Are We Better Off

ARE WE REALLY BETTER OFF?

November 2012

For the past several months, Republicans have been asking us, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” and every time I wanted to answer, “Of course I am. Bush was in office four years ago today.”  But I surprisingly restrained myself.  And then I always wanted to ask, “Is it really the role of government to make my life better?  And what does better mean?”

So today I reflected on that question and I can honestly say:  Yes, I am better off than I was four years ago.  I think our country is better and I think the world is just a little safer and better.

It is safer for me to travel the world today than it was when George W. Bush was in office.  I am no longer badgered and ridiculed for the popular choice of Bush.  As one European told me, “the first time you elected him, we said we hate your government, not the people, but the second time you elected him, we hated the people because you chose to elect him again. You sent a Fuck You to the world.  You told us that you only care about your own interest”. 

So, for the last four years, in China, in Greece, in Egypt, in Honduras, in Morocco, in Belize, in Canada, people have recognized me as an American and have given me the “thumbs up”, and cheerfully shouted “OK America, OK Obama.”  I feel safe again.

The second reason I think we are better is because of the controversial Affordable Health Care Act.  I am so grateful for the passage of this act. My Cobra health insurance expired on Feb. 29, 2012.  Initially, I thought this would be no big deal.  But I was wrong.   I thought I understood the health insurance problem. I thought the issues centered around those people who could not afford health care or who chose not to buy quality health care.  I was not one of those people.  While I never liked paying $720/month for my health care, I shut up and paid it.  I want quality health care and I was more than willing to buy the insurance for quality care.

So then, Feb 29, 2012, 18 months into retirement, my COBRA came to an end.  And I didn’t really understand that either. I didn’t understand that it would take an act of congress to extend COBRA for all of our unemployed workers, for early retirees such as myself and anyone else in need of insurance.   So now, I was no longer legally eligible to pay my full share of health insurance as it was provided to me prior to my retirement.   I spent the month of January, researching plans, talking to friends in retirement, calling my retirement coordinator, etc.  Once that was done, I narrowed my choices to five plans.  I started the tedious task of filing out long forms and sending for all of my medical records.   I think I applied to five companies.  Then in February, I went to China to teach for the semester.  It wasn’t until Feb. 25 when I started receiving one rejection letter after another.  All of my requests were rejected because I have pre-existing conditions.  I had a shoulder strain in 2009; I have high cholesterol, acid reflux and a few other minor things.  I never had cancer, lung disease, a stroke, a head injury, diabetes, heart problems, MS, or any of the other disease listed on the fifteen-page document of pre-existing conditions.  And right now, I am in the best health I have ever been.  I had an untreated arthritis problem in my lower back which caused me to be in chronic pain.  It had gotten to the point where I could hardly walk 500 feet without being in lots of pain. The pain got so bad that I contemplated getting a cane. Instead, I decided to get in better shape.  So, I lost 50 pounds and I am pain free and have more agility than I have ever had my entire adult life.  I feel so great that I walked 50 miles of the Camino de Santiago (Spain) two weeks ago. But none of this matters because I have reached the age where I am an insurance risk.

 Now I have the only insurance plan eligible to me, thanks to Obama Care.  The cover is expensive and provides minimal coverage for most medical situations.  It is affordable but it is lousy.  I am hoping to hang on to my good health and good fortune until 2014 when better coverage becomes available.

There are other issues that Obama has initiated which makes me proud: 

I support and embrace Obama’s position against torture.  I support and embrace his position on same sex marriage. I am relieved that he shut down the Abu Ghraib prison. I am happy to get rid of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.  I agree with his position to advance educational options for children of illegal immigrants.  I am thankful that we have withdrawn all of our troops from Iraq and I look forward to the safe return of all of our troops in Afghanistan.

There are other things going on that may or may not be a direct reflection on his administration.  But the economy is beginning to bounce make.  Our gross domestic product is up 30% since he took office.  The stock market is bouncing back.  The jobless rate is declining. Manufacturing continues to be competitive in the global market.  And we are not starting any more wars.

I feel hopeful under Obama’s leadership.  I think he has a healthy understanding of our place in this global world that is trying to catch up with us.  I think he sees that we can all co-exist with other countries and it does not have to be at a cost to us.  I see the world embrace him and trust him. And I think we will only advance in peace, trade, partnerships and innovation.

Yesterday, I worked the polls for ten hours and I loved watching the process of democracy in action.  The polls were packed, and it appeared to me that anyone come in with conviction and a commitment to the importance of voting.  I didn’t see any undecided voters.  I saw people who were determined to have their voices heard.  And maybe all of their vibes were so much more pronounced to me because of the time I recently spent in China.   I enjoyed the day, in spite of the cold and the wind.

But last night, as the early returns came in, I began to panic. I was thinking only of me.  Things weren’t looking good and I saw my health insurance vanishing.  What would I do if Mitt Romney won and kept his promise that he would get rid of Obama care on day one?  Would I lose my insurance?  Or would the price of my insurance go even higher as the private industry of health care raise their profits even higher.  There was a huge sigh of relief when I read the words on the screen: HE WON.  

I took a deep breath and thought to myself: I FEEL BETTER.