Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Politics and Parenting a Special Needs Child

This post is not intended to endorse one Presidential candidate or another. Perhaps more than any other election since I first voted I am torn about what stance to take. I would like to hear from my fellow bloggers and readers what you consider in deciding who you will vote for.

There are so many issues. Each of us has reasons as to why certain ones will take priority for us individually. For example, as a Christian woman who has experienced infertility issues abortion is high on my list. However, I am very concerned about terrorism this time too.

In our little berg, which has just become a City, I worry about forest fires but felt safer from terror threats. That is until recently someone attempted to sabotage a train carrying hazardous material very close to our home. Fortunately, protection measures had been set in place. A rail car was ahead of the train carrying the hazardous material and caught it. The train was able to stop before derailing. The same type of thing was tried a couple of weeks later at another nearby town.

This past weekend the news reported that Hillary Clinton is planning to seek additional funding for Autism research if elected President. I have been trying to explore what the other candidates have to say or their records relative to programs relative to disabilities. I have not been able to find much information. On the other hand, is that a reason to support a candidate that we might have other concerns about?

There is so much to consider in this election.

Until next time,
Peggy Lou Morgan
For a complete list of my other blogs and websites go to www.peggyloumorgan.com

2 comments:

KC's Blog said...

Hello Peggy Lou and Billy Ray :)

How are you both doing?

This is an excellent post. I don't know who I am going to vote for yet, but I hope and pray that the candidates take a real interest in Autism and help our children.

I heard Hillary Clinton speak about Autism and hoped the other candidates give their views as well soon. The only thing that scared me when Hillary was speaking about Autism is when she said this, "pledge to help Autistic families." I think she meant "Autism families" but still, it makes you wonder.

Anonymous said...

Of all the major, front-running candidates from the primaries onward, Obama was the only one who came out with a thorough, detailed disability platform. (For example, he pledged early on to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to urge the Senate to ratify it). The other candidates wouldn't even give a clear answer when asked whether they intended to sign (and promote the US ratification of) the CRPD.

See a listing of relevant blog posts researching the candidates' positions on disability issues at:

http://reunifygally.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/presidential-candidates-on-deaf-and-disability-rights/

(All of these were done in Feb., so I believe they still include Clinton, but of course also McCain and Obama)

And if you're wondering what the CRPD is, that's the first international, legally-binding treaty to protect the human rights of persons with disabilities. So far, 41 countries have ratified it and more than 130 countries have signed it, but the US is not yet among them. More info at:

ratifynow.org/ratifynow-faq/

As you say, disability is only one issue of a great many. But since you seemed a little fuzzy (at least at the time you wrote this) about what the candidates positions are ....