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Aitken

Wed, 10/22/2008 - 3:01pm — Nor Cal Squirrel

Official Press Release From The ARF (Athlete Recovery Fund)

Mike Aitken is a Professional BMX rider in need of our help. Mike is an icon in the sport of BMX and is someone who rides with incredible style and passion for the sport. He is also a proud husband and a father. Read the message below from his brother Jeremy Aitken:

“Mike Aitken has been hospitalized in serious condition. While in Pennsylvania over the weekend, Mike was seriously injured when he over-rotated a 360. He is currently in the ICU unit and has not regained consciousness. His injuries include a fractured eye socket, sinus and both sides of his jaw. A CAT scan shows no swelling on his brain. As soon as any changes in his status are available, we will pass them on. Thank you for your faith, prayers, and support of Mike and his family. They are needed and greatly appreciated.”10/6/2008

This is a time when we can pull together to make a huge difference in Mike’s recovery. No amount is too small and if everyone pulls together and offers a little bit we can make a dent in the medical bills to come.
Ways for you to help:

www.5050bmx.com There is a link and a Paypal account set up for Mike and his family.

www.athleterecoveryfund.com Click the “Make a donation button” and because ARF is a 501(c)3 Non Profit the PayPal fees are less than most anywhere else, meaning more of your donation goes to Mike and his family. All donations made at this time go directly to Mike Aitken and his family.

Mail a check to:
Athlete Recovery Fund c/o Mike Aitken
27636 Ynez Road L-7 #284
Temecula, CA 92591

Write check payable to Mike Aitken

Athlete Recovery Fund is in the process of providing a grant to also assist Mike and his family through this tough time. While extremely unfortunate this is the reason why we started our charity. For the PayPal and mailing address we are simply helping coordinate donations with the approval of Mike Aitken’s family. For large donations or concerns about receiving tax deductibility please contact aaron@athleterecoveryfund.com.

——————————————————–

We posted in the news earlier this morning that Mike Aitken took a bad crash in Pennsylvania yesterday and is in the hospital. 50/50 BMX has set up a donation fund to help him out. Expect to see more updates on this post with fund raisers and other things you can do to help out a fellow rider in need.

Click here to go to the Mike Aitken Fund on the 50/50 site and make a donation.

Tags: 50/50, Donation Fund, Mike Aitken

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 at 9:03 am and is filed under Features, News. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

User Comments133 Responses to "Mike Aitken Injury & Fund Updates"
JRK PTO | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 17:05:46 0how bad was the spill? Knowing the wild shit this guy does i’m guessing it wasn’t an easy one.
get well soon mang!

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Jeff | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-09 12:57:32 0What? I just got back into the states didnt no Mike got hurt!!!! How bad was the crash?? I finally just got better after i blew out my knee 540in a spine

JRK PTO | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 17:11:42 0sorry i just read the first post on keeping the details secret out of respect. That can’t be good, best of luck Mikey. Your part in Fitlife blew my f-ing mind! Im hoping to see a lot more in the future.

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ab | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 15:06:54 0was he wearing a helmet?

loeffel | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 17:48:11 0He´ll come back soon.
Best of luck for him and his family. Must be a bummer for his wife and his son but as i said before, he´ll do it.
That no-insurance thing is a kind of shitty, but in some way it his fault, isn´t it?! A Pro-rider without health insurance…irony?

I´m wondering if he keeps that ridin´ up after that crash…i mean he has a wife an a son…hmm, don´t know, we´ll see.

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elf | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 18:28:10 0Yo, you got some nerve, you have no idea what the troubles are to get insurance as a rider, You should just keep your mouth shut, when you do not know what your talking about.

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ponyboy | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 18:46:33 0yea I’m with elf you do got some f-ing nerve. I met mike for the first time on Friday and he is a rad ass dude. what happened to him sucks and could happen to anyone that rides.

Reply here

loeffel | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 07:24:59 0guys, guys…i think u understood it the wrong way. Mike is definitely a huge inspiration for riders…for me too, i´m happy to see anything of him, his videoparts are mostly the best in my eyes and i watch them over and over again.
Maybe i need to apologize. I´m from Germany and i got to say, it is not that hard here to get a health insurance (it´s described in the law to have one, so it´s a duty). We´ve got private ones and state-offered insurances, so everybody is able to have a health insurance.
I really didn´t know it´s such a trouble there to have insurance, i´m sorry.

RideFly | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 12:24:10 0not everyone in America can afford health insurance i cant and i broke my leg and ankle with out insurance its a bitch to pay back.

