Health Care
Aug. 14th, 2009 10:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
monkeybardI'm going political today. You've been warned.
I received this email from my friend LauraG yesterday, and I felt it needed to be shared with a wider audience than those of use who received the email. She said it was all right for me to share it, so I am.
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Buck up folks! I’m on a tear! Are there such people as “hate mongers?” Yes, but in general, it is the ones who listen without thinking that frighten me the most. “Hate mongers” given time usually expose themselves for what they are and most people will walk away from such ugly talk. People that only speak out when they are afraid that they, themselves are going to lose something scare me. Many of them call themselves “Good Christians” and that frightens me even more. I’d like to see them ask themselves “On what side of Health Care Reform you would probably find Jesus?” What I see on the news night after night are “good” people, most of whom are white and affluent becoming over emotional over an issue not designed to take anything away from them, but designed to cover the medical costs of those who until now have had no coverage, no voice, no options. Most of those are people of color.
I grew up in a household not always covered by health insurance. I know what it is like to go to a dentist who would rather pull a tooth than fill it because he could attend to more patients in a day that way. I’ve seen people live with a mouthful of snags because their health insurance does not cover dental and they have no spare money at the end of a month. I’ve seen people walk through life in pain, day after day, because they simply can’t afford a doctor visit or to take a day off work.
You won’t see those people “out there” stumping for or against Obama and his health care plan. Because of their poverty, they are without voices. Our country has taught them that money IS power. No money – NO power. You will never hear from those people for whom universal healthcare is essential. They lack the language, the education and the time to let you know what it is like to go without.
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For those of you doing your own research, checking your facts, and coming to your own conclusions, whether I agree with you or not, I applaud you.
I can only add to this that both my parents are over 70, on Medicare/Medicaid (I get them confused) with little other insurance available to them. And NONE of that covers the several thousands of dollars worth of dental work they currently need. I'm not talking cosmetic; I'm talking down and dirty work that needs doing.
I cry BULLSHIT on HMOs and demand UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS RIGHT FUCKING NOW!
I received this email from my friend LauraG yesterday, and I felt it needed to be shared with a wider audience than those of use who received the email. She said it was all right for me to share it, so I am.
***
My two cents worth! This is my response to two women on my message board: one was referring to those people who are so verbally opposing Obama's health plan (Hate mongers) and the other who is defending them because the democrats did "it" to G.W.
BTW I was interested to hear that Cheney is "Putting down" G.W. because in his second term he quit listening to Cheney exclusively and began listening to the American public. G.W. how could you!?!
It seems to me in this day and age that if one wants information, one should go to the source. If you want to know about Obama’s Health Plan go to the whitehouse.gov site and read what it has to say. Don’t rely on the media or your political party to filter the information down to you.
Stop passing on emails that tell you how terrible/good something is before you check the facts yourself. I recently let my own sister “have it” for passing on an email (which I hate by the way) loaded with false information. Again, it is quite simple to check out the facts first.
Ask yourself a few questions:
Did I have any intention of listening to our new president or did I make up my mind to distrust him before I even knew how he stood on an issue?
Do I vote along party lines as general principle or do I explore both sides of an issue?
Do I generally get my information from a single source whose views generally are the same as my own or do I try to vary my sources?
Do all the people on one side of an issue look and sound alike? Why?
Have I ever in your life, had to go without health coverage?
Buck up folks! I’m on a tear! Are there such people as “hate mongers?” Yes, but in general, it is the ones who listen without thinking that frighten me the most. “Hate mongers” given time usually expose themselves for what they are and most people will walk away from such ugly talk. People that only speak out when they are afraid that they, themselves are going to lose something scare me. Many of them call themselves “Good Christians” and that frightens me even more. I’d like to see them ask themselves “On what side of Health Care Reform you would probably find Jesus?” What I see on the news night after night are “good” people, most of whom are white and affluent becoming over emotional over an issue not designed to take anything away from them, but designed to cover the medical costs of those who until now have had no coverage, no voice, no options. Most of those are people of color.
I grew up in a household not always covered by health insurance. I know what it is like to go to a dentist who would rather pull a tooth than fill it because he could attend to more patients in a day that way. I’ve seen people live with a mouthful of snags because their health insurance does not cover dental and they have no spare money at the end of a month. I’ve seen people walk through life in pain, day after day, because they simply can’t afford a doctor visit or to take a day off work.
You won’t see those people “out there” stumping for or against Obama and his health care plan. Because of their poverty, they are without voices. Our country has taught them that money IS power. No money – NO power. You will never hear from those people for whom universal healthcare is essential. They lack the language, the education and the time to let you know what it is like to go without.
***
For those of you doing your own research, checking your facts, and coming to your own conclusions, whether I agree with you or not, I applaud you.
I can only add to this that both my parents are over 70, on Medicare/Medicaid (I get them confused) with little other insurance available to them. And NONE of that covers the several thousands of dollars worth of dental work they currently need. I'm not talking cosmetic; I'm talking down and dirty work that needs doing.
I cry BULLSHIT on HMOs and demand UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS RIGHT FUCKING NOW!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-08-14 07:29 pm (UTC)Anyway, my point, is that those affluent white people who are objecting? They DO stand to lose something, and that is why they are screaming bloody murder. I've had friends recently move back here from the states and the husband was screaming about just such an issue while his wife kinda looked at him in horror.
The problem for those folks? Is that with universal health care, everyone is treated EQUALLY. Meaning, if you're rich, you get the same treatment and same quality (more or less) as all those poor, coloured, unwashed masses. Your wealth and your imagined standing in your community to not buy you preferential treatment. Unless, you, you know, go to the states for treatment.... :)
no subject
Date: 2009-08-14 07:36 pm (UTC)I'm with you. I posted to my flisters recent post: http://scarimor.livejournal.com/71105.html?thread=518593#t518593
(she's a Brit with some good info and blogs by American's living in the UK and dealing with NHS)
I also posted this:http://sunkrux.livejournal.com/372667.html - yesterday. Why? Because in CA THOUSANDS of low income kids will be without health care by June of 2010. How the FUCK is THAT right? It's not their fault but yet they're going to be without care. It scares me because my MonkeyHead gets her health care from a similar program in GA because either her dad's health care (if he has any) from work doesn't cover enough for her or her at all.
Will the Universal Health care system be perfect, hell no, but it will be a sight BETTER than what's out there now. I wouldn't have had to declare bankruptcy when I broke my foot back in 2004 if we had had universal health care. No one who's unemployed should have to choose between keeping a roof over their heads and food in their bellys OR paying for health insurance. Cobra is a fucking RIP OFF for the unemployed. No ONE I've ever known who's been unemployed can afford that shit. It's way to spendy.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-14 08:34 pm (UTC)well said.