I'm blogging again from the Netroots Nation conference in Austin, Texas, and continue to be impressed with how my fellow participants have jumped on this technology as a means of expressing ideas, opinions, and general information that might not have otherwise been available. As the conference has progressed, I have a deeper appreciation for how the Internet, including the blogosphere, has helped us connect with each other, even at the international level, almost instantaneously.

I've been fortunate enough to join some of the YP4 staff here at the Netroots Nation Conference in Austin, Texas. One of the goals I shared with other YP4 attendees was connecting with other leaders in the progressive movement who have used the blogsphere as a means of pushing our respective social concerns, particularly racial/gender/economic justice. While my main passion lies in healthcare reform and inequalities in health, based on my personal experience and academic/civil work, I recognize the need to learn about other areas, including the environment, workers' rights, access to affordable higher education, and how they affect our nation's health.

Yesterday, I had the insightful opportunity of attending the annual Campus Progress National Conference in Washington, DC. Similar to YP4, Campus Progress recognizes, challenges, and celebrates the young progressives to bring out positive social change.

I've attended my share of "progressive" conferences. The night before, I usually think about what kind of people might I expect to be participating in this year's conference. Questions like, how do the conference planner select this year's participants, or what are the participants' respective experiences and interests with regards to the progressive movement, usually come to mind.

My family loves showing off their patriotism during the Fourth of July. My mom, for example, has no problem wearing a blue top, red shorts, and white sneakers with her American flag earrings to a cookout. Nevertheless, although I was born and raised in the United States, and accepted my American identity, I realized that from the rest of society didn't necessarily define me as fitting into the latter category. My hair, complexion, eyes, nose, and other physical features meant I was not solely an "American," but a "hyphenated American." Yes, we are familiar with terms including African American, Mexican American, Chinese American, and others, but, I have yet to hear someone referred to as a Caucasian American. Why is that?

I was at my friend's house last Saturday night witnessing the Philippine star boxer, Will "Manny" Pacquiao defeat his opponent, thereby winning another title. AsianWeek dubbed Pacquiao the "Thrilla from Manila." As I began a conversation with my dad about the fight and how Pacquiao pulled a KO on Diaz, my dad informed me that prior to the fight, Pacquiao promised to donate all of his prize money to the victims of the recent natural disasters in the Philippines. No, not a percentage of his wins, but all of his wins. My dad said Pacquiao's already a millionaire, and he recognizes that there are others he can help.

I was at a church seminar this morning and had the opportunity to talk with a young man who confessed to coming from a "messy, broken background." I nodded my head, understanding and empathizing with his experiences.

I remember having mixed emotions about moving to Washington, DC two years ago. My father, who had lived in the East Coast for at least a decade before moving to California, warned me that not only would I have to get used to a concept known as "seasons," but also, East Coast culture, including the people, was different from the warm utopia of my Golden State.

Within two weeks of moving to Washington, I had made the switch from jeans, flip flops, and a tank top, to the three- piece suit. As I was walking down the infamous K Street, a young woman came up to me, asking me if I "had a minute for the environment." But, before I could respond, she proceeded to comment, "Let me guess where you're from... you look exotic."

In a previous blog, I discussed how as a person of faith, my identity as being pro-life stretches beyond the abortion and death penalty debates; instead, there is a need to defend life vis-a-vis access to quality education, employment, healthcare, political expression, and a clean, sustainable environment. I am cognizant of the fact that my definition of what it means to be pro-life does not hold true for many of those who identify themselves as being part of the latter.

Yearning for Universal Coverage Is Not Universal
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 08:18AM
The Doctor Weighs In in Uninsured, Insurance, Doctors, Doctor's Income, Michael Millenson

By MICHAEL L. MILLENSON

Everyone wants universal health coverage, right?

Not quite. As I pointed out in a recent opinion piece for the Washington Post, the yearning for universal health care is far from universal. The reaction to that article – about 160 posted comments or direct emails to me – confirmed that assessment. So did the lack of reaction from certain quarters (more on that below).

In the article, I wrote:

I was scrolling through the online version of the New York Times this morning, and read the headlines, "Bush Calls to End Ban on Offshore Oil Drilling." (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/washington/19drill.html?_r=1&hp&oref=s...). Bush's argues that lifting the ban would help lower gas prices and strengthen national security. He goes on to argue that if Congress fails to act accordingly, then Americans can blame them for $4/gallon gasoline. I tried to make some sense of the argument: put the environment, surrounding wildlife, and our earthly home at risk because it's the ONLY way to keep gas prices down. And, the corollary: failure to lift the ban means greater economic pressure for Americans.