Crossing Party Lines Long Island NY

What the Heck Is Health Care, Anyway?

From doctor visits and prescriptions to insurance plans and public policy, “health care” means very different things to different people. Some see it as a basic human right, while others view it as a service shaped by market forces. The debate often gets tangled in definitions, costs, and expectations.

At this conversation, we’ll unpack what health care really means in the U.S. today, how people experience it, and what we want it to look like in the future.

• What do you want from our healthcare system?
• When you hear the word health care, what comes to mind first?
• Should health care be treated more like a public good, a private service, or something in between?
• How do you think cost, access, and quality should be balanced in our health care system?
• If you could reshape health care in the U.S., what would you want it to look like?

This will be an opportunity to explore different perspectives on healthcare and the values that guide our views of it.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:

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The recent shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has drawn national attention and sparked strong reactions across the political spectrum. For some, it raises concerns about political violence and safety in public life. For others, it prompts questions about media coverage, free expression, and how we respond to violence in a polarized climate.

At this meeting, we’ll explore how events like this shape our society and what they mean for Americans across different viewpoints.

We’ll ask questions such as:

• What do you think the shooting of Charlie Kirk reveals about political tensions in the U.S. today?
• How should Americans respond when violence targets public figures, regardless of their political affiliation?
• In what ways might media coverage influence public perception of incidents like this?
• What role can citizens, leaders, or communities play in reducing political violence and fostering safer dialogue?

Other questions

• What does political violence mean for a democracy like ours?
• In your view, does violence silence conversation — or spark more of it?
• How can we as citizens maintain open dialogue even after violent events?

This will be an opportunity to share different perspectives on political violence, media, and public life — and to engage in a respectful conversation about what such incidents mean for us as a nation.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:

• Instagram @crossingpartylines
• Twitter @crosspartylines
• Facebook @crossingpartylines

Words like “woke,” “patriotism,” “socialism,” or “freedom” show up everywhere in today’s political conversations—but they don’t always mean the same thing to everyone. Political terminology can spark unity for some and frustration for others, depending on how the words are used and understood.

At this meeting, we’ll explore how political labels and terms shape our conversations, identities, and debates. Together, we’ll consider what these words mean to different people and how language can both build bridges and create divides.

We’ll ask questions such as:

• What political terms do you find most confusing, powerful, or misunderstood?
• Who creates these terms - and for what purpose?
• How do words like “patriotism,” “woke,” or “freedom” carry different meanings depending on who uses them?
• In what ways can political terminology unite people—or push them further apart?
• Should we try to agree on shared definitions, or accept that these words will always mean different things to different people?

Other questions:

• How might you ask someone what they mean by a particular political term in the spirit understanding? How can you use a political term without being misunderstood?
• How does having an “official” definition of a political term support communication and connection?
• How useful are political terms when we are trying to solve actual problems?

This will be an opportunity to share perspectives, deepen understanding, and reflect on how the language of politics shapes the way we see each other and our country.

Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the meeting – once we are in breakout rooms and the conversations have started, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news! Follow us on:

• Instagram @crossingpartylines
• Twitter @crosspartylines
• Facebook @crossingpartylines