The presidential election is clearly starting to affect the medblogging community.  Over the last week, I’ve begun to see even the most apolitical bloggers suddenly take up the all-important issue of deciding their presidential candidate preferences.

1) Juliaink, a psychiatrist over at the spectacular Mothers in Medicine blog, began mapping out some issues that she wishes were addressed.  True to the subject matter on the blog, she talks about issues relating to women in the health care workplace.  Says Juliaink:

“A friend of mine in Hawaii wrote to me that blue cross/blue shield in her state requires women to pay higher premiums than men--and gets away with it! Yes, women have expenses related to reproductive care that men don't, and yes, we live longer. But the whole idea of health insurance is to spread risk fairly through a population.”
…
“Beyond reproductive health care services like abortion and contraception, adequate insurance for the elderly, including nursing and other support services, are also "women's issues." When insurance fails to cover services, it is typically women--wives and daughters--who pick up the responsibilties of caregiving. When insurance does not pay for services for children, it is mothers who step in fill the vacuum. Now that women are more productive in work outside the home, the economic costs of us having to cut back our own work to become caregivers are huge, and rarely acknowledged.”

You can check out the rest of Juliaink’s blog post here: http://www.mothersinmedicine.com/2008/09/elephant-in-room.html

2) May over at About A Nurse also took up the election issue, in a refreshingly candid way.  May, admitting that she’s generally apolitical, used her blog as a way to solicit resources to help her decide which candidate is the strongest on healthcare issues.  May says:

“Let’s put it in perspective that I have only been here for over 6 years, and to be honest, I still have no concrete idea what the real difference between a Republican and a Democrat is. What I should focus on is what these candidates have done in the past, and what is it that they have that will make them the best leaders in the future? And that, I just do not have time to do yet. I am getting into it, and will eventually make a decision.”

True to the strength of the medblogger community, May received plenty of comments directing her to resources that can help her make her decisions.  You can check the blog post and the discussion out here: http://www.aboutanurse.com/2008/09/the-election-debate.html

3) Kevin, MD has written an open letter to both Senator Obama and Senator McCain, taking a fairly critical and substantive look at both of their proposals.  Says Kevin:

“As a primary care doctor, it comes as no surprise that I have focused on your proposals to reform our healthcare system. I applaud both of your efforts, and they could not be more different. The election will truly be a referendum on whether the country will endorse the left's focus on universal coverage, or the market-based solutions of the right.”

Kevin also reminds us that Senator McCain, while campaigning, missed a crucial vote:

“Senator McCain, first let me say that your absence in July's vote on the Medicare bill to repeal physician payment cuts was disappointing. Choosing not to support physicians will certainly linger in my mind on November 4th.”

As a primary care physician, he urges both Obama and McCain to take a strong look at how any plan may affect the future of primary care:

“The simple fact is that unless you solve the primary care issue, neither of your plans will be successful.

I look forward to listening to any proposals you may have to address the primary care crisis. I also wish both of you the best of luck as we come down the home stretch of a grueling campaign season. You don't need me to tell you that every vote counts.

Mine's up for grabs.”

You can read the rest of the article here: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/09/open-letter-to-barack-obama-and-john.html

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The debate will most certainly grow stronger, and it’s inspiring to see the medblogger community begin to discuss the issues.  You, yourself, can join in by writing about the election on your blog, commenting on blog posts written by other medbloggers, or even joining in on discussions on healthcare forums, much like Mother Jones, RN has done on NursingVoices (check it out over here: http://www.nursingvoices.com/politics-debates/665-obama-biden-vs-mccain-palin.html)

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