my LTTE

[radfringe]

To the Editor:

For many years the Republicans have fought against a National Health Care system. They have labeled it “socialized medicine”. Their reasoning asks “Do you want the government making medical decisions for you or your family?”.

Yet, during the weekend of March 19-20 – the Republicans flip-flopped on their own talking points. The Republican administration is now making medical decisions for you.

From their own talking points – do you want this government making medical decisions for you or your family?

In an attempt to “spin” this and use it as a political tool – the Republicans are raising their eyes to the heavens and pointing to the levels of their “family values”. Where were the “family values” last week -- in Texas, a 5 month old boy died. While Governor of Texas, President Bush supported and signed legislation allowing medical support to be removed – even if it is against the wishes of a parent/guardian.

Where are the Republican “family values” for the many families that struggle with just this type of decision every day? Where are the Republican “family values” for our seniors and children who go hungry every day? Where are the Republican “family values” for people who must decide between buying food or buying needed medicines? Where are the Republican “family values” when programs which value families are being cut by President Bush’s budget? Where are the Republican “family values” for families who have no health care? Where are the Republican “family values” for families who incur catastrophic medical bills and are now no longer allowed to file for bankruptcy?

Family values are more than just words plastered on a stage for a photo-op. Family values means valuing ALL families - not exploiting them to craft talking points.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Outstanding!

:thumbsup:

--p!

[Yogi]

2. Well said.

n/t

[HamstersFromHell]

3. Well put!

:thumbsup:

[radfringe]

4. my take on the Shaivo issue

When my grandmother was dying of cancer -- she hit a major depression point -- she repeatedly tried to hit her morphine pump in an attempt to o.d. on it -- but the pump was set to only respond to one "hit" within a given period of time

Shortly before she died, she swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills and went semi-comotose from it.

She had stomach cancer, and had surgry months earlier that left her with a intestinal fashioned pouch for a stomach -- this is what "saved" her from the sleeping pills. They pretty much passed through her system without being absorbed..

My mother and I were at the hospital -- the doctor sort of hovered about looking for a decision from us as to how he should proceed and how far he should go in treating her. We told him to do what he had to do to stay within the law -- but no extrodinary efforts should be made. Two days later my grandmother was awake, three days after that she died in her sleep.

Making a decision to withhold medical treatment is never an easy decision. But it happens to many people every day.

In Terri's case - her parents maintain that Terri is aware of what is going around her, but just can't respond. This is something that has not been adequately discussed. Imagine being aware of your surroundings, but unable to respond -- you are LOCKED away in your own body. To me - living like this is worse than dying.

I may be flamed for this -- but I think Terri's parents are being selfish. I think they have been unable to accept Terri's condition and are unable to let go.

Now I'm reading that Terri has been misdiagnosed.. :eyes: Flashback to my days working at a state mental institution........ As the hospitals were closing they were hard pressed to find suitable programs for the patients.

Many of the patients I worked with had a dual-diagnoses. The PRIMARY diagnoses was Schizophrenia or some other mental condition, and a SECONDARY diagnoses of mental retardation.

To get many of them into residential programs the diagnoses were flip-flopped -- with Mental Retardation being made the PRIMARY and Schizophrenia the SECONDARY. The patients still had both conditions - but it made for easier placement.

Changing Terri's diagnoses doesn't change her condition. Whether or not she is aware of her surroundings -- she is still locked away in her body.

[xchrom]

5. the notion that one could b locked away inside their body

is like being buried alive to me.

and that's pretty much how i see terri s. if, IF, her cerebral cortex is not gone.

but medical experts say that cerebral cortex is gone -- and that being the case -- then terri s. is gone.

either way -- if it were me -- let me go, please.

[ClintonTyree]

6. No flaming here................

I agree with you 100%. It's the parents that have to "let go", they're hooked on the publicity and notoriety. If Terri dies, what happens to their lives? Their celebrity status disappears and their crusade is ended.
Their daughter died 15 years ago. They're the ones that can't let go, that perpetuate this circus just for their own "high". It really is quite sickening to me.

[Cooley Hurd]

7. Excellent, rad!

:thumbsup:

I think the very notion that the fundies-in-power could involve themselves in one's personal family decisions is what killed it in the FL Senate yesterday.

[radfringe]

8. *kick* for the later in the morning crowd

[sendero]

9. Very nice letter...

.... I hope you can get it published!

[radfringe]

10. :::::::::update::::::::

got a call from our newspaper -- Citizen's Voice -- they said they will be printing my letter in tomorrow's paper

check it out tomorrow.. http://www.zwire.com/site/news.asp?brd=2259&pag=460&dept_id=455154

[Ariana Celeste]

11. Hey, right on! n/t

[newyawker99]

12. Good job rad!

:thumbsup: