As I said, this man I was listening to is a good man. He makes a lot of money, by my standards and those of most of the people I know. He's very big on personal responsibility. He has the attitude that if you do things right, you'll have all the bases covered.

Well, I'm big on personal responsibility, too. I do my work to the best of my ability - in all of my jobs. I do what I need to do to take care of my health and my son's and not be a burden on society. I happen to have inherited a predisposition toward several types of arthritis. I happened to have passed this on to my son. Are we to blame when we need medication to remain functioning members of society? Tax paying members of society?

As much as I admire many things about this man, I can't agree with his views on health care. I pray every day - not just for my own situation, but for so many people who are uninsurable because of pre-existing health problems, and people who lose their health care because of lost jobs, and elders who lose a lifetime of savings because their health puts a spouse in a nursing home - I pray we will elect leaders who "get it;" leaders who have the compassion and vision to find a way out of this health care nightmare, so everyone can have the care they need.

Some states are trying out some brave new options. Let's look seriously at these and other options. Let's listen to each candidate, regardless of party, and let's really hear them. It will take bi-partisan support, so let's elect leaders who are willing to work with "both sides of the aisle."

Let's press them all for a solution, so that people with health issues can live with dignity and hope. Let's make this nation accountable for taking care of its own.

For more information about Carol go to www.mindingourelders.com or www.mindingoureldersblogs.com.