Photography with the Left Eye

Dealing with a loved one who has end stage terminal disease is wrenching. The people (usually close relatives) who have to carry out that person’s wishes (assuming they were expressed ahead of time) has to do so with compassion and wisdom, all the while watching a person who was once vital deteriorate and suffer. Often these people become someone else…whether due to the disease or the drugs used in treatment.

I was in that situation not long ago, and I was lucky that my siblings and I together worked through it, and that my parents didn’t suffer too much, it was something I would wish on nobody–but something most of us will face.

That is why it is stunning for the Republicans, and a certain failed vice presidential candidate, have created a vast lie ("death panels") from a provision in the health bill that allows for end of life counseling. It is certainly why we haven’t heard the word “compassionate” anywhere near the term “conservative” for a good long while.

These people will simply stoop to the most blatant of lies to prevent any kind of health insurance reform. It’s a bit trite, but it seems more and more true that the members of Congress who are opposing the bill are doing so…because they have health insurance. And that’s all that counts.

(Anon.)