Reply here

Mike Szczesny | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 19:40:39 0Watch your mouth, out of respect for his friends and family. This is not the right place to be a “no it all”

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yoda | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 13:03:30 0apology accepted.

but only because you are from germany where not having coverage is almost unheard of. It is and idea that we do not have in the US. It is estimated that .3% of the population in Germany do not have coverage so it is to be expected that you found it so strange that mike didn`t have coverage. In Germany it is something that you just don`t have to worry about because it is guarenteed by the state. speaking of irony, the US is the self-proclaimed most wealthy nation in the world but somehow has 46 million uninsured.

jason | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 20:28:00 0If mike didn’t have insurance, in his line of work, he gets what he deserves. It’s irresponsible of him to put himself into a coma when hew has a wife and kid to support! what an idiot.

dirtydan | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 21:25:46 0jason… your a dick! Mikey is a trail rider do you have any idea how hard it is to 3 a set at trails that your not used to ridin? Damn Mikey got balls and he kills evry dirt jump hes near. Hope you get better and DansComp supports ya!!!

Greg | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-08 09:51:37 0FUCK YOU JASON!!! I cant even believe you can say something like that. (he gets what he deserves?, put himself into a coma?, what an idiot?) Your ridiculous!! thats my friend your talking about (more of a brother to me) and one of the best guys I know! Never a dull moment with him, laughter none stop!! You’ll get whats coming to you kid, all i can say is NEVER show your face in the s.l.c.

Get well Mikey love you man!!

jason | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-08 10:28:54 0Trust me, if he ever comes out of it, he’ll admit what a dumbass he is.

Greg ingersoll | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-08 15:59:11 0Jason stop commenting! If you have nothing positive and supportive to say about my friend then stop talkin! seriously this is not the place for negative energy! Just stop!!

jason | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-09 11:48:36 0don’t get mad at me, get mad at Aitken for turning himself into a vegetable.

WEAR HELMETS KIDS. Morons.

Ken | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-09 13:58:07 0Jason… if u ride.?.?.u kno a helmet is not going to help u that much…i broke my jaw got knocked out and had 27 stichs in my eye socket while wering a helmet… and i just slid out on a rool over… so this stuff about wering a helmet is bull… come on… u should watch what u say… ive seen alot of people get hurt wering helmets… and honestley its just in ur head… that u might be safe w/ one… ur a joke jason… STAY STRONG MIKE! LOTS OF LOVE FROM AZ!

Chunk | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-13 16:43:13 0Dude I agree. You need to shut your mouth. I always waer a helmet and I got 25 stitches in my cheek. I doesn’t do much. I good if your learning to ride or some shit. And thats so fucked up to say “Thats what he deserves.” Your an idiot. you need to stop posting comments because your fucking stupid. Go die.

Reply here

paul | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-09 03:16:21 0the reason he doesnt have insurance is because him along with most of the rest in his sport cant get coverage caus noone will carrie it. so that is sopmething that sport needs to stand up and fight for all these athletes for!
mike is my wifes cousin and we are keeping him in all our thoughts and prayers right now.
we love you mike!
paul, mary, abby, and sammy

Tyler M | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 19:25:41 0Dude I think Mike Aitken is an inspiration to anyone who rides due to his effortless style.. I mean did you see him at the salt lake city stop on the dew tour? Mikey is definitely one in a million as a rider… Get better soon Mikey

matt | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 20:00:43 0God bless him and his fam.

david | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 20:59:49 0all of us surely will praying for your quick recovering mike,blessings for you an for your wife and son too.
guadalajara mexico salute you. get well soon buddy¡¡¡¡¡

Andrew | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 21:04:57 0terrible news, mikey is a great rider. i’m hoping he pulls through for at least his family’s sake.

jake Greene | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 21:04:57 0the guy talkin shit really needs to shut his mouth. Mikey you are an icon to millions of riders. i know that you have it in you to keep throwin down.FITLIFE GET WELL MIKEY. god bless your famliy and yourself

chris | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 21:39:13 0shame on Fit and S&m for not taking care of there riders and making sure they are covered. I dont care if elf takes issue with what i say either. Riders put their health at risk for their respective companies, and they dont have them covered? No one pushes themselves harder than mikey, fit should have him covered.

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johnnypistols | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 08:54:26 0you’re a fucking idiot. shut your mouth.

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loeffel | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 09:59:58 0Why is he an idiot for expressing his thoughts? Do you know what would´ve happened if fit (or other companies he is riding for) would´ve cared for that insurance thing?…he wouldn´t need donations.
I think the statement of redendo (far down) is very good.

best wishes from me Mike!

