Statement by Independence Institute President Jon Caldara
March 21, 2010

On Sunday night the US House of Representatives passed what we call “Obama-care.” This is one of the darkest moments in American history. The federal government has taken a large step towards control of our healthcare, and with it control of our very bodies. The federal government is taking away our decisions over health insurance and, unprecedented in history, forcing citizens to purchase private products, ultimately under penalty of incarceration.

We at the Independence Institute refuse to watch this atrocity corrode the quality of healthcare in Colorado. For months we have been at work bringing forward an amendment to the Colorado Constitution to preserve as a basic human right our “Right to Health Care Choice.” It is my goal to make Colorado a sanctuary state for quality healthcare.

This citizens’ initiative is very close to the petition stage. Soon we will need as many volunteer petition gatherers as possible. We will also need funding to wage this battle. I ask you, right now, to donate to our fight. I desperately need your talents, your time, and your resources to protect Colorado from this affront coming from DC. We can stop Washington.

Read the amendment here.

Give us your contact info to help gather signatures.

And please donate to this fight here. And please don’t wait.

* Become an Defend Colorado fan on Facebook
* Support our education efforts by making a tax deductable donation to the Independence Institute

From tonight’s Independent Thinking…

© 2010, Benjamin Hummel. To see more cartoons like this go to www.politixcartoons.com.

Our health care policy analyst Brian Schwartz, who writes the fantastic blog Patient Power Now, has compiled a list of reasons why Obama Care is immoral and will not work. Feel free to use any and all of these arguments on anyone you know who buys into all the regulations, taxation, mandates, and larger government that Obama Care brings.

And while you’re at it, look around Patient Power and enjoy Brian’s extensive writing on health care policy.

Sorry about the mix up, tomorrow night’s Independent Thinking will be this guns on campus show, not the renewable energy show. Tune in the night of the 26th for the renewable energy show…

On this week’s Independent Thinking, I am joined by Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden and Denver Post Columnist Mike Littwin to discuss the recent decision by the Colorado State University Board of Governors to ban concealed carry permit holders from carrying guns on campus. Tune in Friday at 8:30 PM for a discussion about guns on college campuses, and the difference between campus policy and state law. Re-broadcast the following Monday at 1:30 PM.

I wrapped up the health care event with remarks on current free market activities in Colorado. I talked about my personal experience with our health care system and the Independence Institute’s Defend Colorado from Obama Care initiative.

Here is my talk in a three video YouTube playlist:

Colorado State Senator Shawn Mitchell gave us an update on what was going on in the Senate in terms of health care legislation, both good and bad (but mostly bad).

Here is Sen. Mitchell’s talk in two video YouTube playlist:

Dr. Linda Gorman, director of our Health Care Policy Center spoke on the true cost of Obama’s health care “reform.”

Here is Linda’s talk in a three video YouTube playlist:

Dr. Jill Vecchio, radiology oncologist and founder of Docs4PatientCare spoke on emerging issues, particularly protecting the doctor/patient relationship.

Here is her talk in a two video YouTube playlist:

Director of Government Relations for the Heartland Institute Peter Fotos kicked off our Health Care Roundtable event last Wednesday, March 10th.

If you were unable to attend, or would just like to see his talk on consumer-driven health care again, here are the videos in a YouTube playlist: