So this is from the local political realm but I think it is indicative of our current state on a national level.  I’m gonna insult you, tell you I’m open-minded, and then insult you again because your different political views offend me or simply make me angry.  This dude wants to shout people down with a megaphone in the interest of civil discourse. This is the distraction that those in power encourage.  This isn’t violent but it is disgusting and it only pulls our attention from the issues and having those “problem solving” discussions.

I know we have more important things going on in the world of US Government (political theater) but a question popped into my brain when thinking about the upcoming election…

If someone brings a relative to the voting booth who has Alzheimer’s and tells that person who they were going to vote for, is it voter fraud if they tell them the incorrect person?

I ask because I spoke with someone who did just that during the last election and I was genuinely appalled.  What are your thoughts?  Voter fraud or just a shitty thing to do?

“…unless you have a job.  Healthcare is not a right, it is a privilege!”  No, I don’t believe this quote, but this is what I heard at work yesterday.  This person genuinely believed that working (ironically, being able to work) is what should allow you access to a doctor.  Now maybe it’s just me and my sensibilities, but getting people healthy should be a priority whether they are working or not. I just don’t get the logic; you need to get yourself healthy enough to go to work THEN you can have access to a doctor.  During the discussion yesterday, they then said that these people will go to the hospital and get treated anyway and “we” will have to pay for it.  Well, true, but what if this person who has metastatic melanoma could have been treated months or years ago if they could have gone to a dermatologist?  Which one do “we” want to pay for?  Aside from the cost, let’s get real, though; we live in the wealthiest country in the world and can waste millions of dollars on such things as a political campaign but we don’t want to keep our fellow citizens healthy because they can’t or won’t work?  Yes, I said “won’t” because of all the things we shouldn’t allow for those who choose not to work and want to live off the State, withholding healthcare shouldn’t be one of them.  We have the ability to take care of each other.