Friday, January 6, 2012

Dear Rick Santorum:


I wrote this at 6pm tonight after I saw the following video posted on Facebook. I was so upset by what I heard that I cancelled dinner plans with friends and wrote this. Thanks for the heads- up Lee Ann!






Dear Rick Santorum:


You’re an IDIOT. Actually you’re an more than an idiot, you’re santorum.

Go ahead, look it up - I'll wait.


And then tell me what it’s like to tell the mother of a cancer survivor that people with cancer and other preexisting conditions deserve to pay higher insurance premiums because of their “poor choices," including not going to the ER soon enough.


Seriously Rick, SMOOTH MOVE.


Personally, I'd be curious to know exactly what choices a 5 year old child would have to make to deserve cancer?


How does a then 6 month old baby choose to contract scarlet fever and suffer damage to his heart and essentially grow up to be an adult with heart damage?


What life choice caused a perfectly healthy 50 year old mother of 3 who had never been sick a day in her life to suddenly drop dead from a heart attack after receiving a clean bill of health a few weeks earlier?


I suppose you think that the 911 first responders who are now inexplicably being diagnosed with various forms of cancer, asthma, depression & other health issues at an alarming rate deserved their fate because they chose to run into The Towers to save others who were desperately trying to get out.


And please, I BEG YOU, tell me what poor choices my parents made to cause their then 8 year old daughter (me) and two of my siblings (who were diagnosed at age the ages 12) to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?


How dare you blame others for their preexisting conditions!

Who made you Healthcare Insurance judge and jury?

You want to know what people with preexisting deserve Rick? They deserve respect and accessibility to insurance premiums that are not astronomically exorbitant. Instead of through the roof premiums that go up by 20% each year like clockwork due to "administrative costs" and other ridiculous excuses,) and cause families to choose between health insurance and putting food on the table and in their mouths.

People with pre-existing conditions don't deserved judged, especially by you!

They have so much on their plates already, and it’s pretty damn obvious that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about!


Instead of blaming the patient while being simultaneously clueless to the causes of the patient(s) pre- existing conditions,( while clearly having a conflict of interest regarding Health Insurance Companies,) why not shut up and get educated on the subject.


Quite frankly Rick, you are guilty of having a pr-eexisting condition, yourself - it’s called Stupidity.

And I have a feeling that you’re not paying a pre-existing condition clause because you suffer from stupidity.

Like diabetes, there is no cure as of yet for stupidity. But I’ll tell you what Rick, I’d rather have type 1 diabetes then be stupid, offensive and close minded.


You won’t get my vote, Rick - And this is NOT a Republican versus Democrat, Christian versus Non Christian thing, not in the least, Rick.

This is a right versus wrong thing.


I know many living in both RED and BLUE states and who normally don't ever sit on the same side of the political fence but who are all on the same page regarding this subject.


Because they lost loved ones too soon to various forms of cancer; the many branches of the diabetes tree, heart disease and strokes in all forms, and a host of other diseases and conditions that they didn't want or choose.

And they themselves might even be living with a pre-existing condition.


And they are smart enough to realize how wrong and hurtful your words are - And are willing to speak up and band together, regardless of political parties.



One more thing Rick: Thank-you from the bottom of my broken pancreas for reminding us of your true colors before we step foot in the voting booth.


Sincerely,


Kelly Kunik
Citizen, Voter and a Person living with Type 1 Diabetes

14 comments:

Major Bedhead said...

*Whistles loudly, applauds profusely, while standing on a chair*

Well said, woman.

DiabetesDad/Tom Karlya on Facebook said...

I think there is a mix up here on what he was trying to say and what he said....that said; if someone cannot be clear on what they are saying, why should I give them my vote. He is afraid of losing PAC money from the insurance companies. Th...is is cut and dry and he should not be 'looking' for the right way to say it. There is one answer for that question: "Miss, you are correct. If someone is somehow stricken with a disease that they had no control on getting; insurance companies should not have the right to charge them a higher premium or penalize them in any way. That said, those who are given warning that they are a walking time bomb should be given the choice as an incenitve to work more closely with their medical professionals to get themselves in better health; (whatever the reason THAT THEY CAN CONTROL) or pay a higher premium. Yes, I agree with you and it is a crime that your son must be subjected to that---let's work on that together." THIS is the only acceptable answer as far as I am concerned.

