I’ve been avoiding writing anything political on my page and blog since the beginning. I know politics can be polarizing and I want all people to feel welcome here.
But I’ve been thinking about writing a post about my presidential choice for a long time now and today’s the day.
Here goes.
As you may know, we are a middle class family who live in the suburbs outside of NYC. A family of three. Me, my wife, a stay at home mom, and my severely autistic, non-verbal 9 year old son.
And with all the stuff going on in the world, war, the deficit, abortion, foreign policy, gay marriage, I care about only one thing: me and my family. I am completely selfish. I’m looking for the candidate that’s going to help me and my situation the most. The rest of you can worry about yourselves, but I’m looking out for número uno, me.
And the candidate that I feel is going to best help me and my situation and my autistic son is President Barack Obama.
Reagan ran on the idea “are you better off than you were 4 years ago?” And while many people may answer that question no, I can answer that question, a resounding YES.
My salary has stayed the same, my income taxes went down a little, my real estate taxes went up, but during this stretch my autistic son qualified for Medicaid supplemental insurance which has significantly lowered my out of pocket medical costs. Should Obama get the credit for this? Maybe not, but the funds seemed to open up while he was in office. And I fear that this will get cut drastically under a Romney administration.
We qualified for some respite services during these past 4 years and currently get 6 hours a week. Should Obama get the credit? Maybe not, but I fear that this may (will) be cut drastically under a Romney administration.
Now some might say why should you even qualify for these services? You’re middle class! That’s the kind of waste that Romey is trying to cut! To you I say “worry about yourself.” but I also say, hey I live outside of NYC and I pay some of the highest taxes in the nation and I got no problems with that, but I’m going to take advantage of all the programs that are open and available to me. I’ll take higher taxes and more programs over tax cuts and fending for oneself. I guess that’s kinda socialist, huh? I guess so…
My son goes to several after school/ weekend special needs programs that are partially supplemented by grants from the government. This doesn’t make the programs free for the parents, but it definitely makes them a lot more affordable. My tax dollars at work.
And let’s get into Obamacare, which is really called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. How will that help me? How will it help kids with autism? And I also hear what has Obama done for autism? Well dive into Obamacare!
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The below is taken from the US Health & Human Services website at http://www.hhs.gov/autism/factsheet_autism_support.html
–Job-based and new individual health insurance plans are no longer allowed to deny, limit, or exclude coverage to any child under age 19 based on a pre-existing condition, including children on the autism spectrum. Starting in 2014, these protections will be extended to Americans of all ages.
–New health insurance plans or insurance policies must cover preventive services without cost-sharing, including autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months.
Insurance companies will no longer be able to impose lifetime dollar limits on coverage. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, many plans set a dollar limit on what they would spend for covered benefits during the time individuals were enrolled in the plan, leaving individuals on the autism spectrum and their families to pay the cost of all care exceeding that limit. The law also restricts annual dollar limits and will prohibit them for new plans altogether starting in 2014.
–Young adults can remain covered under their parents’ insurance up to the age of 26. Already, 2.5 million more young people have been insured through this provision of the new law. For a young adult with autism or related conditions and their family, that means more flexibility, more options and greater piece of mind.
–Starting in 2014, individuals on the autism spectrum and families of children on the autism spectrum will have expanded access to affordable insurance options through new Affordable Insurance Exchanges and improvements in Medicaid.
–Also starting in 2014, new health plans sold in the individual and small group markets, including Exchanges, will cover “essential health benefits” to help make sure that health insurance is comprehensive. Health insurers will also have annual out-of-pocket limits to protect families’ incomes against the high cost of health care services.
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All these things sound vitally important to me and my little autism family.
How will Obamacare affect the deficit? Will it increase insurance rates for healthy people? Is Obamacare constitutional? Is it Socialist?
My answer to all of these questions is I DON’T CARE! I don’t care if it makes us have a bigger deficit and owe China more money. I don’t care if it raises others insurance rates. I don’t care if it’s unconstitutional or socialist. As long as it helps my son, I don’t care how it affects the rest of y’all.
Yes I’m that selfish.
Now Romney hasn’t mentioned much about autism, at least not that I could easily find. But he has talked about tax cuts, repealing Obamacare, rejiggering the Medicaid program, and cutting unnecessary programs and grants. All those sound scary to me and my selfish agenda. Are some of my sons after school special needs programs unnecessary? Should the government be cutting the grants to his sports & swim programs? Is that unnecessary? Depends who you talk to. But in my world they are vitally important and I would be more affected by them being cut than I would with military spending being cut.
And I know you’re thinking that a small city program has nothing to do with who the president is. But in my humble opinion… If things get cut drastically on the federal level, and there’s less $$ passed down to the states for programs then it will slowly trickle down and affect my life and my son’s life.
