I'll start this off by saying that I am going to change the name of this blog to The Ambitious Writer and Mommy-to-Be because that is what I am. And it is my excuse for not posting anything for so long! I'm thrilled to be expecting, a girl I might add, but pregnancy is my excuse for not being as diligent with my writing (or anything for that matter). There are probably other factors-- in fact I know there are other factors-- but let's just leave it at that.
But on to the real reason I'm writing this today. I was just thinking about politics-- politics! Never before have I been so entrenched in the goings-on of a political campaign.
Maybe I should start at the beginning. We didn't talk politics in my house growing up. I grew up upper-middle class, very comfortable, wanting for nothing, and overall politics didn't seem to play a role in our house. The first time I voted for president was, sadly, in 2000 when George W. Bush and Al Gore ran against one another. I voted not because I really cared, but because it just seemed like something I should do. I had no real idea what the issues were or who would better suit the job. It was before 9-11, times were good. Did it really matter?
I was a slacker in 2004. Even though times were different, I still didn't feel like it mattered too much who was president. Besides, John Kerry was running against Bush and everyone knew there was no way Kerry would win. And I still had no reason to be interested in or even aware of politics.
So why now? What, all these years later, makes a difference to me? A couple of factors: one, in 2008 I voted for Obama. I liked McCain. I still wasn't particularly affected by politics back then, but with a British husband who takes an interest in all world events, I had followed the campaign more closely. I thought McCain seemed like a good guy. But frankly, he was too old. (Not to mention I was darn scared that Sarah Palin could be president if he dropped dead.) He wasn't MY contemporary. Obama was (is) young and progressive. And I think he's done a good job despite fighting a Republican House every step of the way.
And the other factor, that in this last four years has become a real hot topic: medical care. In 2008 when I voted for Obama, I didn't think much about health care even though we had our own business and the cost was ridiculous. (Why do you have to pay $800 per month per employee for coverage because you only have a few employees? It makes no sense. Anyone who has owned a small business knows it's hard enough to pay the bills as it is.) But times were still pretty good and just as when I was in my 20s and was covered for health insurance thanks to my employers, I was never sick.
But then I was. And had to have a major operation. And times were tougher. And business wasn't great anymore. And the medical bills piled up. And I couldn't believe that after all those years of working hard and paying taxes and supporting my country, I was stuck with these bills because of something I couldn't control. I hadn't broken the law, I hadn't done anything wrong. It just happened. And I was left getting phone calls and letters. Where is my money? Not exactly the situation you want to be in when you should be recovering in a stress-free environment.
So that brings me to today. Hubbie and I moved up to Alaska to start fresh after times got too tough to keep the business running. We had such high hopes. His employer pays for health insurance! We got pregnant! Life is good!
Not so much. Despite having health insurance, we're still going to be stuck with medical bills. And it's expensive up here. And the coverage we have isn't that great. Health insurance only ensures you won't have to pay all the medical bills. But having to pay a percentage is still staggering.
So how does that play into my newly found interest in politics? I still like Obama. I will vote for him again. I'm embarrassed by Romney and Santorum, the two frontrunners of the Republican campaign. I wouldn't want to meet either of them on the street much less see either of them voted in as the president of my country. They don't seem to care about the people of the country they want to run! They're good ol' boys. They're all part of a club I will never be a part of. But even if Obama makes it to a second term, I cannot believe that the health insurance situation in this country will ever change. It's too far gone. So many people without coverage or adequate coverage. And no one seems to care. Too many Romneys and Santorums will make sure that their cushy lives are not going to change here in America. And I guess for that to happen other people have to suffer. Like me. And I'm not asking for charity and I don't take advantage of the system. But if I feel like something is wrong, especially now, I want to be able to call my doctor right away and be assessed, or at least reassured, not be told I have to go to the emergency room because it's after hours and then face a $2,000 bill.
I mentioned Hubbie is British. If you've ever heard of the NHS you'll understand why he's pretty mad about all these bills he has to come up with the money for in these tough times. He wants me to have this baby in England where it would be FREE. Yes, free. No, England is not a socialist society. No, people do not go on waiting lists for months for life-saving surgery. No, the doctors are not subpar. It's just a different society where people are given health care as a right, not a privilege.
Maybe if I was a millionaire, I wouldn't care. But I'm not. And I never will be. And now I'm going to be raising a child and I want to be able to take her to the doctor if she needs it, or if I just think she does, without thinking twice about how much I'm going to have to pay for it later.
They say the grass is greener on the other side. And that may be true. I have had my fears about the NHS. But I've done the research. And I have the opportunity to find out for myself. And I think I may just do that.
