Knocking on doors ...................

As most of you know .... I'm sort of political. 

Sort of.

And I have volunteered when I could. 

I've given speeches.  I've spoken at  press conferences.  I've written letters to the editor.  I've done interviews. 

I've sent out persuasion letters.  I've made phone calls.  I've passed out cookies at early voting.  I've hosted events.

But I rarely canvass. 

Yesterday I did.

And it was difficult.

Not the job.  The job of knocking on doors ..... that is easy.

The emotions are difficult.

I cried ........ a lot.

I met some of the most courageous women ever.  Women that were struggling to get through the day, the week, the month.

Every single one of them were struggling with personal health issues.  And the devastation to the family that comes with the fatigue, the pain and expenses.

One family .... the husband has what we would all consider a good middle class income.  Stable job -- has been there over 20 years -- works for a company with good insurance.

But her rare genetic disease has her taking chemotherapy every three weeks.  And that treatment costs $14,000 for each round.  And she has to pay $4000 out-of-pocket ...... every three weeks.  

That is 10% of the median Iowa income.

Every three weeks.

With insurance.

And its not a curable disease ... hopefully, manageable.  This will go on ..... for as long as she lives.

I have no answers.  No suggestions.  No move to action.

Nothing.

Nothing but tears.

Yesterday ... in a little bitty rural area ... I met three women struggling for all the same reason.  Hard-working Americans devastated by medical debt and issues.  And I don't know what to do or what can be done.

But I do know this .......... every politician in America should drive down a narrow gravel road and knock on the door.  Be greeted by a barking dog and a grandchild in their jammies at noon.  Move the stack of magazines, books, and mail off the seat of the chair.  Scoot aside the dishes from last night's supper ... and talk.

Obviously, its not a hard task to do .... its easy to find those people.  I found three families in under 3 hours.

Its far more difficult to walk away.

And I dare you to do it without crying.

We are spending millions and millions of dollars on election ads.  

MILLIONS.  

And for what?????  So the super-pacs can have their say in Washington????

We have struggled with medical debt for years.  We still are.  But we may run out of money two days before pay day.  We don't run out of money on pay day. 

I'll be driving down that narrow gravel road again.  I just wish the politicians would join me.