I registered as a Democrat in no small part because of George W. Bush. I was unhappy with how he had won the 2000 election and decided to be a Democrat because of this (and a few, very important, other reasons). Then Iraq, the Patriot Act, Katrina, and a market collapse pushed me firmly left of center. I had grown up in a union household, but those young adult years really made me a Democrat. I couldn’t stand Bush 43.

Fast forward to last year. I lose my lower left leg. By Thanksgiving I have my prosthetic. A couple setbacks later, I’m walking for real at New Years. In May I had another issue, back to the hospital for three days. After some healing, I was back up, and this week I get a state of the art brand new leg. Medicine and science are great. For those of you who hate the industries, let me tell you that those of us living with major issues thank God every day that we live with today’s advancements.

Now, the ironic part- I would not have the medical blessings I have without the Bush (and Obama) era VA. I owe 95% of my thanks to the brave Americans who lost limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan, they were the reason the VA and medical field poured money into prosthetics research. Every ounce of faith I have in humanity goes to them. But it was the Bush Administration’s investment that got me walking today. Hence I will tell you- it’s not worth the partisan hate we put out into the universe. Almost always, someone is doing good for others. Embrace that.