Now I come from a long line of conservatism. I grew up in a Republican household. All my extended family were Republican. And I was quite conservative straight through til I graduated college. I slowly became more liberal throughout my 20s and them when my son was born in 2002 and when he was diagnosed with autism in 2004 I started my own party. The Me Party. I look out for any candidate that’s going to help me.
I come from an Italian background and I come from a long line of Republicans. Some of my relatives probably wouldn’t accept public assistance (like unemployment or food stamps) if they qualified for it. They wouldn’t accept it out of pride and/or a sense of “I don’t need anyone’s help. I can get out of this down period on my own”
I am the complete opposite of that. I will take any and all assistance that’s offered to me. Not only will I take it I will go out of my way to seek it out. Sometimes there are programs out there that have money or services to offer but you need to do your homework to find them. Go find them before they get cut!
So I will be voting on November 6th to re-elect President Obama. He has done right by me.
And I expect to get a ton of comments explaining about why I am wrong about this or that. And there will be lots of facts and figures and links as to why Romney would be a better choice.
But I will readily admit that I am not educated on all the issues or the candidates stance on all the issues. I have no time and no interest in getting more educated. I really don’t care that much. I don’t have the time and I really don’t like politics that much. Again I’m voting for my own selfish reasons and I encourage you all to do the same.
And I’m not naive. I know politics are evil and I know our government is broken and needs to be totally rebuilt from the ground up.
And I have friends that were huge supporters of Ron Paul and now the libertarian 3rd party Gary Johnson. These candidates want to radically change the way our government works. And I can totally see the appeal in that because I can see how our government is corrupt and evil. And I have some libertarian friends who say there’s really not that much difference between Romney & Obama. And if you look closely I can see their point. And I can see the appeal of tearing the system down and starting from scratch.
But it’s not realistic in 2012. And I feel that I can’t afford to throw away my vote right now.
So to my libertariam friends, while there might not be huge differences between Romney & Obama I feel Obama has more to offer me and my wife and my autistic son in 2012. And that’s how I’m voting.
I’m voting to reelect Barack Obama. 4 more years…
(wow I had so much more I wanted to say about this and I forgot a ton. I may revise this over the next few weeks leading up to Election Day so look for a revision or two)
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You wrote out perfectly how my husband and I feel, for the same reasons , help for our son
All he wrote is a lie ,paid by BO reelection office.
How pathetic of you
Eliana, if you disagree just say so, Just Disagree - but, you are out of line in calling what he wrote a "lie" - and Especially out of line saying he was paid. That's the sort of thing trolls write on Facebook - not such a blog as this.
Nancy...to me the fact that I need ssi, I'm asking for food stamps and booing to the food bank struggling each.month to pay hospital bills etc is all the reason I ned to want obama OUT of office
I love the Me Party. Right now I am a conservative who donates both time and money to a number of social causes, because I am lucky enough to have income, health, a home, a family, and no need of social services. But you have opened my eyes. None of those programs help ME so now I am going to vote for whoever helps ME the most by cutting the most social support possible. What a refreshing viewpoint!
thats a good idea anonymous. i love it can i join your me party?
apparently aquawoelfly didn't read everything that Autism Daddy wrote. Because Autism Daddy said the "me" party thing first. and now ur agreeing with it.
More potatoes apparently you didn't read anons post. Her me party was abut CUTTING socialism out of the nations budget.
I don't understand how any parent of a special needs child votes Republican. It's like shooting yourself (or your child, in this case) "in the foot." I feel exactly the same way you do and I love your term, "The Me Party." I've never comment on your blog before but I felt like I had to add my support since you're probably going to get thrown a lot of dirt. All the best to you.
I don't see how a parent can vote democrat. After all, if they had their way, you wouldn't be a parent. You would have had an abortion.
Anonymous--you had to stay Anonymous because you know what a STUPID, INSULTING comment that was!
And there you have a true Republican. Just because a Democrat believes in a woman's right to choose in NO WAY means we think everyone everywhere should ALWAYS have abortions. That is true ignorance and short-sightedness speaking. Wake up! I'm not FOR abortions. I HATE abortions! But I don't think that it is in ANY WAY right for me or anyone else to tell someone else that they absolutely cannot have an abortion.
Some republicans are so STUPID it is unbelievable !!
And if we were republican us as women wouldn't leave the kitchen? we are sluts because we choose birth control or accidently get pregnant? Republicans like you are idiots!
BTW this is for the anonymous dumbass who obviously doesn't believe in womens rights!!!
Actually Anonymous, my doctor DID tell me to have an abortion. I was pregnant with triplets and it was suggested I have a "reduction" to reduce to pregnancy to twins for mine and the babies safety. Although politically pro-choice I am personally anti-abortion and my husband and I refused. The fetus they would have "taken" would have been the baby closest to my cervix, my daughter, K. She would have been the one I lost. As it turns out, K has autism. I can't imagine my life without her, she is my BEST FRIEND. So, asshole....guess what? You're an asshole.