Stephanie said...

Woo hoo! Amen, sister. You tell him. Ugh, every time I hear the name "Santorum" not so nice thoughts pop into my head. Aside from his google problem. :)

Hallie Addington said...

I agree! Only HE knows what he really means - but it scares me to death that we or Sweets could be forced to pay higher rates because she has T1. A disease that she did not cause. A disease that we did not cause. She was 3 years old. What choices did she make to deserve that? It makes me sick. So even though we've been told that J looks a LOT like Mr. Santorum, he won't be getting my vote. Nope. Not in a million years.

Scott Strange said...

Outstanding work, Kelly. I am a middle-aged, conservative white male and I am totally offended at what the man said. Not only from the standpoint of pre-existing conditions but also from the sheer inhumanity of saying something like that to the mother of a sick child. What a callous prick. (is it ok if I say callous on your blog?)

Tom makes a great point about things and and out of our control and higher costs. I'm sure I cost our plan more but I also know I already do spend more than other people on my healthcare. A significant portion of my income goes toward health insurance, appointments and medication.

So I guess Mr Santorum would have some sort of "price point" where a person's healthcare "costs" outweighs their "value" as a person?

G. Richardson said...

Very nice blog! He is really an idiot!!!

G. Richardson said...

Very nice blog! He really is an idiot!!!

Brenda Bell said...

As long as health insurance replaces much lower direct payments, they must be keyed to need, not to the general population. As such, premiums should and must be higher for those of us with chronic medical conditions -- regardless of whether or not developing those conditions was our "fault". It's an actuarial reality, and to consider otherwise is both false economy and outright theft.

Steve Richert said...

What a stiff. I'm also a conservative but this kind of asshattery is inexcusable. On the other hand, there is something to be said for the percentage of people in our society who eat without regard to their health and habitually destroy their bodies without regard to what a strain that puts on the system as a whole. That said, there are lots of PEC's that do NOT fall into that category and there should be a fine line drawn there. There is plenty of room for both fairness AND personal responsibility--but not greasing the palms of the insurance companies. My wife used to work for one such company and had to quit. She said their uncaring attitude towards people was appalling. I tend to think that its a problem that has more to do with larger companies than those that are more local, but still.

Sara said...

Like Steve I am also a conservative and I have no intention to ever vote for Rick Santorum. It has never even entered my mind.

Before he fell all over this issue he was recorded as being a racist. Bill O'Reilly took him to task over that one. When your own party turns on you, you know you are doing something wrong. Instead of admitting to being an idiot (what he said was RECORDED) he said that what it sounds like he is saying on the tape is not actually what he said.

Yeah right, Rick. Go away.

RN and mom to t1d said...

I'm somewhat offended that he didn't acknowledge human life, but instead referred to the " marketplace". Uggh. He didnt stumble over what he said or stick his foot in his mouth. He meant what he said. Hopefully he isn't elected, and furthermore, I hope his middle aged, semi overweight body doesn't develop prostate or colon cancer from his age or diet. I hope he doesn't develop a brain tumor, ms, or get in a horrible accident by a drunk driver. I hope he never is forced to keep a job he hates so he can pay for his child's medication, or holds the hand of someone while they are dying even though they did everything right. What a pompous, self righteous, greedy jerk!

Alan said...

There is a photo at the bottom of this blogpost, http://twoorgansshort.blogspot.com/2011/02/so-at-last-our-son-was-with-us.html

of my son with his insulin pump shortly after diagnosis. Anyone who dares suggest that he, or we, caused his condition will be asked to explain the picture.
Whether for a type 1 diabetic or a child cancer survivor Santorum's comments show a staggering level of ignorance and arrogance.

We are not in the US so perhaps it is not my place to comment but we have received excellent taxpayer-funded care for our son. Perhaps Americans could look at how alternative systems work. It may open some eyes.

Khürt said...

“Quite frankly Rick, you are guilty of having a pr-eexisting condition, yourself - it’s called Stupidity”

You nailed it!

Mike Hoskins said...

I don't like it, but there is an actuary truth in the fact that a higher-risk, less-healthy person should have to pay more for insurance. But when it comes from a guy who's a millionaire, who's trying to be a regular Joe, it's disingenuous and insulting.