Posted on 07/08/2005 6:08:47 PM PDT by TotalSilence
I'm going to be very frank and forward: I am a liberal Democrat who posts on DU. I hope that that fact does not automatically get this topic deleted because I feel in my heart that what I have to say is important. Barring some minor adjustments, I'm posting this exact same message on DU ... if either site feels the need to ban me or delete this post ... then I will let this be my final statement in both houses, and I will take to the streets to begin this discussion instead..
A man is dead. Dead from a disease that in 2005 no one within shouting distance of a quality hospital should have to succumb to … 563,700 people died from cancer in the U.S. last year. Whatever your politics, no matter if you’re right, left, Bush, Kerry, Nader didn’t vote, pro, anti, WHATEVER, you MUST to admit—our healthcare system in the U.S. is broken. Is a nationalized healthcare system part of the solution? I personally believe so; you can disagree with me. I’m okay with that. In fact, that’s one of the many reasons I love America—you and I can disagree, but let’s discuss it and talk about it and FIX it. I don’t have all the answers; there is no perfect solution for any problem, everyone will die of something someday, but by God, let’s TRY. I mourn the death of a man, Andy Stephenson, a man I never met in person, because he didn’t have to die! Not now, not so young with so much life and work ahead of him.
The people who doubted him, questioned rightly or wrongly whether his condition was legitimate are IRRELEVANT. Yes, you read that correctly. I didn’t know Andy personally, but while undoubtedly he thought about those questioned him, they were not on his mind in his final moments. According to a friend of his, who was there with him on his final day on this plane, he said, “I WANT TO LIVE.” He was thinking of his family and partner and loved ones and thinking, “WHY?”
Don’t quote me the numbers and statistics on pancreatic cancer ... how fast it moves, how aggressive it is ... my grandfather died before I was born because of this disease and little progress has been made since he passed 21 years ago this month. There are two giant problems our country must solve: the cost of medical help and the quality of it.
I’m 20 years old and heartsick that this country continues to leave behind those who cannot afford quality healthcare. Democrats do it. Republicans do it. The first thought too many people have to deal with when diagnosed with terminal or debilitating illnesses is not, “What am I going to tell my family?” etc … It’s, “HOW AM I GOING TO PAY TO GET WELL (OR BE COMFORTABLE UNTIL I PASS)?” We are the richest country in the world. Made up of some of the most intelligent people on Earth. I don’t care if you believe everyone should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” and “not rely on the government.” That’s fine if you believe that. Yes, a liberal Democrat just told you she was fine if you believed that. Why? Because this goes beyond our individual political and/or personal philosophies. This goes beyond you and me as singular entities. This goes to the heart of who we are as human beings. Let’s fix our healthcare system! There shouldn’t be any disagreement between the left and the right about the fact that we have to get on our hands and knees in the dirt and FIX IT. The BS that keeps any real progress being made in regards to national health care is affecting every single person in this country. Sickness knows no political party… If our elected officials can’t get beyond political differences, let us, the people on the ground, their constituents, unite, on this issue. We can fight about whatever else you want to BUT--
The bottom line is: if we lived in a country with a halfway decent healthcare system, whether anyone believed Andy wouldn’t matter. Those who knew him could have gathered around him and nursed him and wished him well. Andy wouldn’t have had to come back from the doctor’s and immediately say, “HOW?”
Because if America fixes, or at least gets SOMEWHERE with its health care system, then the possibilities for the treatments and cures of diseases EVERYWHERE is endless. But this is something we have to do as one.
I honestly can’t tell you where we should go from here, but let’s START. Let’s TRY. I’m TIRED. And I mourn.
In before ZOT!
I'm sorry for your loss. We do, however, have the best healthcare system in the world.
Hmm, maybe you didn't notice. We have the best in the world.
Here we go. Politicize my plight!
Ugh...that was a bit harsh, doncha think?
I am sorry for your loss.
I'm grateful that you saw fit to post your message in "hostile territory".
But other countries have national health care systems and they haven't found a cure for pancreatic cancer either. What makes you think the government picking up the tab is going to result in a cure here?
Excuse me, but that was rude and uncalled for. It's one thing to disagree, but you and I hope other Freepers won't sink to cruel, ill mannered nastiness.
I just had a friend die from cancer way before her time. It was nasty when people made fun of Reagan when he had Alzheimer's disease.
Try and show a little class.
Like so many liberals TS, you establish a false premise and then proceed to a false conclusion.
If Andy Stephenson did have pancreatic cancer, then it was his misfortune to come down with a disease that has an extremely high mortality rate - I think it's around 90 percent, and actually quite a lot a progress has been made in getting to that number. Not too many years ago, if you had that particular kind of cancer, about all you could do is make sure your will was up to date.
That's the facts. It doesn't matter if Andy got his treatment here in the US, or in Britain, Canada or even Cuba, places where you leftists crow about how wonderful the health care is because it's "free." He'd be just as dead.
I'm sorry for your loss.
You can say that again -- broom is definitely needed around here!
I do not care about the particulars, which you neglect to describe, about the death of one man. One example proves nothing in general. You are a fool. Perhaps DU will accept you, because they have a great use for fools.
Congressman Billybob
"...Hell..."
You may be going there sooner than you think.
Bingo...
Did Andy Stephenson die?
I hadn't heard that.
I was very polite in my post--I don't call anyone names, I don't say anyone's wrong or right for what they believe. I'm not a troll, I want to talk about how we can make America an even better place to live.
I realize people come from Canada and Mexico and elsewhere to receive medical care here. Technically it might be the best but only for those who can afford it. I'm not saying a national healthcare system is the absolute solution but if we all get together and talk about this, maybe "90% mortality rate" can be improved ... I guess it was too much to think the right and the left could TALK about this ...
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