Autism in America

In my previous post, I stated how I really don't feel strongly towards one candidate or another. While I was thinking about this and updating my blog at the same time, I realized that my feelings are in part that not one politician is talking about what affects my life right now.

I find it appalling that not a single candidate has made Autism and it's treatment a main platform topic for this election. With the number of children who are diagnosed rising at an alarming rate, while the cost for treatment also rises, it makes me wonder if there is anyone who cares about this predicament facing our society?

For those who do not understand Autism, it is classified as a behavioral disorder, but there are new studies all the time that say it is most likely linked to something physical in the body and brain that is not right. A very likely theory is too much heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, in the body. These travel in to the child's body from the mother during pregnancy that she has absorbed through the pollution in the environment around her. Mercury poisoning is being quickly accepted as one main offender towards causing Autism (though there are many). If there are any women out there who are thinking about having children, I beg of you to have any amalgam fillings for cavities removed months a head of time of your expected pregnancy and replaced with non-amalgam fillings. When amalgam is put in to and removed from the mouth, it releases a mercury based vapor that gets inhaled by the patient. Also, when children are born, they are given a barrage of vaccination shots, some they do not need right then. These vaccines contain Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative. It just seems like we want our children to have mercury poisoning! And since we know that mercury causes cancer, how many older people are being affected by this years later? The body simply can not naturally get rid of mercury. Once it is in your body, it is in there forever. You can go through natural or medical kelation therapy to rid yourself of heavy metals, but both can be pricey and are extremely dangerous. At that note, I must urge all who are now thinking of kelating, DO NOT TRY THIS WITHOUT MEDICAL SUPERVISION. It can kill you or your child if not done properly.

I also might add that my mother had two big amalgam fillings taken out and replaced during the middle of her pregnancy with my sister. Coincidence? I think not.

The reason I care so much for this topic is because my 4-year-old sister was diagnosed with autism two and a half years ago and she has been in constant, costly treatment since. Some of you may wonder why the insurance simply does not pay for it. Well, according to Indiana law, if the company (such as the one my father worked for) is self-insured, they can choose whether or not to cover the treatment. With my sister's treatment in Indiana costing around $30,000 a year, of course they didn't cover it. This forced, along with a poor selection of facilities for my sister, my parents to relocate down to Houston, TX. There, they have found a much better school for my sister where it costs a little over $1000 a week for her treatment (and that is if she stays at 20hrs a week and not have the time increased). My father's new company may or may not pay for the insurance and they are hoping beyond all hope that they will. If not, my parents will surely go into bankruptcy.

What is happening to my family is happening all across the nation. And there are even more family's who can't afford to even get the cheapest of help for their children. The simple fact of it all is that Autism IS treatable, but so many children go without treatment and suffer the consequences the rest of their lives. And when these children turn into adults who can not function normally in society, that puts a strain on our economy. Therefore, I go back to my point of why not one candidate has made this an issue. Autism is real, and it's a growing problem.

It's not them, it's me.......or is it?

I was talking with a friend of mine tonight as we were watching the C-SPAN coverage of the New Hampshire primaries. And I realized that there may be a few candidates I definitely do NOT want to win the presidency, but that I also do not feel strongly in favor of any candidate either. This has me worried slightly, for in the past 8 years, I knew I did not want Bush elected and choosing a candidate was substantially easier. However, I can not say with complete satisfaction which candidate I would like to see in office over another. In my mind, there are some decent choices for the '08 election, but a single person does not stick out in my mind as the one I support.

Therefore, I have to ponder if this is due to me not caring (a scary thought) or simply that no one has wowed me or given me enough reason to want them in office. Could it simply be that the candidates do not have the same star power (for lack a better phrase) as in the past? I have to believe that I do care about the future of our government, because nothing terrifies me more than the apathetic citizen.

If anyone has any feedback as to why I am feeling like this, or if you too are as complacent as myself about the election, please feel free to comment.

I suppose I just have to hope that as the year progresses I will become more engaged in the "Race to the White House."