My vacation book is Citizen Soldier by Stephen E Ambrose about the foot soldiers perspective of the European Theater in WWII. You see my father was a veteran of that war. He was an infantryman in Company B of Patton’s 3rd Army. He went through pure hell so all of us could enjoy our great country, our family traditions and our freedoms. He and my Mother raised a family on a working man’s pay in Oak Ridge. He taught me a lot about what it means to be a Christian, an American, a good citizen, and ultimately what family values really count.

Of late the term family values has been hijacked by political ideologues that use high emotion descriptors  like conservative principles and religious right to espouse their extreme or special interest motivated views on others. In many cases the view these political ideologues publically decry for others runs counter to how they live their lives.

They do not highlight issues that mean something to the average American family like sustainable jobs, good schools, a clean safe community or affordable health care. Instead they concern themselves with wedge issues that are “red herrings” pushed by Washington-based political action groups with nearly unlimited bags of influence money. I am ashamed of the current acrid and non-sensical political environment in Knoxville and that is precisely why I am running for the 2010 District 7 State Senate to bring common family values back to the forefront and common sense for a change to our government.

I cringe when I hear the word “Social Medicine” because I firmly believe in the power of the free market to perform its magic and create opportunity.  However the current state of health care in our country is not a free market…..

There is lot of rhetoric being used by our Congress and Senate regarding health care reform

To me health care reform is personal. I have been blessed with an employer who provides good health insurance coverage with several options to its employees.  However, I have seen my personal insurance cost go up nearly every year and my coverage decline.  Even with these excellent benefits I have had health cost issues associated with my closest family members that wiped out my personal savings and caused me to go in debt. 

 My Mother-in-law (a minister throughout most of her life and one of the strongest wisest people I have ever met) was not covered when she suffered an onslaught of health issues that left her blind, crippled, and without kidney function.  It took my wife over 3 years to get some of her health care costs covered by government programs.  By this time my mother in law had spent her savings, and we had spent a significant part of ours.  The financial damages were devastating to my family but we have no regrets or second thoughts about what we did.  We were fortunate because we had the means to, in the very least, pay the minimums to maintain quality healthcare until her passing.  I cannot imagine how someone earning minimum wage or unemployed could have achieved this.

 I dread the day when my children turn 24 and have to purchase private plans for themselves.  Many of my friends who have had this happen tell me the cost is extreme and the coverage is minimal, in most cases only covering major accidents.

 Something must be done to fix this mess.  I encourage you to listen closely to the Congressional debate and learn all you can about the current reform being considered, learn from both parties.  Don’t shut anyone’s opinion off, but don’t let emotional words from political action committees, “talking heads” or “ideologues” influence what will be best for you and your loved ones.

 Please understand that an obscene amount of money is being spent by the health care industry to lobby your Congress…Costs that will be passed on to you in the cost of your health insurance if you’re fortunate enough to have it.  This industry is not lobbying your

Congress with you and your loved ones personal healthcare in mind.Consider these words recently spoken by Wendell Potter former vice president of Cigna turned health care reform advocate.

 “They are trying to make you worry and fear a government bureaucrat being
between you and your doctor. What you have now is a corporate
bureaucrat between you and your doctor.”

 I don’t want any bureaucrat making personal decisions that should be left to my doctor and me.

 Randy

“Common Sense for a Change”