Well, health care has taken a personal turn. My parents, who have been Democrats all my life, and recently started correcting me and calling themselves Independent, are now firmly convinced there are death panels. I don't feel it my place to say who they voted for in the Presidential race, as that's confidential. I don't think my mom would give me permission to divulge that information to the nation, and I respect my elders. Besides, she'd kick my butt. And since I was raised not to strike my mother, I'd have to let her.
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer a while back. He's going to be 78 years old in March. They are refusing to do surgery. He's on Medicare. My mom is a breast cancer survivor of 11 years and a retired nurse. She is pressing the issue and wanting to know WHY they won't consider surgery. They used the excuse that with his health issues, it wouldn't be wise. Health issues? My dad is in great health, except for this pesky little new issue that cropped up, called prostate cancer. He's been in a study for the past 20 years or so, that they test his prostate levels every year. His level has been 3 every year. This year it jumped to 14.6. Ya think it might need to be explored? Well, then they tested it again, and got a 4. The doctor thought something might be suspicious and did biopsies and found cancer.
My mom is not one to sit on things, she pushed things. She finally got a sort of explanation. They finally said that there are little spots all over and they would have to take the whole thing out, and they don't recommend that. She brought up my dad's dad, who had his prostate removed. They explained that when you have a prostate removed for a "going" problem, they don't actually remove the whole thing, but the middle of it. In dad's case, they would actually have to remove the WHOLE thing. Mom persisted and did finally get an appointment to see someone else besides this idiot.
I told dad, and Dad agrees with me that it's because he's on Medicare. They don't want to eat what Medicare doesn't pay. They know that Medicare won't pay for the whole thing. They're not stupid. I was on the phone with my mother, and dad is yelling in the background, "There are death panels!" I wonder what he would say if he heard me typing that he sounds just like Sarah Palin?
So, President Obama, even the loyal Democrats are waking up. Your base of voters are crumbling around you. When are you going to open your eyes? When are you going to see? How do you expect to ADD to the rolls of Medicare/Medicaid and not add to the deficit? How do you expect to not bankrupt America? How do you expect the hospitals and insurance companies to not go bankrupt? And you write in a little clause that says no cost shifting? And you think we are going to believe you when you try to say the hospitals and insurance companies are evil? You are the one who is evil. You want everyone coming to you for insurance. What then? Then, when the United States government can't afford it, you have to raise taxes. We'll be like all the other socialist countries, with a 70% tax rate on the middle class. Is that 100% for the upper class? Is that what you want, America?
I can say I did my best, I informed. My parents are awake. I guess I woke up 2 people. Maybe I should be content in that. I'll still stand on the Ramparts and inform as I feel I must. I still feel as if I must warn the Nation. God didn't tell me that anyone would listen, just to talk. I still feel like Pink Floyd: Is there anybody OUT THERE?
Lori Ann Smith
I fight for freedom, though no may listen, until I'm hoarse from the shouting.
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