Just watched a very informative webinar on Covid19; includes myth-busters you might find handy

when dealing with anti-vaxxers.

It's a webinar for people wondering whether they should get the Covid vaccine if they have a traumatic brain injury, but most of the information applies to everybody. And it's long, and more of an audio with slides than a captivating video, but it's very informative. If nothing else, the doctor's calm, soothing voice might lull you into a nice nap!

Just google: Butch Alterman Webinar: COVID-19 Vaccination for Individuals with TBI

Or here is the link:

https://www.biausa.org/public-affairs/media/covid-19-vaccine

The people who won't get vaxxed are like Jonestown in reverse.

Instead of drinking the Koolaid that will kill them, they are refusing the Koolaid that will save their lives and the lives of others.

They've been so brainwashed into hating the government, especially one with Democratic leadership, that they are completely mired in distrust of the vaccines and their proud refusal to wear a mask. Evidence of the vaccine's effectiveness or the effectiveness of wearing a mask be damned.

Of course, there are a lot of differences, too. At Jonestown, there were people who were forced at gunpoint to take the poison, and some who fled into the jungle to escape. And Jim Jones committed suicide along with his followers, whereas Trump and family were at the front of the line to get the life-saving vaccine. Plus, Jonestown was isolated, and their "sickness" was not something that could spread to others.

I think at this point, the only thing that might convince them they should get vaccinated is to have a loved one die from Covid. But even then, there will be those who refuse to believe it was Covid that killed them, or will choose to see their loved one's death as God's will.

If you're on Obamacare like me, call Healthcare.gov to see if you can lower your monthly premium

The number is 1-800-318-2596, or go to the Healthcare.gov website for more information.

I called yesterday and was able to lower the monthly premium for myself and my husband. Every little bit helps.

From the Kaiser Family Foundation website:

The March 2021 COVID-19 relief legislation, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), extends eligibility for ACA health insurance subsidies to people buying their own health coverage on the Marketplace who have incomes over 400% of poverty. The law also increases the amount of financial assistance for people at lower incomes who were already eligible under the ACA. Both provisions are temporary, lasting for two years, retroactive to January 1, 2021. A more detailed explanation of these enhanced and expanded subsidies and other coverage provisions of the ARPA can be found here, and an earlier analysis and interactive comparison of ARPA and ACA subsidies can be found here.

If the filibuster is not done away with, but reformed so that senators have to stand there for hours

and hours and talk throughout the whole thing, nonstop, à la Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, then I hope that they also make it a crime for anyone to give that senator food or water! Also make it illegal to bring their own food and water.

Maybe then they might, just might, understand how remarkably cruel, punitive, and inhumane it was for Georgia to pass a law making it a crime to give food or water to people waiting hours on end just to vote.

If Covid and variants are here to stay, I hope to see private, members-only establishments

created just for "The Covid Careful." These would be private restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, grocery stores, beaches, hair salons, and the like that would require membership to enter. To become a member, you would need to show proof of vaccination and agree to wear a mask and observe social distancing ANYWAY, just in case of new variants.

Security would be required at the door, of course, to keep the nonmember anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers at bay.

I would be more than willing to pay a membership fee just for the reassurance that other members are being as cautious as I am.

Thank you, California Nurses Association, for not giving up on single-payer health insurance!

Another post on DU today explains how the Affordable Care Act is "quietly" undergoing major changes under the Biden administration to expand the availability of health insurance, which is wonderful news. More wonderful news is that nurses in California have not given up on their mission since 1994 to promote the single-payer health insurance model.

From a February 19, 2021, CNA website article:

Has anyone else noticed that there are more DU posts on non-political topics? Woo-hoo!

Now that Mango Mussolini has been kicked out of office, we are now able to think about music and art and film and other enriching cultural stuff.

FREEEEDOM!

Thank you for my new hearts, DU members!

In spite of the outcome of the trial and the monumental battle that is to come in 2022, I'm feeling happy and hopeful this Valentine's Day, and being able to take part in this forum is part of the reason why.

Thank you very much!

Dems, we have a mandate and a rallying cry: STOP THE BIG LIE.

Let's take this angry energy that we're all feeling from the almost-certain acquittal of Traitor Trump and use it to start working at combatting the Big Lie at every turn and working at protecting and gaining House and Senate seats in 2022.

You know, the Repubs are just like the coronavirus. By keeping the House and winning the Senate in 2020, we've been "vaccinated" against them for the next two years, but in those two years, the Repubs are going to mutate into an even deadlier variant, one that is even better at voter suppression and Republican voter radicalization through Fox News, OAN, social media, and right-wing talk radio.

They're betting they can retain and gain seats in 2020 by maintaining Trump's Big Lie. Let's not let them do it.

Thank you for my third heart, DU!

I appreciate it!