It was on December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day) of 2010 when we learned that my brother, Joe, had passed away on the 6th. Of course this immediately threw a wrench into the well-oiled workings of my family. We were still reeling from the loss of Dad (in April 2010). But at least with Dad, we could all see it coming for years. Joe's death was a blow to us all, as it was unexpected. Joe seemed the epitome of good health. I would have thought that he'd die in a fiery motorcycle accident, as he was a buff Harley guy.
In the woulda-shoulda-coulda category: If Joe had enjoyed the status of Americans who have health insurance, and if he had paid regular visits to a general practitioner, then MAYBE his arterial coronary disease would have been detected, and MAYBE he would still be with us. We could have all celebrated his 54th birthday with him. He would have come over on Autumn weekends to watch the Charger games with us. He would have been over on Friday nights singing Karaoke with us. We would have attended more cook-outs at his beloved Ranch that he named "Valhalla."
But no, Obama's plan for health insurance for all has met with such resistance from the opposing party, it is so deflating. Why is it considered a Socialist notion - and therefore bad - to funnel some of our tax dollars into a healthcare fund for all Americans? Why can the Canadians, New Zealanders, Aussies and Europeans make this concept work, and not us? And why are we allowing our tax dollars to go into the coffers of the defense industry and let's not kid ourselves, toward killing people on the side of the planet? The idea of my hard-earned money going towards murder has never sat well with me. But it would stress and then probably kill me if I actively thought about it every minute of every day. So I think about other things.
But every now and again a nasty grenade gets lobbed your way - i.e., the untimely demise of your little brother - and those thoughts creep up again. In countless conversations I have heard, "The Democrats are just as bad as the Republicans." Well, not really. If you look at any Congressional "report card" it's the Republicans who are always voting down legislation that is supposed to protect We the People, and our beautiful America. It's Republicans who vote to "Drill, baby, Drill!" in the pristine Alaskan wilderness. It's Republicans who vote against a woman's right to choose whether to have a child or not. It's Republicans who vote to shoot nearly-extinct timber wolves in Idaho. It's Republicans who bought up the media and the Supreme Court, and who convince gullible Americans that "The Patriot Act" is only for their own protection (and not a handy way to squelch civil liberties).
I could go on, but I really think you ought to go and do your own homework on scalliwags like Rupert Murdoch (who ostensibly sanctioned phone tapping at his "News of the World" agency) and the Koch Brothers who are spending their millions on their Tea Party shills. Go and do your homework and let's turn our "Titanic" away from the iceberg.
Let's make sure all Americans can enjoy healthcare. Don't we work hard for our dollars? Don't we deserve healthcare benefits? Please don't get duped by the people who are trying to take our liberties away. Do your homework.
I miss you, Joe.
7 comments:
Tough post Patty. Here is a big HUG for you and your little brother. 54 is too young to leave this world.
You are right of course regarding health and our tax dollars although, I can't side with either party. In my mind we need a New America, one that honors the Constitution and its people, not the military police state where our freedomes are taken daily. I believe "We the people" are long over due for a Revolution of the positive kind. It is time for the sheeple to wake up and clear out ALL elected officials, rethink our political parties, and begin anew.
I'm not thrilled with the Dems, either, but I know how the Repubs are masters at manipulation. We support Congressman Bob Filner here in San Diego, who has told us how the Repubs stymie every good thing that the Dems try to do to improve the quality of life for Americans. Bob is "the last good Dem standing" as far as I am concerned. He truly cares about people. He's in my video, "Small Acts of Kindness" and explains how for what we spend on one day of the war in Iraq, we could be taking care of our homeless war veterans for a year. http://youtu.be/mVLFVEmzH58
"Masters of Manipulation". I like that.
Bob sounds like a good guy. I will have to watch the video you linked to. I also like Dennis Kucinich: http://healthcare.kucinich.us/petition/
I rarely speak my political opinion to anyone but you make it easy because of your non-judgemental ways. Thanks Patty.
Odd, Like you, I don't generally go into the political zone, but there's this quote about how remaining silent when you observe wrong behavior makes you complicit. I can only share my observations over 56 years of a lifetime. Bob is a good guy, and was willing to take on a job I would never want, flying back and forth to Washington DC, etc. I, too, like Kucinich. His is a voice of reason. He reminds me of another wonderful person, Granny D, who walked across the United States at the age of 90, to bring awareness to the issue of campaign finance reform. As it is now, the corporations are at the helm, and if you have seen the documentary "The Corporation," the conclusion is, if corporations were indeed people (and Supreme Court has granted corps that status) then they would be psychopaths. I feel the only buffer now between We the People and a complete "corporatocracy" (wherein there are only two classes - the 1% and the poor) is the blooming Occupy movement.
I couldn't agree more!
"I feel the only buffer now between We the People and a complete "corporatocracy" (wherein there are only two classes - the 1% and the poor) is the blooming Occupy movement."
I can relate to your tragedy. I've also lost a brother (aged 58).
He did have medical insurance and did go to a cardiologist. Nevertheless...he went on a trip and returned in a coffin.
I'm not closely familiar with the politics in your country, but I think americans make too much of this insurance health reform. Reforms demand lots of money which America in her current state of affairs, doesn't have it. She's in a big deficit and has a huge debt.
I believe it's the individual that has to take responsability for his own health regardless of insurance. That will include eating properly, avoiding stress, excercising and not exaggerating in anything. Prevention is the mother of all cure, as they say.
Duta, you are correct about taking care of one's own health and body. But we in America pay so many tax dollars, that it seems a crime and a shame that some of them are not allocated for health care, as in other countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
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