Counting My Dead: Reasons for Voting Kerry

[IdaBriggs]

Jeannette Papadelis: My sister. 39 years old. Died December 28, 2003 from Pneumonia. Suffered from Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Left behind two daughters, age 20 and 18. Didn't live long enough for the "new" stem cell research ban to be lifted.

Margaret "Aunt Dolly" Leemgraven. My great-aunt. 84 years old. Died August 19, 2004 from Cancer within three days of being diagnosed. Suffered from Advanced Alzheimer's (which is why no one knew she had cancer). Didn't live long enough for the "new" stem cell research ban to be lifted.

Carol Fincannon. My favorite aunt. 58 years old. Died August 23, 2004 presumably from a stroke. Had heart surgery earlier this year, and was on kidney dialysis for nearly ten years. Left behind three children, a husband, three grandchildren, and a reputation for the best soup in town. Didn't live long enough for the "new" stem cell research ban to be lifted.

Not Dead Yet:

My father -- suffers from heart problems, one instance of skin cancer. Retired, on a fixed income. Takes a ton of medication for his health problems, none of which qualifies in the "cheap" category.

My mother -- problems with rheumatoid arthritis, history of cancer. Retired, on a fixed income. Take a ton of medications for various health problems. Same financial issues as my father.

Close Enough to Scare Me:

My niece, Tiffany. Spent her sixth birthday hospitalized with a condition commonly associated with e-coli (although source never officially identified). Spent three months in the hospital, three weeks on a respirator in intensive care, a portion of it on the "last chance" respirator. Survived with "only" permanent kidney damage, currently controlled by medication (kidneys control blood pressure). Its been several years; I still haven't forgotten. Clean meat is a serious issue for me, and what "Wrong Way" has done to the meat inspectors at the USDA should have him drummed out of office by ANYONE who loves children or the elderly. (NOTE: Meat packing companies gave "Wrong Way" $59 Million; in return, regulations INCREASING the size and visibility of fecal matter deposits on meat were instituted before inspectors are allowed to "stop the line" and decontaminate were put in place by his administration. USDA inspectors have been fighting it, but....) Needs food to be "safe" as opposed to contaminated with e-coli or listerious (sp?).

Anyone else want to share? Think this election is about "other people's problems?" How long can YOUR PEOPLE wait before time runs out? Like fish, but want to have a baby some day? Think mercury problems in the great lakes. Any relatives with asthma who get worse when they visit "the big city?" Know anyone without health insurance, or a job? Friends with any police who are concerned about "legal" assault weapons on the streets again? One issue alone brings my personal death toll to three: the stem cell research ban on "new" stem cell lines has been in place now for over three years; my people couldn't wait until the next election, followed by the scientific gear up and the ten plus years of research needed to save them.

There is ALWAYS an opportunity cost; when Reagan banned infertility research because of "not wanting to play God" it cost us TWELVE YEARS. Clinton came in and changed the policy. That meant costs for infertility went from $40K when he came into office down to $18K six years ago when I first started trying down to $7K earlier this year. Just how much cheaper would it have gotten with that additional twelve years? How much further would the stem cell research be along if we hadn't lost that time?

So, let me add one more toll to this message, and then I'll post it:

My invisible dream children who do not sleep in the rooms I've had waiting for them for six years. I'm three miscarriages into that quest, and each day has its own small burden of pain.

I know about "opportunity cost." I'm voting Kerry.

[demnan]

1. Counting my living; voting for Kerry

There's my sweet niece, a juvinile diabetic, just starting her life at age 18.

There's my mother, vigourous but blind at 82 from macular degeneration.

There's my brothers, one has heart problems and almost died this summer and has no health care protection.

One has a disability from the Post Office - but diminished funds for care.

One is working for the school board but what retirement - he worked in his own business for years.

And me - I am working at a company and trying to stay with my job. I just bought a condo and I know that the next job I take will pay far less money. I could be laid off at any time.

[babylonsister]

2. Wow, Ida.

I sympathize and I know most of us here have similar issues. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 27 and had a mastectomy; also couldn't have kids. My step-son has a disease called Freidrich's Ataxia; it's a muscular disease. He's 31 years old, has been suffering with this for about 6 years, no known cure, he has 2 kids, near to being wheelchair-bound, and life expectancy is around 50. Stem cell research would indeed help him. I once heard that if you could 'hear' peoples' pain, there'd be an ongoing 24/7 wall of noise throughout the world.
Very sad, and I agree, at least Kerry has the smarts and is hopefully looking more towards the future to resolve some of these problems. ANYONE BUT BUSH!