I could have written this article myself, except that I'm in a different state. My vote will not make much of a difference; otherwise the dilemma would be exactly the same. I'd seriously considered joining most of my friends and giving up on the whole voting-for-national-office thing after 2004.

But then John Edwards kept running. He kept saying things and addressing issues that had long been banished from US national politicospeak. For the first time since voting for Bill Clinton in my first election I was excited about a candidate and wanted him to lead my country back to its former glory (that, being 33, I've only read about and serious doubts regarding the validity of such are beginning to form). More importantly, I thought he could do it. I believed there could be a person running for office because they wanted to make others' lives better, rather than simply further their own careers.

However, I don't blame Edwards - surprised as I was when he dropped out before Super Tuesday, we all saw it coming. Obama has been picking up endorsements left and right ever since, as progressives were split between the two candidates and now this choice has been made for them. Had Obama not jumped into the race with his rock-star status and compelling, if seemingly empty, rhetoric the race would have been Edwards-Clinton. Progressive-Center. Change-Status Quo. Fresh-Stale. New-old.

I may check the Republican box and vote for Ron Paul. I can still vote for Edwards, or even Biden, as the names are still on my absentee ballot as a symbolic gesture. The Democratic Party in my state (WA) decides the primary by caucus and has stated they'll ignore the primary results anyway, so .... ?

Don't blame Edwards. No one saw Obama's entry in the race coming, supposedly not even him. He simply 'had to run' as folks were begging him left and right. There was a clear alternative to Hillary who had been working towards the Democratic nomination ever since the 2004 election. The powers-that-be within the Democratic party turned their backs on Edwards, along with his message. FDR must be turning over in his grave.

My dream ticket has been Obama-Edwards ever since he dropped out of the race. Bill Richardson is a decent choice, but those questions were terrible. All of them needed a 'doesn't matter' choice.

I can only speak for myself, but I do believe the US healthcare system has failed miserably. I have thyroid disease and epilepsy, both since childhood. I've had migraine headaches as well, for about 5 years now.

Even with so-called treatment, classic thyroid symptoms of fatigue, depression, brain fog, weight gain, cold extremities, really a textbook case until age 30 or so. That was when I had the time and resources to read every book/website/blog out there about my illnesses. For years prior, I'd been told for years that 'feeling tired all the time is normal', 'you'll have to get used to it', and the most frustrating: 'synthroid is the only drug that will help, if that's not working, well...'. And of course, 'it's all in your head.'

Turns out there are six thyroid meds on the market, but Synthroid's manufacturer's do all the drug company tricks to make doctors believe it is superior (mostly by making it twice as expensive as comparable meds). Many hypothyroid patients require two different hormones - T4 and T3 - but the medical establishment is brainwashed into thinking T3 is never necessary. For those of us that do need it, it's nearly impossible to get prescribed. My personal case involved six months of forwarded articles, symptom diaries and pleading with my doctor. Then when it clearly was needed (I felt a lasting difference within hours of my first dose, rather unusual for hormone treatments), my doctor claimed it was all her idea in the first place!

Combining treatments for seizures and hypothyroidism is difficult because the drugs often counteract each other. Once I figured this out, and researched the issue on my own, I was better able to work with the situation. Doctors were no help whatsoever.

When I began having migraines, I just thought they were sinus headaches as they seemed to correspond with the weather. Again, this is the point where a knowledgable medical professional would come in handy to say, well, it could be x or y. Let's find out. Instead I'm given an Rx based on my own assumptions, it doesn't work. Three specialists later, I come across information and relay it to my doctor. She's doubtful but writes me an Rx for a migraine med. Lo and behold, they're migraines and now I feel better.

The above rant comes down to one question - why does the patient need to do all of the work? Because our system is based on having the flu or breaking a leg. You're hurt, you make an appt, they fix you. There is simply no method of dealing with chronic illnesses, preventive care, or viewing the body as a whole rather than many separate parts.

If one suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, forget it. You are completely on your own. Once I stopped looking to doctors for answers, my health improved greatly. I am now the one doing the diagnosing, requesting specific tests, making suggestions as to treatment. The doctor just writes the Rx. Sad, really.