Death Knell for Health Care in the USA

No, I didn't write anything below, but I am sharing it and hope you will read it. I just cannot believe the calculated cruelty of the GOP.  We are back in the Robber Baron era, just with better toys. Mark

Obamacare is one step closer to repeal after Senate advances budget resolution

Thanks to a writer named Anthony Breznican for these words:



Late last night, the Republican Party voted to begin dismantling "Obamacare." Rather than let them erase the law and its protections in one swoop, Democrats fought back by proposing amendments to save certain parts, like healthcare protections for veterans. Republicans voted against that. (But thanks for your service, vets!)

Then Republicans voted against the rule that says insurance companies have to cover "pre-existing conditions," (so if you have had cancer, diabetes, or heart problems in the past, good luck keeping even your private insurance now.)

Then they killed CHIP, which is the Children's Health Insurance Program, which provided health care to impoverished sick kids. Again - they voted against health care for poor kids. (So Christlike.)
The Republicans then voted against continuing federal aid to rural hospitals, which is the only thing keeping many of them open. (I guess the joke's on all those deep-red heartland counties who voted for this one-party rule.)

All you pro-life folks - they also voted against contraception coverage. With no health coverage for their pregnancies, more women will choose abortions to avoid bankruptcy. (Oops!)

Also, that rule saying you can keep your kids on your private insurance until they're 26? Gone.
Democrats also forced a vote to protect Medicare and Medicaid from being reduced, but Republicans voted against those, too. Old people and the infirm - to hell with them, right?

Democrats made them vote on every one of these topics - partly so voters could see exactly what was being voted against. And every time, like clockwork, the Republicans voted against the needs of human beings and in support of profits for insurance companies and tax cuts for the extremely wealthy, which paid for parts of these programs. It was sickening to see the votes unfold.

Democrats argued into the wee hours, but this is life under one-party rule. If you voted for Trump and his Republican majority, this is what you wanted. Abject human suffering. Drink deep. Here is your victory.

Not one Republican offered a single proposal to replace any of these services."


 

Clearing my head

The outcome of November's presidential election has truly shaken my belief and confidence in the American experiment. That the electorate has become so lazy, illiterate, and unsophisticated that they could elect such an obvious con-man, swindler, and liar to this office has literally taken my breath, and stopped me dead in my tracks in many ways. I am terrified for the long-term damage this vacuous man, with no demonstrated interest other than self-enrichment and self-glory, may do to the USA and the world. 

I have struggled to find a way to harness my thoughts, clear my head, and find a way forward, without significant success. I cannot bear to look at the news because every day comes a further proof that he is everything he constantly accused his opponent of during the election. Every cabinet official he has proposed is like he searched high and low for the most unqualified people for those jobs, and whose personal outlook and professional careers are absolutely contrary to the historical goals of the agencies he plans to put them in charge of.  

Today a friend shared the following on Facebook, written by a fellow named Jeremy Mitchell. This is what I will do. This is how I will move forward. For now, this is the only path that makes sense, and it gives me more peace of mind than I've felt since the election:

I listened as they called my President a Muslim.
I listened as they called him and his family a pack of monkeys.
I listened as they said he wasn't born here.
I watched as they blocked every single path to progress that they could.
I saw the pictures of him as Hitler.
I watched them shut down the government twice and hurt the entire nation.
I watched them turn their backs on every opportunity to open worthwhile dialog.
I watched them say that they would not even listen to any choice for Supreme Court no matter who the nominee was.
I listened as they openly said that they will oppose him at every turn. 

I watched as they did just that.  I listened.  I watched.  I paid attention.

Now, I'm being called on to be tolerant.
To move forward.  To denounce protesters.  To "Get over it." To accept this...

I will not.

I will do my part to make sure this great American mistake becomes the embarrassing footnote of our history that it deserves to be.
I will do this as quickly as possible every chance I get.
I will do my part to limit the damage that this man can do to my country.
I will watch his every move and point out every single mistake and misdeed in a loud and proud voice.
I will let you know in a loud voice every time this man backs away from a promise he made to them.
Them. The people who voted for him.
The ones who sold their souls and prayed for him to win.

I will do this so that they never forget.
And they will hear me.
They will see it in my eyes when I look at them.
They will hear it in my voice when I talk to them.
They will know that I know who they are.
They will know that I know what they are.

Do not call for my tolerance. I've tolerated all I can.
Now it's their turn to tolerate ridicule.
Be aware, make no mistake about it, every single thing that goes wrong in our country from this day forward is now Trump's fault just as much as they thought it was Obama's. 

I find it unreasonable for them to expect from me what they were entirely unwilling to give.
They will find no shelter here.

Thanks Jeremy - I needed this. 

"America will never be destroyed from the outside.  If we falter, and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." - Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President (1809-1865)

#notmypresident