Why should I vote Republican?

[Moooooo]

I am 40.  I am married with 3 kids.  I work for 45,0000-50,000 dollars a year (construction foreman).  My wife was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 35.  She is now unable to work.  We live paycheck to paycheck and are unable to afford the Health Insurance my work provides.  The public schools in my area are sufficient.  If my children keep up their grades they will be able to attend a public magnet high school, which happends to be one of the best schools in the state.  My oldest son (me) attends college, but relies on grants, loans, and what little money his grandparents can put up.

(This my father and family by the way.)

In GENERAL, why should we vote Republican?  What do the Republicans have to offer us, for our life?  How will it make our lives easier and better?  How will they improve our community?


Rule 1: Answers may NOT include the word "Democrat" or any reference to other parties.  This isn't about other parties; this is about the Republican party.

Rule 2: Answers may not be in the form of what you are not.  One does not define oneself by saying what you're not; rather, you state what you are.

Rule 3: No bloviating.  Keep it simple.

[Moooooo]

One thing I don't understand is your statement that your dad can't afford the health insurance provided by his work?  Does the company not pay any of the premium?

To be honest Im not sure of the exact circumstance.  My dad switched companies around a year or so ago.  I remember my parents getting into a huge arguement because the health insurance was "too expensive" at the new company.  We now have no health insurance. When I go to the doctors (emergencies only) my grandparents give me the money and I pay cash.

I may be making this out to be worse than what it really is.  But if we didn't have my grandparents... It would be bad.  They do pretty well so they help us out alot.

[Moooooo]

Good question.  I think Republican policies are generally geared to people who have the ability and desire to improve their economic circumstances through their own efforts.

Im don't understand this statement at all.  My dad works 50+ hours a week.  How is that not trying to improve ones economic circumstance through his own efforts?

By the way, we're not on welfare or anything.  My mom doesn't receive SSD.  However, if we didnt have my grandparents we probably would be.

[Moooooo]

I didn't mean to suggest that your dad wasn't trying to improve his circumstances, or do the right thing for his family.  I apologize if that was what I conveyed.

No apology needed.  Your a classy guy and I know you better than that... At least I think I do. 

[Moooooo]

thanks man..and right back at you.

Your story really makes me think about how good health is one of the prerequisites to be able to prosper, and how much of a burden chronic health problems can be.

Did your mom work before she got sick?  If so, she should be able to get some type of disability from the insurance she had at her previous job.

I understand the situation in a way, because my mom suffered from chronic health problems for about 8 years.  Had she not been married to a man with a good income, or married at all, she would have also suffered economically because of her illness.

I went out and bought supplemental disability insurance about 8 years ago, and I bought additional disability coverage this past year, to cover me in case I am ever unable to work due to illness.  Good health is a great blessing that we should never take for granted.

I wish your mom the best and hope she can recover from her illness.

Yes, my mom worked until she got sick.  But Im pretty sure her job at the time wasn't anything major.  I think she was a secretary for a small business.  When she was diagnosed with Chron's she was forced to get a colonoscopy and was put on a very harsh steroid (prednisone).  The prednisone eventually lead to (or at least the doctors think...) her breaking both of her hips.  She now has steel reinforcements/plates in both of her hips, which helps her to walk and get around.  All of this at 35.

As far as disability.  She refuses to file.  She thinks people will look down on her as if she were on welfare or something.

After all of that she's still a pretty upbeat person.  Of course, she has her good days and her bad days.  But overall Id say she's pretty happy with life.