some years down the road, and they are in need of resuscitation.
It’s actually very surprising how often that happens. The 1st person to ever officially make the list was a medic that I knew. He was unkind to a diabetic patient (and a bunch of other people). One day, he became a diabetic and had to have a leg amputated. He was really in need of a lot of help that I was, surprisingly, not able to provide. mohe’s free mobile ambulance was not available. Through pure coincidence, we knew people in common - people who begged me to come. But, he was on the DNR list. He’s not around anymore. He could be, but he’s not.
You really have to be exceptionally terrible to make that list. But, people do.
I would give them a chair. So you can discuss the matter calmly.
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Truth is, @Jim26, they have been inundated with diabetes stuff. I’m worried they are sick of diabetes. Even I am sick of hearing about these bills. The thing is that it takes so much time and effort to accomplish any tiny thing. They vote today of the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act. There will be diabetics down there.
Now, that bill isn’t super useful, in my humble opinion. I don’t think it reduces barriers for anyone because we know the nature of bureaucratic obstacles. But the sheer amount of effort that they went to in order to get a vote is absolutely mind boggling. Its, truthfully, a full time job to pass a bill.
It made me super frustrated to sit down there and see how many people just waltz right up to their desk and ask for 15 minutes with a particular legislator. I scheduled a month in advance, prior to the session even starting, and I still got cut. We need ADA to come from Denver.
They got this scheduled this week:
Thursday, February 27, 12:45 PM Hearing
House HHS Finance Division
Chair: Rep. Tina Liebling
Location: State Office Building, Room 200
Agenda:
Attorney General’s Advisory Task Force on Lowering Pharmaceutical Drug Prices Recommendations:
Dr. Stephen Schondelmeyer, Advisory Task Force Member
HF1246 (Morrison) Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act established, and report required.
HF4 (Lesch) Drug manufacturer or distributor prohibited from charging unconscionable prices for prescription drugs; Board of Pharmacy, commissioner of human services, and health plan companies required to notify the attorney general of certain prescription drug price increases; attorney general authorized to take action against drug manufacturers and wholesalers related to price increases; and civil penalties imposed.
HF1257 (Cantrell) Prescription drug benefit transparency and disclosure required.
Im back in business. Things are moving swimmingly. Not much time this session. Moving frantically…
Something that will help:
I think @DrBB found an study stating that incidence of auto accidents by diabetics were less than the population average. I NEED THAT. I gotta go fight with dept public safety. Might also help to show how high the incidence of accidents rate in cops is.
Its confusing. Last year, the senator that wouldn’t help, WILL helps this year. Last year, the House member who DID support, is giving me a little trouble.
You never can tell how this is gonna go …Time to do the dance.
I have had an obits I want to read with my morning coffee for 30 years - unfortunatly I get few hits
Had a hit the other day - Jack Welch - the head of GE - the galaxy is better off without him
Everyone should have a list, Tony. 
HUGE successes today. Lots of calls back. It begins…
There were actual requests made to go into committee. Thats very good.
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Great!
Yes a list - I have had it forever - mostly politicians
You can play guess the party