I don't understand how anyone with a brain can vote obama. he spent 2y of his presidency pasting a law that basically says TO BE DETERMINED, and has brought us deeper into debt 5trillion in 4y this coming from the same guy who said 4 trillion was unpatriotic. Obama said some wise things about bush but has gone and made those same demeaning statements apply to him. Obama says one thing and does the.opposite.
If you like socialized medicine and being lied to I suggest you move to russia....... Oh wait I forgot thru tell the truth that msnbc won't report
Thank you. It's hard to tell people my side because well everyone has their own "My" side story about what they are voting for. I voted early 2 weeks ago but I voted like you. For what is best for my little girl.
While I strongly disagree, I respect ur right to vote for whom u wish. We both live in blue states so the candidates could care less about us. They only come to Ca and Ny for the almighty dollar. I value different points of view and I can relate to ur experience as a dad of an autistic son.
I so agree with you !!! my life is just as good today if not better, I tell people if your life was so great before 01/20/09 and you allow one man to ruin it in just 4yrs I'm thinking it was already f-up. Because I for sure didn't sit back and allow the Bush & the Dick to screw up our life in their 8yrs.There is no way in hell I'm voting for R & R I also like having total control of my body !!!
Tell that to the 23,000,000 unemployed and/or underemployed, of which I am 1. And yes, he has by far made things worse, intentionally. He is trying to destroy America to put us on a level playing field with the rest of the world (make us a 3rd world country). Don't believe me, watch "2016: Obama's America" That'll wake ya up!! It's available now on dvd.
I'm working hard trying to help save our country-from this muslim communist-for my children to enjoy the same freedoms we enjoyed all of our lives.
This is the one election which WILL determine your children's fate. Vote wisely.
What!!! Another Troll??? "muslim communist"??? Keep it to the R/R facebook pages.
- Robert -
Dear Anonymous, Is this why you have chosen "Anonymous" as your identity? Barrack Obama is the best leader for our country. I feel that its a real shame that racism and hatred is not a crime in this great country of ours. And if you would take ten minutes to do your research, you will find that all the allegations you have made in your statements are quite untrue. I know its easier to jump on the band wagon with the haters that to form your own opinion with research. Im praying that one day, you will see the true picture of what is in front of you. And if nothing else, We do not care to hear this kind of racist nonsense from you. Didnt your Mother ever tell you "if you have nothing good to say?" I am a grandmother and I love my family and President Obama is our candidate and we will work this election as we did the last to ensure that our country gets the best leader namely Barrack Obama. Thank you for your time.....
Anon ty for your wise opinion
Anon2 this coming from anonymous? At least you not pull an obama and BE that which you claim to despise
debbie... Is toot real name debbie wasserman shultz? Please last off the koolaid
I couldn't agree with you more. The "me" party should be called The "us"party. I think (even if you call yourself selfish) you're thinking of you AND your family's well being. Kudos to you AD.
Julie W.
I agree with you completely! As a single special needs parent, who also happens to be a teacher, I have seen the last 4 years get progressivly better for my own 2 children and for the many children I teach. I'm voting for Obama, the president that supports all Americans, even the Americans under the age of 18!
MWAHHHH!!!! Autism Daddy, thank you for confirming my own thoughts. Not only do I have THREE on spectrum, all needing as much assistance as we can get, I am a primary care physician. I see lots of folks who are way under-insured. The lifetime limit on my lady who wound up life flighted and intubated for 29 days. You think she met it? Yep. The guy who hates Obama and yet has not been able to get insurance due to his diabetes and related illnesses. These folks are both working and SHOULD be covered. I was socialist way before autism, but honey I'm way in the red now.
LMAO!!! Color me red, too!! LOL
Totally agreeeeeee im on the same party!!!!!
Autism Daddy....YOU ROCK!!!!! and anyone who disagrees with you needs to go kick rocks barefooted. I've never commented on your blog before, but I follow you on fb; I wish I had known about you in previous years when I suffered with the blues. Your posts(along with those who follow you) have been good therapy. BTW, my senior citizen mom was listening as I read your blog; she says, "Tell him I said he doesn't have to revise a damn thing....HE'S RIGHT ON!!!" LOL
Leggyladyus I am so glad you mentioned ur senior citizen mom. Both my parents live on fixed incomes (disability/socialsecurity and medicare) Romney/Ryan wants medicare CUT! Tell your mom to keep fighting the good fight :)
Will do, anonymous!!!! :+)
I should have put this is More Potatoes Please, I was just in a hurry and put anonymous! :) Anonymous no more lol
More potatoes your mom does realize that the 700 million medicare ctr approved be obama would be returned once romney repeals ob&ma care right?