Reply here

Obama | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 21:44:45 0All the more reason to vote for me…. Health Insurance.

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nate martinez yo! | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-13 02:24:30 0are you serious you faggot

Steve Calvaruso | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 22:20:20 0I met mikey last year on the Props Rock & Roll BMX tour in Grand Rapids, MI. Quite possibly one of the most down to earth characters i’ve ever met, that of course being said about his personality. We all know he flies off everything imaginable on a bike. One thing that struck me is how proud of a father he is and how excited he was that his son was already taking on an interest in BMX. My thoughts are with you and your family! Get well bro, there’s too many good riders getting stuck with bad luck.

STAY STRONG

-Steve

Yoda | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 22:23:28 0Mike is a good friend of mine and i don´t appreciate people disrecpecting him saying he should of had health insurance or some bullshit like that. Get educated people! We all need to come together and realize that this isn´t about Mike not having health insurance, it is about our twisted heathcare system which places profit over people and the bottom line over everything else. In the capitalist system if you do not have the ability to pay for a particular service you must suffer (the case that mike may have the abilitly to pay for insurance is irrelevant). If you can´t pay for healthcare, you will die from preventable disease. If you can´t afford food you will stay hungry. If you can´t afford to go to school you will stay illiterate or die in an imperialist war in some far off land killing innocent poeple for resources because you couldn´t afford to go to college. These are fundatmental human rights that should be guarenteed under any respectable social contract!

So please let´s come together to support my dear friend and not argue about trival things that completely miss the problem at hand.

Get well mikey and i will buy you all the root beer you want from the Pie!

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J Eichhorst | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 01:27:16 0Haha!! Hell yeah Yoda, good words! Utah misses you man!

As for Mike, he’s made all the right moves to do what he can for himself and his family. He’s the dude that helps someone else out before helping himself. So much good energy around that guy! Get well soon man! Soda’s on me.

loeffel | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 07:28:01 0I really didn´t know about your health-insurance-system. I thought it is might be the same as here (germany), because here it´s not legal to don´t have insurance.

I´m really sorry.

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J Eichhorst | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 14:29:05 0Accepted. Wish and pray the best for Mike!

Reply here

Get Well Mikey | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 22:56:38 0This isn’t about Mike not being able to afford insurance, he could. He’s just too high risk for companies to be willing to cover him.

As far as Fit is concerned, Rob-O loves Mike like a brother and flew out to be with him as soon as he heard. So don’t go bashing Fit for not taking care of Mike.

Bottom line, Mike is an amazing rider and an amazing person. If you want to show him your support donate, because that’s all we can really do to help him at this point.

You’re in our prayers Mikey.

Brad | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 23:33:57 0Dude that’s horrible to hear, I’m sorry you down and out right now Mike I really hope you get well soon, one of my friends is out there ridding with you told me what happened. huge bummer, Get well soon dude!!!

chris I. | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-06 23:36:20 0hey just showin some love from california, i love ur ridin, sick ass hell, i hope i can get close to as good as you, get well so u can go do some more videos!!! FITLIFE, GET WELL MIKE!!!!!

hateme | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 00:32:15 0mike aitken is amazing. super cool guy and amazing rider. you can hate me for this, but i think helmets are more important than image. he wouldn’t be in this position if he wore a helmet. it is a shame that such a talented rider is going to be out for no reason

J Eichhorst | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 01:13:14 0Here’s the scoop.

“Recently, Mike traveled out to Pennsylvania to have a week of riding at the infamous Posh trails. Mike over-rotated a 360 and hit his head pretty bad, and it is believed he had a seizure when he initially went down. He’s currently in the hospital and is being watched closely by the doctors. He is on assisted breathing, doctors are giving him medication for pain and are medicating him to keep him unconscious for the time being. He currently has movement in his right leg and arm but only when pain induced, his left side is responding normally. The doctors say that this is fairly normal for an injury of this type and are hopeful for his recovery.”

The entire 5050 crew loves you like true family. You know this!! Get well soon brother!

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token | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 01:36:04 0if thats true then holy shit.

even if its not get well soon mikey. your too good of a rider to let health insurance to be your downfall. besides if the most copied rider quits riding who are we all going to copy haha.

i wish you the best of luck and im going to pray that you make a full recovery.

