Mari, I'm so glad that Shari forwarded this. I have a cousin who has been blind. He is supported entirely by federal funds. He lives independently on $700.00 a month he's allocated which includes rent, food, and expenses for his guide dog. He even donates money to his church. My cousin has always been a strong advocate for disability rights, helping to pass legislation and fund low income housing. When someone gave him five dollars worth of quarters, he shared them with the other people in his housing unit. He shares his food and his time to help others. We grew up together. While I am the one who is privileged, he is the one who is blessed.
Commenting late here, but not for lack of appreciation of your important column, Mari! Well done! As I just wrote in my Substack, people have little understanding of exactly what Medicaid pays for and how important it is for so many people to get the care they need. You powerfully make the argument that cutting Medicaid is abandoning all those people, and why? We're the richest country in the world. We can afford to be a little generous to those in need of a helping hand. Very nice job!
Oh thank you so much! I am truly honored that you liked the post!
Our family benefited from Medicaid. Many years ago, my paternal grandfather, after a series of strokes, could no longer care for himself. Both my parents had full-time jobs, so they couldn’t take on an additional full-time job of caring for him. And my family wasn’t rich enough to pay for his nursing home. He used up his life savings in about a year and then—thankfully!—was able to go on Medicaid, which paid for his care for the remainder of her life. So many middle-class American families have similar stories. We would all be hurt by cuts to Medicaid, even if we don’t realize it.
Under the Clinton admin in 1995 the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act caused many of the same challenges. At that time I stood for membership on my county welfare board, was appointed, and acted in an advocacy position to ameliorate some of Clinton's policies regarding work and government assistance.
GET OFF KEYBOARDS and volunteer IRL.
It is IMPERATIVE that everyone who reads this post find your local solution. It can be done.
Thank you for this excellent comment, Kathleen! (And thank you, too, for working to make TANF less meager for families.) I hope that Senator Booker’s speech will light a fire under people to get out into the world and do something.
Mari, I'm so glad that Shari forwarded this. I have a cousin who has been blind. He is supported entirely by federal funds. He lives independently on $700.00 a month he's allocated which includes rent, food, and expenses for his guide dog. He even donates money to his church. My cousin has always been a strong advocate for disability rights, helping to pass legislation and fund low income housing. When someone gave him five dollars worth of quarters, he shared them with the other people in his housing unit. He shares his food and his time to help others. We grew up together. While I am the one who is privileged, he is the one who is blessed.
What a wonderful man! It seems to me that that $700 per month is an excellent bargain for his happy, generous life!
Commenting late here, but not for lack of appreciation of your important column, Mari! Well done! As I just wrote in my Substack, people have little understanding of exactly what Medicaid pays for and how important it is for so many people to get the care they need. You powerfully make the argument that cutting Medicaid is abandoning all those people, and why? We're the richest country in the world. We can afford to be a little generous to those in need of a helping hand. Very nice job!
Oh thank you so much! I am truly honored that you liked the post!
Our family benefited from Medicaid. Many years ago, my paternal grandfather, after a series of strokes, could no longer care for himself. Both my parents had full-time jobs, so they couldn’t take on an additional full-time job of caring for him. And my family wasn’t rich enough to pay for his nursing home. He used up his life savings in about a year and then—thankfully!—was able to go on Medicaid, which paid for his care for the remainder of her life. So many middle-class American families have similar stories. We would all be hurt by cuts to Medicaid, even if we don’t realize it.
I added my senators and congresswoman to the contacts in my phone, making calling them a couple times a week hardly time-consuming at all.
Wonderful! Great idea!
Under the Clinton admin in 1995 the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act caused many of the same challenges. At that time I stood for membership on my county welfare board, was appointed, and acted in an advocacy position to ameliorate some of Clinton's policies regarding work and government assistance.
GET OFF KEYBOARDS and volunteer IRL.
It is IMPERATIVE that everyone who reads this post find your local solution. It can be done.
IRL
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Responsibility_and_Work_Opportunity_Act
Thank you for this excellent comment, Kathleen! (And thank you, too, for working to make TANF less meager for families.) I hope that Senator Booker’s speech will light a fire under people to get out into the world and do something.