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Better Off? -- Yes and No ...
As my three kids begin the same middle school much healthier and happier than they have ever been, I would say I am definitely better off, or "richer in love" than I was eight years ago. However, the sacrifices, tough times, and losses to get us to this point make us much less well off than we where back then. So I would say I am both better off in love, perspective, and life experience, but worse off in typical measures like financial prosperity and net asset value, than I was eight years ago. Given that we all stay relatively happy and healthy, I can only hope the other prosperities fill follow, as we have already survived such very difficult times. I am somewhat pessimistic about America's ability to provide for the health needs of everyone living within its borders due to the inexcusable lack of foresight and planning for retirements, health care, and long term care needs.
The two major reasons why I'm not financially better off are TAXES and HEALTH CARE COSTS, which account for eating up about 80% - 90% of my wealth over the last eight years. Anyone who wonders why I'm concerned about our country's long term care problem may not have had children, parents, and grandparents all requiring long term care around the clock at the same time for months and years. It gets very expensive, very quickly, even just for a portion of that help. I have paid high taxes, and for top health insurance for over 22 years and still these bills consume me and my family. My point is that it is much more difficult to "get ahead" to reach the "American Dream" when health issues get in the way. Health issues are also the number one cause of bankruptcy and top reason people to lose their houses in the U.S. This is why we MUST fix the health care system in order to compete globally and thrive as a nation and personally.
In response to assignment: Are you better off?
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