Matt Baker | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 02:25:47 0It’s so harsh to see comments like that on such a touchy subject. Riders push themselves for their own reasons and nobody should be looked down upon for pushing their abilities. Sounds like most of these kids posting comments have their parents pay for their bike parts, and more importantly, their living expenses. Please realize that an amazing person who is so dedicated to this sport is going through what sounds like a life changing experience and show him some support. God bless Mike and good luck through the recovery, we all know your capable of anything.

Kohle Hansen | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 02:43:37 0I have lived and have rode BMX in Utah all of my life. Mike Aitken has always been the nicest guy. Just to chat with him and see him ride, is like a different world. From the time i started BMX, until the moment i write this, he has ben a solid inspiration to me. If you are petty enough to write such crude and unjustified comments, you certainly have no place in BMX, and moreover, to anyone else that cares. If you really care at any rate, I am certain that most people dont have health insurance as it is. It takes a lot of guts to not have health insurance in his line, but it takes true dedication to a family, where you risk life and limb to support them. If anyone has anything else to say, in any mannerism that Mikey will stop or is a anything else but a respectful and dedicated person, please take it somewhere else. To all of those that know him, watch him, respect him… Please send what you can- especially best of wishes and prayers. To the Guys here in the SLC, we know who we are. We need him back, as does the entire BMX community.

Best Wishes Mike- to you and your family.

Rob Goodman | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 04:48:42 0I havent been following freestyle for quite sometime now so I’m not too familiar with mikes recent riding but last year was one hell of a dark year for bmx with stephen murray’s crash and I hope we dont have to share that kind of sorrow and shock again…get well soon mike!

Andy S | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 05:12:23 0Get well soon, Mike!
My thoughts are with you and your family!

Tina | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 06:06:36 0MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU MIKE, GET WELL SOON!!!

Tom | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 07:06:18 0mike you will be in my prayers and also your family for your recovery. get well soon

loeffel | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 08:01:53 0Like many professional riders, Mike’s BMX career makes health insurance companies consider him too high of a risk, and he is deemed “Uninsurable”. Despite multiple attempts to obtain health insurance he is currently uninsured. The donations that have been offered and support that has been shown are greatly appreciated.

mikeaitken.com

xtobinx | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 08:42:44 0I hope he get well soon and can ride like before!
God bless you Mike!

Max | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 08:43:09 0I defenetly hope that Mike will be OK soon.
Because its like Dave Mirra said on Sentenced to Life”Hes one of the most talented,creative,interesting raiders if ever seen.He´s pretty untouchable.”
so best wishes for Mike and his family

I stand behind you

Chance | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 09:04:24 0first and foremost mikey and the aitken family both mine and my wifes thoughts and prayers go out to you. secondly people you shiuldn’t worry about if he was wearing a helmet or if he has health insurance this is a great inspiration to all of us we should be more concerned about helping and supporting him and his family best of luck mikey to you and yours

redendo | 4 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 09:47:47 0Mike Aitken is a fantastic talent in our sport. He is a respected personality. He is a family man. He is in the BMX business. His accident is tragic, but sometimes out of the ashes can come something good.

“Wear your helmet” is one such good.

For those who would blame our medical system, The United States will continue to be capitalist. The system here is not the enemy. The true enemies are ignorance and the evil that exists in the hearts of men. These are relatively independent of a society’s system of provision (capitalism or communism). For what it’s worth, take a look at the corruption that occurred in non capitalist systems like China, Korea, Nazi Germany, and Russia.

Aitken is in the BMX business. His sponsorship of Fit bikes generates a good deal of revenue for Scott and Moeller and Fit Bike Co. That said, insurance is a cost of doing business for them both. If they can’t insure their riders (whether coming out of Mike’s salary or Fit Bike Co operating budget), they should look into another business. Riders are the front-line sales force. Without sales, there is no Fit Bike Co. Riders like Mike Aitken deserve protection from risk, whatever the cost. If they can’t be protected, we must do a serious re-evaluation of the BMX business.

As a team manager I speak from experience on the following.

The cheapest insurance policy for a professional rider is about $35. It is a helmet. As team manager and Fit Bike Co big cheese, the best thing Rob-o can do to protect his investment is to require (or at a minimum, encourage) his riders to wear helmets. If - hypothetically - Rob-o actually encourages his riders NOT to wear helmets, I couldn’t express how careless a business decision that would be.

If Mike Aitken was wearing his helmet, he might not be with us. If he wasn’t wearing a helmet, he may have avoided this whole mess by wearing one.

