hi dafna (and nmw) - the greatest opportunity to tackle these issues, which i am still not clear about, is to work at the state level. some perform better than others in terms of providing a base level of service for citizens in need.

if you happen to be in California I can hook you up with a statewide conversation on health care that governor schwarzenegger has signed on to. he has proven to be a state level republican ready to buck the party line - so i've got some hope the discussion - intended to create a reform agenda built around citizens priorities and what they are willing to trade off to get there - can actually have some legs. and be a model for national reform.

that said, its all long term. but the states are where its at on this issue until at least the 2008 elections are over. The sitting president who's name i cannot speak has rejected the outcomes of the Citizens Health Care Working Group (http://www.citizenshealthcare.go v).