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I think President Obama is doing a fine job, especially considering the mess he inherited.  His plans for health care reform is long past due.  I currently have health insurance, but see health care as an important national issue.  It is shameful that a country as wealthy as ours offers no health care for its citizens.

I believe the public option is especially important, since that is key to bring some competition to the health insurance industry.  As it stands now the insurance companies have an enormous amount of control over everything, from prices to what is covered.  Having a public option would reign the industry in.  They may be the only industry with record profits in this workd-wide economic downturn.  

Opponents claim it will limit choices, but my full-coverage insurance also limits choices, as do all plans.  Also that they don't want to pay for other people's health care, but we are already doing that through higher health care and insurance costs.  This reform will prevent more people from losing their homes due to health care costs, and help the economy recover.

posted 3 years, 11 months ago
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One comment I have heard often in response to suicide is how incredibly selfish it is. As someone who has suffered from depression, I want to explain some of the feelings I had when contemplating suicide to those who see it as selfish. My thoughts at that time were that I was generally useless, with no future to look forward to, a terrible parent who would end up ruining my child's life if allowed to continue parenting, and generally a burden to everyone. I saw it as the best way to end everyone's suffering, not just my own.

To put these thoughts in perspective, during this period I was gainfully employed, an attentive parent, have never had substance abuse problems, was experiencing no major problems, and had many good friends. Nobody ever guessed how depressed I was. That is what depression can do to a person's perspective. When I called my mother to inform her of my plans, to say goodbye and ask her to make sure my daughter knew how much I loved her, I realized from her response that what I needed was medical attention, not a suicide plan. I hope this can help people understand what may have been happening in a suicide victim's life, and allow them to forgive the victim and themselves.

posted 4 years, 6 months ago
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