I totally wasn't valedictorian because I slacked. Specifically, the boy I had a years-long unrequited crush on was in my fluid power class, but then, woes, not on my team. And my team wouldn't let me bully them into doing everything my way. So I basically spent the whole class trailing along after the other group. And then when the Boy of Dreams checked in with me to see if I needed help on a bit, I failed to pretend I was having trouble and turned him down. So hubris and Cupid conspired to give me my Worst Grade Ever and thus not the valedictorianship. But seeing as how I skipped into the senior class, displacing everyone below me, it was probably best as it was.

Everytime this comes up I think about my cousin Jason. He did what he loved and was passionate about - massage therapist, except he was a contract employer (standard for what he was doing) and didn't get health care through his employer.

He bought land with a small trailer and his dream was to build a house there. He had 10 acres on property he loved.

He tried to get health insurance but he had pre existing conditions. And then, I think, he found some kind of insurance but he couldn't afford it.

So he went without. He only went to the doctor for emergencies and such like. He did know his cholesterol was high, but he couldn't afford the medication so he tried to just handle it with diet and exercise.

He had a heart attack and died at age 34. He had stomach pains for a few weeks (we found this out later talking to some of his friends) and the night he died he was feeling bad. He went to his best friends' (a couple) house feeling really bad and he died. Right there in their bedroom.

He was 34. And all I can think is - if he had insurance would he be alive?

Maybe he wouldn't have gone to the doctor and just blown off the stomach pains.

But I don't know. But he didn't go to the doctor and get tests because he couldn't afford it.

What kind of country is this where 34 year olds die of heart attacks and can't afford health care!!! It amkes me so fucking mad when people start talking about how it's choices and make it sound like it's just people who are lazy who don't get health care.

Or that somehow, it's perfectly acceptable that people suffer and DIE because they can't afford medical treatment.

tommmyrot I'm going to steal that for my facebook page too.

Or that somehow, it's perfectly acceptable that people suffer and DIE because they can't afford medical treatment.

Yes.

I mean, that also makes me crazy, not that it's acceptable!!!

my fluid power class

What is this? I am intrigued and also feel shortchanged by my education.

Unrelatedly, chatty!co-worker just read a headline that 50 Shades of Fanfiction has sold a million copies, and my inner editor was apparently on strike, because I just burst out with, "Are you kidding? That piece of crap?" At which point my boss asked me if I read it.

I said I read the sample on Amazon. Which is true. I did. I just didn't mention the part where I bought and read the whole thing.

Oh, for god's sake people. This is about choice. Are you against choice? Are you against the choice to never get sick? Against the choice to not seek medical treatment for you or your dependents?

YOU CAN'T STOP ME FROM DYING DAMN YOU!

Are you against the choice to never get sick?

My socialist guvmint is forcing me to get sick!

PEEPLE HAV THE RITE TO DIE OF THERE GOD-GIVEN DISEESES

Crap. We are having brownouts here, perhaps because of the 98 degree heat. My UPS saved my work computer the first few times, but not the last.

My socialist guvmint is forcing me to get sick!

And if we're all too sick to come to work, the job creators will suffer! MY GOD IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW.