by Angela on March 1, 2010
What is happening here? When did our elected officials stop even trying to pretend that they are representing us ordinary citizens? I try to chalk up differences of opinion regarding the health care reform debate to just that, differences of opinion. But you know, I just can’t anymore. I don’t think, no, I know, that these elected officials of ours, the ones attending the health care reform summit, the ones who went in knowing that they have no interest in ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable health care, also and consequently have no interest in resolution, compromise, consensus, or even a real debate. I am also more and more convinced that they are lacking in even one iota of true concern about their constituents; or at least the constituents, who, like me, aren’t CEOs of an insurance company. It’s not that difficult to read them, they’re pretty obvious in their agenda which consists of 1) keeping their corporate buddies happy, and 2) being self-righteous and condescending and smug because it appears that they are getting their way. Their agenda all along was simple – whatever comprehensive reform package was presented for a vote, they’d vote against; making sure, of course to cover their tracks by placing red herrings along the way. In other words – lying. They don’t even have the decency of admitting that our current system is broken and perhaps in coming up with <gasp!> ideas of their own on how to fix it.
I am fairly certain that a good number of these folks were hall monitors in school. They remind me of the little bullies from elementary school. Know which kids I’m talking about? Not the big bullies, the big bullies could rely on brute force rather than brains to get their way. These little bullies weren’t big, stature-wise, so they had to come up with other strategies for enforcing their tiny fascist agendas. They were snide, sarcastic, and mean. I can’t imagine what their home lives were like. For those of you who are Harry Potter fans, picture Draco Malfoy (I’m rereading the books – sorry). I know in my heart of hearts, while the folks, like our President, who are attempting to work toward some kind of consensus, something to pull out of this mess that actually benefits those 98% of us who aren’t earning CEO salaries, the bullies are leaning back in their chairs and thinking “neener, neener, neener.”
Meanwhile, real people are suffering. This is a tough video to watch, but I encourage you to watch it anyway: Keith Olbermann, MSNBC, http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/02/25/olbermann_healthcare, talks about his dad and his feelings about health care reform. Scratch “encourage” and insert “implore.” Everyone needs to see this. Please.
One last thing, I am sick to death of these same politicians claiming they are speaking for me. “The American People are against this bill.” Well, kinda, because you’ve decimated it, “Polls show that the American People are against health care insurance reform.” Well, um, have you actually looked at the polls yourselves, actually read what the “American People” are saying, because I have, and it looks to me like most of us want it, but not the mess that you all up there in DC have made of it. But setting that aside, the percentage point differences in all of these polls aren’t statistically significant (who would have thunk that I actually did take statistics, hated it but passed the class).
But even setting aside the statistics, who are these American People that you “just-say-no-to-anything-that-smacks-of-anything-even-vaguely-charitable-sounding” naysayers keep claiming that you represent? Because, I’ll tell you what – you do not speak for me.
Can I sue them for this? Can we sue them? Libel? Slander? Class action suit anyone? Because, let me repeat, you do not speak for me, and let me make this even more clear, I do not believe for one minute that you give a damn about me.
Any attorneys out there who want to weigh in on the law suit idea?
by Angela on February 18, 2010
Lent is almost here, staring me in the face as it does every year, reminding me of my conflicted relationship with the church. More importantly, reminding me of my conflicted relationship with God. I was raised in the Lutheran Church, first in the Missouri Synod, so conservative they still don’t ordain women. After my parents’ divorce when I was eleven my mother stopped going to church altogether. At first I was relieved; I didn’t have to worry anymore about my questions in Sunday school eliciting exasperated looks from my teachers. I don’t think they ever believed that I wasn’t trying to be a trouble-maker; I really did want to know if Jesus was human or divine. Didn’t that make all the difference?
Of course my mother was surprised when a year later I told her I wanted to go to church again; I was going to be thirteen and wanted to be confirmed. She found a new church for me, this time one in the much more inclusive ELCA and arranged for me to take weekly Catechism classes. Once again though I felt out of place; this time it was the other kids who looked at me strangely as I asked my pointed questions. Two weeks before confirmation I decided that I didn’t want to go through with it. As much as I wanted to be able to say yes, I just wasn’t convinced that I believed that Christ was my savior. Actually, I wasn’t even sure what that meant.
Thirty years later and I am still conflicted about religion. I’ve been in and out of churches, trying but never able to fully commit. I have learned to live with that. What I can’t live without anymore is God. After a diagnosis ten years ago of young onset Parkinson’s disease I finally had to leave behind a twenty five year career in the non-profit sector. I have been struggling in the year since to make a living as a writer. My marriage ended three years ago so I am doing this without a partner. Every day is a financial struggle. Yet after perhaps the hardest year of my life, I am happier than I have ever been. Well, perhaps happier isn’t exactly the right word – I cry, I laugh, perhaps more than I ever have, I have seen miracle after miracle as against all reason, I am still here, I am…. blessed. I have friends and a community, I have found my calling as an advocate and a voice for those living with a chronic illness, I have become a writer.
This year Lent will be an acknowledgement that before all else I have finally accepted that my most precious role is that of a child of God. It doesn’t matter to me anymore how I fit, or don’t, into a predefined religious box. God is with me, and with all of us who are struggling. What greater gift is there than that?
by Angela on February 17, 2010
Not surprisingly the health care reform bill is stalled in Congress. I guess I’m actually surprised that it got this far. In spite of what I hope are good intentions by many members of Congress, and for that matter, many citizens of this country, there is still a large group of folks out there who think that it is the responsibility of individuals to secure their own health care. This wouldn’t be so bad if there was at least an even playing field offered to those of us who can’t afford the exorbitant cost of health insurance. You know, if it was at least subject to, I don’t know, free market pricing, I think the word we like to use is competition.
Perhaps if the insurance lobby, like the banking lobby, didn’t have control over our government.
So here’s my suggestion – I say the members of Congress should take as much time as they want to decide whether or not the rest of us are just as deserving of reasonably priced health care benefits as they are. But until they do figure out how that’s going to work – I think that we should stop paying for their health care. Because, guess what? I’m tired of the same folks who get really good health care, which is by the way paid for by my tax dollars, telling me – thanks so much for that, and as for you – well you’re on your own.
