Several months before the election in MA, a poll suggested 80% approval of the proposed "Death with Dignity" proposition. Even Governor Patrick was heard on a radio talk show that, while he opposed the medical marijuana legalization, he thought the "death with dignity" act was "probably a good idea."
Then, a TV media blitz occurred. Not a SINGLE AD in favor of "death with dignity." But there was a deluge of ads with scary music, and a scolding, God-like voice warning the viewers of the dangers of dying at home, without a doctor around, drinking a glass of water (on your own volition) with an overdose of Seconal (sleeping medicine, which DOES require a doctor's prescription.)
I felt like I was listening to someone warn me -- SCOLD me -- that the "SUN MIGHT COME UP TOMORROW IF YOU DON'T VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 2." And I'd say to myself, "and WHAT is so bad about this? WHY would it be so bad to die at home, painlessly, when I feel my time has come? BEFORE bankrupting my family and/or leaving them with the burden of carry for an Alzheimer's parent? Having to give my home to the State instead of leaving it to my children? What is so wrong with that????"
On voting day, the numbers were so close, the result -- defeat of the proposition -- wasn't able to be announced until the next day.
Who do you think paid for all those TV ads against the proposition? Who has that kind of money? Well...I could guess -- anyone who benefits by keeping the terminally ill and Alzheimer's patients alive: i.e. those who bankrupt families forcing family homes to be liquidated to pay for nursing homes for Alzheimer's patients, pharmaceuticals, health care facilities, and, sadly, even doctors?
Of course, there is nobody with money to support ads in favor of the proposition. 'Cept maybe the companies that make Seconal. But then, such pharmaceutical companies make a lot more money out of the recurring revenue from the painkillers and myriad of other drugs designed to stave off Alzheimers, treat cancer, and the anti-depressants overwhelmingly prescribed to those sitting around waiting around -- either lonely or bedridden -- to die of old age.
In MA, the first state to mandate Universal Health Care (a.k.a. "RomneyCare"), the taxpayers and the next generation will shoulder the burden of paying for health care of the growing number of retired, aging Baby Boomers. For those of us with real estate assets but no income to pay for the rising cost of living, and increasing pressure resulting from losing our driver's licenses, not to mention the cost of owning a car, we might actually appreciate having the "right to choose" our time to go.
Myself...? I can imagine a TV ad that features a "Secanol Send Off Party."
I think the opportunity to surround myself with friends and family, and celebrate all I have accomplished in life, and laugh about my lovable eccentricities (not that I have any) -- while I am still alive to laugh and cry with them -- and to hug everyone and say goodbye.
At the end of this party, everyone could lift their glasses and say a toast to me as I drink a painless, happy glass of Seconal-filled water and watch me drift off to sleep. This would allow me to plan ahead, and continue to be a responsible citizen and parent. Plenty of witnesses could be present -- maybe even a family doctor -- to assure officials that it was my choice, and I was not depressed and lonely from the isolation that plagues so many suicides. (Click here to see the 60 Minutes Interview with Dr. Kevorkian, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for standing up for a pain-free "death with Dignity." And talking about how hospitals currently "help" people die AFTER they have milked the cash cow dry.)
Death is part of life, people. Wake up and rejoice in the opportunity to avoid suffering a terminal illness, or -- worse yet -- avoid saddling your family and society with a brain-dead Alzheimer's victim.
Well, until the next opportunity, I'll be working on some ideas for YouTube Ads [CLICK HERE for a sweet one from Switzerland], perhpas with a Martha Stewart-type showing the joy and fun of a stylish Secanol Send-off Party; of the opportunity to control my death as well as my life; the opportunity to avoid family squabbling and make sure my estate is handled as I want it to be! And maybe it ISN'T so bad when the sun comes up in the morning?
Feel free to contact me if you'd like to join my "Death with Dignity" SuperPac. Lord knows, it's certainly a better cause than the $600 Billion+ spent on the recent hate-filled election -- obsessed with issues like the soaring cost of health care, abortion and birth control -- all of which left me feeling a lot more afraid of the insanity of life than the sanity of death with dignity!
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