NAMI (National Alliance On Mental Illness) recently sent out questionnaires to the US Presidential candidates on mental health related issues. They just published those responses, they can be seen here.
That's right, this is a US political post. I can hear the groans from my friends as far away as Australia. I promise not to write too much about US politics, but the issues go to my core.
Let me pause right here and talk about my personal politics. I was a far-right republican for many years. Hard-line on social issues, fiscal responsibility, foreign relations, and so forth. I know, in this community that’s enough to be shunned for life. But this was prior to life handing me several eye-openers. These events were:
I was thrilled to see that NAMI had put together a questionnaire to help us decide who was the best candidate on mental health issues. The first thing I did was look at the list of candidates. Hillary Clinton had a long response, Barack Obama had a concise expression of his views. John Edwards responded, however not in the questionnaire format. I looked down the Republican list: Giuliani, Huckabee, Romney – none returned their responses. McCain refused to return the questionnaire but instead sent a short canned response on his mental health platform (note short).
I clucked and shook my head looking at the empty Republican list. So I opened up Obama’s and Clinton’s responses side by side and sat down to compare. Both looked good, Clinton more verbose and grandiose, but Obama pleasantly concise. I skimmed ahead looking at the actual question responses: Strongly Support, Strongly Support, Strongly Support… Something didn’t look right. I looked at the questions:
1. Support mental health and substance abuse coverage in all plans to provide affordable health care?
Good questions, we need mental health and substance abuse coverage.
2. Support federal parity legislation to provide equivalent coverage of mental health and substance abuse conditions?
Another good question.
3. Ensure that active duty military, veterans and reservists receive the mental health care and disability payments they need to live successfully with mental illness?
That's right, this is a US political post. I can hear the groans from my friends as far away as Australia. I promise not to write too much about US politics, but the issues go to my core.
Let me pause right here and talk about my personal politics. I was a far-right republican for many years. Hard-line on social issues, fiscal responsibility, foreign relations, and so forth. I know, in this community that’s enough to be shunned for life. But this was prior to life handing me several eye-openers. These events were:
- Completely unaffordable health insurance when I was self-employed that led to thousands of dollars of medical debt and personal financial difficulties that persist a decade later.
- The necessity of using WIC, free lunch, and other social programs around the time we were having financial issues related to a business failure.
- My brother came out of the closet.
- My son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
- I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
I was thrilled to see that NAMI had put together a questionnaire to help us decide who was the best candidate on mental health issues. The first thing I did was look at the list of candidates. Hillary Clinton had a long response, Barack Obama had a concise expression of his views. John Edwards responded, however not in the questionnaire format. I looked down the Republican list: Giuliani, Huckabee, Romney – none returned their responses. McCain refused to return the questionnaire but instead sent a short canned response on his mental health platform (note short).
I clucked and shook my head looking at the empty Republican list. So I opened up Obama’s and Clinton’s responses side by side and sat down to compare. Both looked good, Clinton more verbose and grandiose, but Obama pleasantly concise. I skimmed ahead looking at the actual question responses: Strongly Support, Strongly Support, Strongly Support… Something didn’t look right. I looked at the questions:
1. Support mental health and substance abuse coverage in all plans to provide affordable health care?
Good questions, we need mental health and substance abuse coverage.
2. Support federal parity legislation to provide equivalent coverage of mental health and substance abuse conditions?
Another good question.
3. Ensure that active duty military, veterans and reservists receive the mental health care and disability payments they need to live successfully with mental illness?
bring this up. I completely and fully believe this is the most important election of my lifetime. Of course there have been other very very important elections, but in my lifetime this is IT i do believe....the most important decision we will all make come November....and I so hope that so many are reading your information and are putting their hearts and souls into deciding who will run this country for the next 4 years.
I do have to admit I am, and still am, a conservative....very much so....and well, I do believe exactly what you said, NO ONE is going to answer the questions with full and complete disclosure at this time for they are all playing both sides in order to win votes, at this point i do believe most (not ALL) but most would say just about anything OR avoid saying too much in order to not ostericize themselves from ANY voters.
I realize the DIRE need for health insurance reform, and the DIRE need for mental health awareness too.....so much so it literally haunts my dreams...for as you know i'd love to be an advocate for the mental health society and reach out and EDUCATE so many....however...
GJ I DOOOOOOO believe that foreign policy and the way things will be handled over in the Mid East is a PRIORITY....I am perhaps a little odd by putting the safety and protection of Israel very very high up on my list and I have to vote with my gut on the person that I believe will stand by God's chosen people and protect them from those that want to "blow them off the face of the earth" ....oh my.....just breaks my heart for no matter what all we have been through here in America, the Jews have gone through so much and are still fighting constantly to just be left alone...and well, i feel i will base most of my weight on the one i believe will protect the homeland and protect Israel's right to be...
Now, as for health care, well, that makes you wonder who the heck even KNOWS anything about what those of us are going through, or worse do any of them CARE....truly.....I applaud the NAMI for trying to get answers but we all know that NOW is not the time to lay creedance to what the politicians say when interviewed or when sent questionares...my question is did Hillary even fill it out herself???hmmm (look at the history of this one she has been known to let her understudies handle a lot of things like that) and well Obama, I like him A LOT but don't feel he has the experience needed to run this country in the situation it has found itself......So it is like what lesser of evils does one chooose.......
Well, to be honest I am kinda leaning toward the one who is willing to cross party lines and go with his conscience and do what he thinks is the best for the nation, not what is best for conservatives OR liberals ....and to me that one seems to be McCain....the conservs are upset for he is being compliant with some of the liberals, and the liberals aren't thrilled with him either but appreciate his crossing the party line to vote on what he thinks is right regardless......soooo i feel we need someone who will work WITH others, work WITH americans, and will definetly stand his ground in the protection of Israel against the axis' of evil...and yes, i do believe they ARE the axis' of evil.....so much hate.....
but i digress......thank you for your post...we ALL ALLL ALLLLLLLLLLL need to be looking in the direction you are and checking out the voting status of each politician, looking at what they have done or are on RECORD of doing (not just what they SAY), and decide on our own what canidate that covers most of what we want for i hate to admit this but i don't think it can be found in just ONE of the canidates.....feel a conglomerate would be nice, but uhm doubt i'm getting that!! tehee..
thanks again for engaging our minds in being PRO ACTIVE in our choices, so important as is education of what exactly (not what the media or the politicians say, heck as bp's if we've not learned to doubt the media we never will......) but what they have SHOWN us, for to me actions speak MUCH loouder than words.....but that is MY opinion....hope didn't offend anyone, for we all agree to disagree and that is what makes America great.....we CAN!!!
Thanks again,
love your posts always!
ctrygirl