No offense intended.

I don't mean to offend anyone, but please allow me to share something personal with you.

But first - I'm doing really well, life is still good, we're taking each day one at a time, with an understanding that each day is a small slice of eternity.  We are learning and benefiting from our experiences.  AND, as of this moment we have 78 days until we head to Maui.  It is what it is, and it's all good.  Now . . . . down to business.

This ALS is a terminal illness - no cure.  The most likely prognosis is that it will kill me sometime in the next 2 to 5 years. There is one medication that my doctor has prescribed that has a very modest potential to extend my life 3-6 months. (I know - big WOW, huh?)  Fortunately, I still work at the University of Utah where I have really good health insurance.  Even with my great insurance, the medicine costs $1600 per month.  I'm really lucky that there is only one medicine for ALS because this is a drop in the bucket compared to what a lot of people are paying for meds. I don't know when my last day at work will be, but at some point, I will be paying COBRA premiums for my insurance to keep the cost of this medication down and to cover the other medical costs associated with this disease.  I will be eligible for Medicare in 3 years.  The social security administration could give me disability, in which case medicare would kick in in 2 years instead of 3.  Either way, I probably won't get all my FICA payments back - and this is not a complaint about taxes.

I have a daughter who, after she became a single mom, did not have health insurance. She had to put off dentist and doctor visits until she found a job at a company that provided access to health insurance. Her son was covered through his dad's insurance, so my daugher would take her son to the doctor, but she felt that she couldn't afford to go.  We are the only modern, western industrialized nation where people have to make choices like this.

I have always been very healthy.  Except for ALS, my health is still better than an average person my age.  In one day, my wife's and kid's lives, and my life changed course in a way that we never imagined. This could happen to any of you and probably will.  Anyone in your family could get so sick that dealing with the illness could take your entire life savings, and more, including life itself.  You could get cancer, heart disease, a stroke, have a serious accidental injury, or any one of a number of afflictions that could change your life forever.  Something will take you out, sooner or later.

I admit that I was supportive of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) even before I got sick - in fact, I thought it didn't go far enough.  Some people would label me a "socialist" for feeling that way.  I hate labels, don't you?  Maybe you have good insurance, good health, and love your doctor, so you are thinking that your situation is secure and that this is someone else's problem.  I encourage you to think again and be open to the possiblity that next week, you or a loved one could be permanently disabled, or diagnosed with a life threatening or terminal illness.  If you lose your job, and are taking something as common as blood pressure medication, you could find that you are uninsurable. 

I don't pretend to know what the right solution is, but I'm sure that good people working cooperatively can find a good solution if they only will.  I do know that I am extremely glad the election is over on Tuesday.  Whoever you are voting for, please think about this and let your elected leaders know that they must stop playing politics with this, whatever party they belong to.  Being against something, just because the other guy is for it, is the worst possible excuse for not getting this and other problems solved.

After Tuesday, some people will likely be more pleased than others, but one thing is certain - the sun will rise on Wednesday morning and life will go on.  But, aren't you sick of all this silly political bickering and demonizing?  Why don't we stop putting up with it and let our leaders know that it is unacceptable!

By the way, for those of you out there who are very lonely, here is a recommendation.  Next election, donate some money to a presidential candidate and you will have more new friends than you ever wanted.  You will need a bigger email inbox and you might need better medical insurance to cover the broken finger you are going to get punching the delete key on your computer.  And . . . the party invitations you will get . . . . I'm just saying.