Mike Aitken inspires me with his riding. He is an asset to BMX, and BMX can’t afford to lose him. Or Gary Young. Or Dennis McCoy. Or Mat Hoffman. Or Ruben Torres. Or Joey Harding. Or Dakota Roche. Or…

Sincerely,

John Dale
RedEndo BMX
Tucson, Arizona

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Jeff Suarez | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 15:56:47 0John I feel the need to respond to this.

I can only hope your comments about Fit Bike Co. are out of frustration and they are not implying that Fit Bike is responsible for this. The action sports community is a family and Fit Bike is part of the family and is just as upset about this as you are.

Just to inform you on why Fit Bike cannot provide insurance to their sponsored athletes; there is NO employer, employee relationship. Most, if not all, sponsored athletes are contractors and are paid as 1099’s. Legally, neither Fit Bike nor any other sponsor can provide benefits. If you know of any, please contact me, as I would like to discuss it with them so we may put an end to this.

Who am I and why should you care;

My name is Jeff Suarez; I’m the President of the Action Sports Advisory Group. The Action Sports Advisory Group is trying to educate the athletes so they can avoid these types of situations. We have found solutions for the athletes and need help reaching out to them so they can find affordable Health Insurance and Disability Insurance. We made our first attempt at the Utah Dew Tour event and regrettably missed the opportunity to speak directly to Mike. We have solution to these problems and just need the athletes to work with us. You can help by directing any professional athlete to us so we may assess their situation and find solutions.

John I hope you will help the Action Sports Advisory Group achieve our goal of making sure no other professional athlete goes without insurance.

Best Regards,
Suarez

Action Sports Advisory Group
Jeff Suarez President
631-266-2200
jsuarez@actionsports-ag.com

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jason | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 23:52:23 0To provide insurance for their riders, ALL Fit or ANY company has to do is hire a rider on as a salaried employee, and put them in their group plan. Pay the riders a low salary, to insure they qualify.

It’s that simple- if Fit or any of the bike companies want to do it, they can. They don’t, THAT is why riders don’t get covered.

Ultimately, it’s still Aitken’s fault for riding without insurance….He should have made that an aspect of his contract.

Reply here

Keith Mulligan | 136 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 09:53:36 0As some of you know, I was at the trails with Mikey when he crashed as were a number of other guys. Everyone there stepped up and did their very best to help get Mikey to the hospital asap. He’s in good care now, and if you’ve ever met Mikey, you know that he’s one of the toughest dudes there is and he’s going to pull through this.

His wife and parents are at the hospital with him. I’m not going to give any details or information here, I’ll leave that up to his family. Mikey’s dad has been feeding information to his son, Mikey’s brother, Jeremy Aitken to pass on to everyone. And he’s been working with Aaron Cooke on the fundraiser stuff.

I’d like to ask that all of you reading this step up and rise to the occasion. Don’t write dumb or uneducated comments. This isn’t the time or place. If you’ve read through the comments here or read the blog on 5050’s site, you’ll know that Mike has tried for years to get health insurance, but has been denied because of his profession. He has gotten it for his wife and son, which shows what a selfless and caring husband and father he is. Please lend your support and donate anything you can to help them. You can give donations through the blog at 5050bmx.com.

We’ll be posting any press releases or information the Aitken’s have for you here on the site.

Thanks,
Keith

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loeffel | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 10:04:05 0I didn´t know that he tried to get insurance so often…what the hell is going on over there with your insurance-companies? I mean he will definitely go through this, but why the hell isn´t it possible to get insurance as a professional rider (with such a great attitude, too)?

Great comment by the way…!

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yoda | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 12:50:34 0part of the reason is that insurance premiums are not only ricidulously expensive for individual working families but even more expensive for individuals, especially men who are at more risk of innjury or sickness.
To add insult to injury, wages have remained stagnate in the US when adjusted for inflation but the cost of healthcare has been constantly increasing at a rate which many families just can`t afford. That is just a small reason why there are 46 million uninsurd people in the US. The US spends more money per person on health insurance than any other industrialized country but yet we have a situation where 46 million people are without insurance, not to mention those who have insurance but can`t afford the deductable when they are sick or injured and are forced in bankrupcy. A recent study by harvard university discovered that 50% of families that go bankrupt do so in part because of medical expenses.

When I turn 26 I will be forced off of my parent`s insurance and have to find my own and to tell you the truth and unless i am employed by a large corporation who offers an HMO I am in trouble.
I will become on of the 46 million uninsured too.

We have a moral obligation to disrupt through subversion and sabotage to place the needs of the many over the greed of the few.

Mike, i love you!!!!!!!

loeffel | 0 Stoke Value | 2008-10-07 14:03:19

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